topic Re: Hard disk problems? in PCs & Accessories

Hard disk problems?

p3eps — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 14:39:25 GMT

Hi folks,

I got a brand new VGN-T2XP yesterday and am loving it!
I'm a little concerned that my hard disk keeps making a ticking noise every 20 seconds or so when idling, and randomly makes a loud 'clunk' noise every so often when in use. Sounds to me like the hard disk is gonna go (just after I've got everything I need ON it!).
Had a brief look through Sony site, but can anyone help me find a page or info on how I go getting it checked out?

Cheers,
Pete

Re: Hard disk problems?

tonybeard — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 15:59:53 GMT

Hello and welcome to Club Vaio.
I hear loud noises from my optical drive when it encounters a Cyclical Redundancy problem and rips up and down trying to read a disk with the wrong algorythymic protocol. Simularly I think your hard drive is working too hard and has fragmented or is just not settled. Try defragmenting your HD over and over again (takes hours) with all the processes switched off bar the explorer and systray. When your HD deframents in 30 seconds it is optimized and should run quietly. Better still get Diskeeper LiteDiskeeperLite or buy DiskeeperPro. Pro will nurse your hard drive and reccommend Master Paging File adjustments. Master KeeLo I can thank for that. Thanks. My Vaio is fast and reliable.

Re: Hard disk problems?

kee-lo_ — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 16:14:13 GMT

Hi,

This is normal, no need to worry about it, it's the heads parking when you're idle, so that if someone moves the VAIO it won't scratch the data area of the disk.

If you want to keep an eye on it get a SMART detector like Everest Home Edition.

I back up often to save heartache

Re: Hard disk problems?

p3eps — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 10:39:36 GMT

Thanks for the quick replies.

I phoned Sony yesterday who said they can have the computer taken away and the drive replaced...
I think I'll try the defragmenting first though because I'd rather not be without it for 7-10 working days!

I've ghosted my whole hard disk to my desktop as a precaution!

Re: Hard disk problems?

p3eps — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 13:26:36 GMT

I've defragged both partitions. My C: has about 10gig of data, and now take about 30 seconds to defrag now (after 3 defrags) and my 😧 has about 500meg, and takes about 5 seconds to defrag,

The drive still sounds like a clock though - ticking every second or two, and then making huge clunk noises every so often.

Re: Hard disk problems?

yazan — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 08:37:53 GMT

Hello
I have a 2 month old FS vaio ,I also have these loud 'clunk' from now to then from the harddisk , I have it since I bought the laptop,so are you sending the laptop for repair ?

Re: Hard disk problems?

rich912 — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 08:55:18 GMT

If you send it in for repair there is a possibility that you will face a bill from Sony.
As Kee-Lo pointed out this ticking and clicking sound is quite normal for most notebook drives. Mine has done it from new and now, three years later, it still clicks. I also get a more prolonged sound occasionally, although in all honesty I wouldn¿t describe it as a `clunk¿.

Re: Hard disk problems?

kee-lo_ — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 20:22:15 GMT

I have noticed one thing though, now I have wireless my GRX parks it's heads less often, but I guess this is due to the pings to see if the router is still around.

Re: Hard disk problems?

p3eps — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 09:50:36 GMT

I dont know what to do!
Sony have advised me to send the machine to them - but then I dont want to face an inspection fee if they consider there is nothing wrong.

My machine is never really 'idle' as its normally wireless on the internet downloading. Sometimes its near silent except hard disk usual noise, then other times it ticks like a clock every second almost and then randomly 'clunks'! I actually work as an Apple (booo hiss!) engineer and repair laptops for a living. I've never heard this type of noise before apart from when the drive is away to die... but then everyone is telling me this is normal!

I normally do a backup every couple of weeks - but just now I am backing up all the time cause I'm scared that it will go at any time!

Re: Hard disk problems?

yazan — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 11:53:23 GMT

hello p3eps
I will try to contact sony tomorrow here in spain to ask them about the strange noise , I would like to compare the niose to yours. I also think its a strage sound I tried to see if other laptops from my work (other brands) do it but I cant hear the same thing.
Can you record the noise and send me by Email ? also if you want tell me your Email and I send you a wav file I recorded (or any body else who want it).

Yazan
Email :
the_man_tt@hotmail.com

Re: Hard disk problems?

p3eps — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 14:17:04 GMT

I think it would be very difficult to record the noise as it just happens randomly. Seems to be when I access certain parts of the drive?
I have also noticed that when I try and run or install some programs that I am getting missing file errors. I definately think that there is something wrong, but I really dont want to pay if its nothing!

Re: Hard disk problems?

Lizzie — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 14:33:35 GMT

I got a brand new VGN-T2XP yesterday and am loving it!

did you buy it in a store or online from Sony?

if you bought it in a store have you got no warranty or something, bring it back to them and ask them to give you a new one. you own it less than 5 days look at the fine print there may be a way to give it back to them and get your money and go buy another one somewhere else.

Re: Hard disk problems?

kee-lo_ — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 15:59:09 GMT

You work for Apple? Neat

I don't think the powerbooks use the Toshiba drives Sony do (correct me if I'm wrong)

Have you checked your SMART feature with Everest Home Edition?

Re: Hard disk problems?

p3eps — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 13:30:21 GMT

Apple usually use Hitatchi Deskstar drives in their portables... although I have seen some with Seagate or Toshiba.

Looks like I dont have much choice in the matter anymore because DHL turned up at my work today and took the Laptop away to France for repair!

When I talked to Sony they said they'd arrange for it to be picked up - but then I called back and asked to cancel it because I wanted to test more things.

Just as well I had the Laptop at work with me today! I let them take it anyway, because Windows started up with missing files the other day (which I resolved with the Recovery Console) and the computer has also started doing 3 big 'clunks' in a row and bluescreening now (done it twice since yesterday).

I just hope they actually see the fault and fix it rather than charging me and sending it back uprepaired!

Re: Hard disk problems?

p3eps — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 13:51:25 GMT


did you buy it in a store or online from Sony?

I bought it from an online store - but they said I would have to pay the courier charges to and from them - and they would just send it back to Sony. I could have asked for a refund I suppose, but there is no where else that even came close to the price I paid for it.

Buy Cheap, Pay Dear I think the saying is!!!

Re: Hard disk problems?

kee-lo_ — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 16:15:44 GMT

Ahh see if you'd said that to me then I would have said VL should have a look

Re: Hard disk problems?

p3eps — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 09:48:56 GMT

Oh dear... DHL just turned up a minute ago to collect the laptop - even though they had already picked it up yesterday.

Ah well... 7 - 10 days without the computer... and then I will find out if they consider it faulty or not!

Re: Hard disk problems?

kee-lo_ — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 15:59:33 GMT

LOL thats a little stupid of them

Re: Hard disk problems?

benoutram — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 17:14:32 GMT

I get the same noise. It is a worrying sound but apparently normal.

Re: Hard disk problems?

p3eps — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 12:39:28 GMT

It says on my Vaio-Link repair status that they have replaced the Hard Drive. :smileygrin:
At least now I wont have to pay an inspection fee as they obviously considered it to be faulty!

I wish it would hurry back now!!!