External Harddrive noise?

[DragonFire]

I just got by first External harddrive, a Seagate 120GB and just happen to notice that other day while it was almost slient in my room that from time to time I can hear this buzzing noise.

At first I thought it was a fan but knew that it didnt come with one. I then noticed that if I access the drive while its making this noise, it almost always stops right way.

Is something like this normal for a external? Is it just the hardrive seeking even tho the busy led doesnt come on? Something to do with the power regulator?

 

[Bar81]

If it's a Seagate 7200.7 then it's "normal" for that drive. It's a maintenance procedure that happens when the drive is idle. It's the main reason I sold my 7200.7s It's excrutiatingly annoying.

 

[DragonFire]

Well, since I couldnt resist, I did open the case which was a pain in the @ss but yes its a 7200.7. I have it sitting on my desk next to me and for the most part I dont even hear it but there are times when I'll be sitting here with winamp playing and I'll hear it. Im just glade its normal......

but......

maintenance procedure to do what?

 

[Bar81]

Who knows. Supposedly to keep from heat building up in one spot it moves the head every so often when it's idle. If you want a HD that doesn't have a maintenance seek check out the Samsung P80 series. No maintenance seek, quieter, 3 year warranty, and better performance.

 

[DragonFire]

Hmmmm...

Thanks for the Samsung suggestion but I already have the Seagate and its loaded with 70gigs already...

hmmmm.....

I would think that moving the the heads around would cause more heat then if they were sitting in one spot. Do all there 7200.7's do this? If so perhaps Seatools can turn it off just like you can adjust how quite the drive is while reading/writing.....

 

[Bar81]

All of them do it and there's no way to turn it off. Either gotta live with it or change HDs. I chose the latter option.