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Hard Drive Clicks Once, and Laptop Shuts Down

E

ElectroPulse

Member
Hello, all!

A friend has asked me to take a look at their laptop, which "Isn't able to resume from hibernation."

It turns out, it isn't just an issue with hibernation. The computer will randomly shut down at random times, including startup, sitting on the desktop when idle, and when you hibernate it. It is a fairly random problem, with no one thing triggering the event. Sometimes it will go for quite some time without happening, then other times it will do it 4 or 5 times within a minute or so of each other.

The audible "click" comes from the hard drive (I opened up the bottom cover and listened to the hard drive until it randomly shut down, and the click clearly came from it). It is the same "click" sound that it makes when power is suddenly disconnected from it (found this out when I plugged it into my laptop with a USB-to-SATA adapter).

Based on what I have read online and the symptoms I am seeing, my guess is that it is either the hard drive, or the motherboard (I'm leaning toward the motherboard). I am wondering if the "click" is a result of the problem, rather than the cause; A sudden loss of power may be causing it. As this occurs on both battery power and while it is plugged in, the power source is not the issue (so I am wondering if it is the power circuitry in the motherboard).

Any recommendations of tests that I can run to confirm/deny my hypothesis?

Thanks!
ElectroPulse
 
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ElectroPulse said:
Hello, all!

A friend has asked me to take a look at their laptop, which "Isn't able to resume from hibernation."

It turns out, it isn't just an issue with hibernation. The computer will randomly shut down at random times, including startup, sitting on the desktop when idle, and when you hibernate it. It is a fairly random problem, with no one thing triggering the event. Sometimes it will go for quite some time without happening, then other times it will do it 4 or 5 times within a minute or so of each other.

The audible "click" comes from the hard drive (I opened up the bottom cover and listened to the hard drive until it randomly shut down, and the click clearly came from it). It is the same "click" sound that it makes when power is suddenly disconnected from it (found this out when I plugged it into my laptop with a USB-to-SATA adapter).

Based on what I have read online and the symptoms I am seeing, my guess is that it is either the hard drive, or the motherboard (I'm leaning toward the motherboard). I am wondering if the "click" is a result of the problem, rather than the cause; A sudden loss of power may be causing it. As this occurs on both battery power and while it is plugged in, the power source is not the issue (so I am wondering if it is the power circuitry in the motherboard).

Any recommendations of tests that I can run to confirm/deny my hypothesis?

Thanks!
ElectroPulse
Click to expand...

If you have a desk top you can remove the HHD from the lappy and check it on desk top, amazing huh?
My mind reading skillz are depleted what make and model lap top is it? From what you posted, sounds like a board motherboard, remove the battery>unplug wall plug>hold the power on button for five minutes(full CMOS clear) see if that helps. Could be full of dust, couldbe a million things..........

If its coming from the HDD the laptop was droped and the niddle is stuck on the HHD disc and needs to be cleared, or replace the HDD with a new one. Check the lappy corners for an impact.
 
PhIlLy ChEeSe said:
If you have a desk top you can remove the HHD from the lappy and check it on desk top, amazing huh?
My mind reading skillz are depleted what make and model lap top is it? From what you posted, sounds like a board motherboard, remove the battery>unplug wall plug>hold the power on button for five minutes(full CMOS clear) see if that helps. Could be full of dust, couldbe a million things..........

If its coming from the HDD the laptop was droped and the niddle is stuck on the HHD disc and needs to be cleared, or replace the HDD with a new one. Check the lappy corners for an impact.
Click to expand...
As mentioned in the OP, I did plug it into another computer... Though I neglected to mention the results of that. No issues with the HDD in my testing so far. SMART said there were some bad sectors that had been relocated (don't remember how many, but remember it said it was not enough to be covered by warranty). I was able to read/write files to there with no problems. Had limited time with the computer today, so was unable to leave it plugged in for an extended period of time to confirm that it didn't have a problem.

As for make/model, it is a Toshiba Satellite P745-S4102.

Something else I neglected to mention in the OP was that I ran Prime95 on the heat generating mode for about a half hour without issue. Temps showed as getting up to about 70C and held steady toward the end, and it did not shut down. So, dust buildup causing heat wouldn't be the issue.

I don't believe that it would have been dropped, as 1. There is no external damage, and 2. I asked the guy if there had been any events around the time that the issue started to occur, and he said no (he's a fairly technically-inclined guy, and he would've mentioned that as a possible cause if it had been).

Next time I get my hands on it, I'll try the CMOS clear technique... Are you sure it isn't 5 seconds, though? 5 minutes would be an awfully long time to hold the button down.
 
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Honestly, when I read your description ElectroPulse, it sounds like there is a short. Very possibly the power cord inside the machine. I would recommend you do a Google search for that model and power cord (inside of course), and see if it's something you want to try.
 
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