Hard Drive is making rapid clicking noises.

[shikhae]

I heard Western Digital Raptors were loud drives, but I think there may be a problem with my drive.
For a while now it's making been making clicking sounds. At first I thought it was a wire making contact with a fan blade, but when I opened my case it was clearly coming from the hardrive. I can actually feel the slight vibration on every click when I touch it. I didn't think much of it earlier, but now the clicks are more frequent and rapid. However these clicks arent present all the time. Even though I don't have any invaluable data, I've already made backups. Everything seems to run fine though. Should I contact WD for a replacement now or do I have to wait until the problem gets more serious?

 

[StinkyMojo]

Backup data asap and call WD if you are still within the warranty period.

Clicks = HD is dying. Happened to 2 of my HD's before. I'd download HDTune if I were you.

edit: nevermind.. I see you already backed up data.

 

[Zepper]

I'd also suggest backing up and running your drive mfr's diagnostics on it.

.bh.

 

[shikhae]

I ran HD tune, but the error scan came back with zero errors. Also the many of the reviews about the raptor at newegg comment about the click but still give it 5 eggs. There are similar opinions at HardForum. This makes me wonder, are these people ignorant or is the raptor supposed to have these clicking noises?

 

[Pirotech]

I searched and found some meanings of sounds here.

 

[RebateMonger]

CHANGES in the noises that hard drives make are not a good sign.

As suggested, run WD's drive diagnostics program and see what is says. If the drive sounds sick, I'd ask WD to replace it. Note, though, that WD does NOT guarantee that you will receive a "new" hard drive. It will likely be refurbished....whatever that means to WD. Drive makers aren't required to replace failed/failing hard drives with brand new ones.

No matter what you decide, please continue with keeping ongoing backups of any important data. ALL hard drives fail eventually, often with little or no warning.