What exactly is the "clicking" sound when your computer is doing something?

[S0Y73NTGR33N]

I've always been curious about this. Why does it click?

 

[WobbleWobble]

Most likely the sound of the hard drive reading/writing.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
Most likely the sound of the hard drive reading/writing.

or if it's Maxtor, dying.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: CraigRT

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
Most likely the sound of the hard drive reading/writing.

or if it's Maxtor, dying.

ZING!

<- In the process of a Maxtor RMA

 

[CTho9305]

Data is stored in concentric circles on the hard drive platter. The head moves very rapidly between the circles (called "seeking"), and that causes the clicking noise.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you have your speakers on, some of the clicking sounds are just Windows sound effects for "events."

I was thinking the hard drive was dying on a brand new laptop I was setting up for work, until I realized Windows Update was generating click sound effects that sounded just like a drive seek retry.

 

[d3n]

It must be doing something important. Leave it alone.

 

[techwanabe]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
Most likely the sound of the hard drive reading/writing.

That would be the "clanking" sound!