weird hardrive clicking sounds on 5.5G video?

[froggyman]

On my iPod Video 30GB i have noticed alot of weird clicking noises and other various sounds from my iPod's HDD. It seems to mostly make these sounds when it gets bumped (very lightly) it will make even more click sounds for a few seconds but then go back to making its "regualar" clicks. Tested with build r20899.

Is this a sign my hard drive is starting to fail and I should look into getting a new one? If so are precationary steps I can take so it will last longer (like changing spin up times, ect.). Or is this normal behavior and will not do any harm to it?

[GodEater]

I'd say it's a sure sign the drive is on it's way out - and there's not much you can do to help prolong its life. In fact, if you don't already have one, I'd be getting a backup of the whole thing as soon as possible.

[froggyman]

ok well ... thanks (darn, i was hoping this was expected behavior)
 

In fact, if you don't already have one, I'd be getting a backup of the whole thing as soon as possible.

yeah, I always have all of the files on it on my main HDD and uploaded to a secure site

[GodEater]

yeah, I always have all of the files on it on my main HDD and uploaded to a secure site

Incredibly sensible of you

The number of times we've seen people coming here with failed hard drives and the lament "I don't have any other copies of my music" is too many to count.

[LambdaCalculus]

This may be a little off topic for the thread, but I think that froggyman may want to consider this:

http://www.tarkan.info/20080126/tutorials/32gb-compact-flash-ipod

His hard drive being about ready to meet its maker is a perfect opportunity to check out this mod. I did it myself (but I bought a Transcend 133x 32GB card instead of the A-Data 32GB he used), and it was worth every penny I spent on the parts.

[froggyman]

thanks for that link, when i get enough money i will try to get that done,

for, i really like the idea of having a lighter drive with a little more space and better battery times

i need the HDD to last me this summer though...

[Serenity]

Have you tried any error checking?  Last time my iPod had thrashing/clicking/mounting problems, it was just a @#$%ed up filesystem.  Granted, it was beyond just fixing the errors, but once formatted it's been great.

Of course, if you get a bunch of errors and manage to fix them, then the next week you scan it again and get more errors....then it's time to go HDD shopping.

[froggyman]

Have you tried any error checking?  Last time my iPod had thrashing/clicking/mounting problems, it was just a @#$%ed up filesystem.  Granted, it was beyond just fixing the errors, but once formatted it's been great.

Of course, if you get a bunch of errors and manage to fix them, then the next week you scan it again and get more errors....then it's time to go HDD shopping.

yes, i have been doing error checking, and defragmenting (not as often though). The error checking, gets no errors, and still the audible clicks....

I know i am not going back to  HDD, though. I will go for the 32GB CF mod.

[evilnick]

Defragging may actually be harmful if you aren't constantly swapping out music to and from the iPod, as it uses the HDD so much.

It's usually a better idea to copy the music off the iPod, format it and then move the music back to it.

[froggyman]

yeah i have only defraged it 1-2 times, but i guess i wont do that any more i guess, to preserve the HDD.