Storage Solutions Tick tick sound in external hdd

Hi,

Tick tick sound is coming from a wd external hdd, we all know what that means.

CrystalDisk Info



WD Dashboard





I didn't know that this software needs an internet connection, so waited for about 4 hours, check the error mentioned on top


Connected the internet later but it never moved ahead from 90% Will do this test later and will get back.

Should I do a test with the now out of support WD Lifeguard Diagnostics software too?

Check the power on count and hours in the first screenshot. This hdd was barely used and was kept stationary. I have no idea why it happened. The quality of WD's hdds, both internal and external, has degraded a lot in the last few years. Will they allow rma on the basis of the first screenshot or will they go by their softwares? Is rma allowed on the basis of the device registration date as per their website or do they need an invoice copy too?

Thanks
 
I don't see any error in your SMART data. It is supposed to be this way.
Then what could be the reason for that tick tick sound especially when something is getting copied to the hdd?
What about the current pending sector thing which I have highlighted in the first screenshot?
Should I complete the extended diagnostic test tomorrow?
Should I do a test with the now out of support WD Lifeguard Diagnostics software too?
Can a faulty cable cause the tick tick sound too? I will ask someone for a cable and will test again.
 
Do a complete surface/sector scan or a full extended test or whatever it's called. It'll take time but if that passes you have nothing to worry about. Some mechanical noises are normal during I/O operation in HDDs.
Yes a bad cable can cause issues.
 
Do a complete surface/sector scan or a full extended test or whatever it's called. It'll take time but if that passes you have nothing to worry about. Some mechanical noises are normal during I/O operation in HDDs.
Yes a bad cable can cause issues.
Thanks. Will get back to you. Is the current pending sector thing in screenshot 1 fine?
Try wd tools.
Using a tool by them only.
Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows has been discontinued https://support.wdc.com/downloads.aspx?p=3&lang=en&i
So, using Western Digital Dashboard instead https://support.wdc.com/downloads.aspx?lang=en&p=279 surprisingly it needs an internet connection while the test is going on. Hope that our data is not going to them.
 
This tik tik sound is not normal.
Check your drives warranty status here

These disks have got 3 yrs warranty, check your invoice date.
Its better to go for RMA
I registered it so it is showing in warranty, but it is for a few months only. Will they RMA it without the invoice? Also do they RMA if their own softwares are showing it as okay (yet to do the extended test)? + @enthusiast29
 
I registered it so it is showing in warranty, but it is for a few months only. Will they RMA it without the invoice? Also do they RMA if their own softwares are showing it as okay (yet to do the extended test)? + @enthusiast29
Yes they will RMA without invoice if it's showing in warranty. Irrelevant of their software they will consider your issue. No need for much details. Initiate a rma request from you account and choose option accordingly for your issue.
 
Yes they will RMA without invoice if it's showing in warranty. Irrelevant of their software they will consider your issue. No need for much details. Initiate a rma request from you account and choose option accordingly for your issue.
Thanks. How can a drive which is used for less than 20 hours go kaput? It was kept in its box and in a stationary table away from dust and all. This is like the 4th wd hdd which has gone kaput for me in the last 2-3 years. Their quality has gone down the drain.
 
Thanks. How can a drive which is used for less than 20 hours go kaput? It was kept in its box and in a stationary table away from dust and all. This is like the 4th wd hdd which has gone kaput for me in the last 2-3 years. Their quality has gone down the drain.
It can happen, when you don't use it.
Moisture is the main villain for electronic components.
 
You guys are making conclusions all based of some mechanical noise from a mechanical drive. If it's working fine and all sorts of tests are passing then you're just doing this for peace of mind. Don't blame the drive. The read/write head can make ticking noises when going back and forth the platter.
Also there's no guarantee the drive you'll receive will be "perfect" one either.
 
You guys are making conclusions all based of some mechanical noise from a mechanical drive. If it's working fine and all sorts of tests are passing then you're just doing this for peace of mind. Don't blame the drive. The read/write head can make ticking noises when going back and forth the platter.
Also there's no guarantee the drive you'll receive will be "perfect" one either.
Why taking chances when we' ve the option for rma. It may fail, not worth risking the data.
Yea there is a mechanical sound from read write head sometimes noticeable when we write but if it's continuous even when disk is idle then certainly is an issue.
Let him confirm if it's there in idle state too.
 
@Nitendra Singh
The sound has reduced to some extent, I borrowed the cable from my friend. Will try to read, write later and get back to you guys. Will also do an extended test and post the results here. You are right if they allow the rma then why take risk. Hope that atleast I am able to copy data from this drive to some other first.

A question why does the WD dashboard software needs an internet connection to do the extended test?

It can happen, when you don't use it.
I don't understand the logic behind this. If this was a product with an inbuilt battery then I would have understood.

Moisture is the main villain for electronic components.
There is no moisture at all where this was kept.

@enthusiast29
You guys are making conclusions all based of some mechanical noise from a mechanical drive. If it's working fine and all sorts of tests are passing then you're just doing this for peace of mind. Don't blame the drive. The read/write head can make ticking noises when going back and forth the platter.
This and the other wd external drives that I have used never made any noise until and unless they were going to go kaput.

Also there's no guarantee the drive you'll receive will be "perfect" one either.
Nothing is perfect in this world. I have seen the replaced wd drives going kaput too. This is why I said earlier that WD's build quality has gone haywire.
@Nitendra Singh @enthusiast29

Used the cable that I borrowed from my friend. It took the Western Digital Dashboard https://support.wdc.com/downloads.aspx?lang=en&p=279 about an hour to go from 0-50% and about another another to reach 90% but then it was like stuck there. I waited for like 6-7 hours and internet was also connected today, though it wasn't the fastest of them all. Check this screenshot, it doesn't have the no internet connection error like yesterday but still stuck at 90%


When I clicked on cancel, it was cancelled immediately so the software wasn't stuck in limbo for sure. Maybe it is the drive or this crappy ass software which needs internet to do an extended scan. Is there any other reliable software that does extended scan of hdd's? I just want to be sure.
 
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1. Sound could be a result of mechanical failure.
2. Stop doing more tests as you will simply aggregate the issue. Dont do defrag/checks etc…
3. Copy out all the data first so you dont lose your data. Then rma the drive.
 
1. Tick tick sound is indication of what you know very well.
2. The fact that your drive is still being recognised and accessible is a prove that you have some luck. I wish I had the same.
3. In relation to #2, consider purchasing some lottery.
 
@booo @sauravghosh @nRiTeCh @Nitendra Singh @enthusiast29

Thanks. Will try to copy data to some other machine and will contact WD for RMA. Will keep you guys in loop.

Is RMA allowed once or more than once in the warranty period for any device, hdd/ram etc., by the companies? Still using the cable that I borrowed from my friend and the sound has reduced a lot.

This drive was used once or twice a year just to take backups. It was barely used, please check the power on count/hours in the first photo. There is no chance of moisture damage the way it was kept and where it was kept. No shocks or fall too. What could have caused this? I know that there is no certain answer but I am having doubts on the shop from where I purchase all my hdd's or is it just that WD has degraded their quality? I don't purchase hdd's/ssd's online just because it might not be handled well in the transportation, no fear of breakage just some heavy shocks. So, I have always purchased them from a local shop. Now either they are not handling them properly or they are importing these from outside the country IDK (that shop imports corsair rams from outside India, sells them only for cash without bill and you can get them for like 2000-2500 less when compared to any online retailer, they are original my friend bought it and even rma'ed it). How has been your experience with the internal and external drives of WD in the last 6-7 years?

@booo
2. Stop doing more tests as you will simply aggregate the issue. Dont do defrag/checks etc…
If simple and extended tests are done on an internal/external hdd then does it impact its health?

@sauravghosh
I won't purchase a lottery but will owe you guys a drink if I am able to copy data from this drive to a pc.
 
My Passport went dead with the click of death earlier this week, albeit after 5 years. Probably yours was banged up during transit in some way and there is most probably some unintended physical contact within.

My external drive was hardly moved as it was used for downloading and just failed, so I don't trust these drives for any kind of actual backup.
 
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