hey, I was just reading through the thread in hopes of finding a solution to my roomates failed maxtor ( I am trying the fridge trick as we speak for lack of any other logical solution) The small box on top of the hard drive in the begining of this thread seems to contain small spheres, in my opening this looks to be somewhat like activated charcoal, a very good air filter. I may be wrong, somebody may have posted and I missed it, but thats my take on things. I woulnd't be suprised if the box walls were vibrating causing that high pitched sound either....