WD Caviar SE WD1200JB 120GB (Clicking NOISE)

[sweeper2]

WDC WD1200JB-75CRA0 (111 GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144118

grr.. i got this used.. seemed to work good for a few weeks... i am only using it for storage.. (.avi files and music files).. have a good amount of space used already on it.. still about 50% free ...

it keeps making a dble clicking noise .. like turning a light switch off and then back on .. "click, click" ... very intermitant .... but it does it "consistantly" ... "only when i am using it to transfer files onto or downloading program files onto it..."

i don't want to loose any of my data... and my 80gig Samsung won't hold all the data that's on it to transfer it over...

how can i check this thing , or what can i do.. just wait for it to die..?? I don't think it has any warranty left.. and yes, new it's only 55$ + shipping, but like i said, i paid 30$ shipped for it used...

i just need a good "free" program that will check it out without wiping the HD ...

[MTAtech]

First, you should have a backup strategy. Keeping hundreds of gigabytes of valuable and irreplacable data on a drive without it being backed up is... well, stupid. (I know many smart people who are so careless.)

Second, go out and buy a new drive now (wait until reading the end of this post.) They are so cheap and often offer rebates.

Third, connect to your PC and copy you files to it.

[sweeper2]

so I am assuming it's concievable that the HD is going to crash soon..

uuugh.. $$ is the issue... i will have to just have to back up what i can...

[GiPilot12]

My old HDD had a similar problem, clicking away. It worked fine for about 3 months after it began, but on the 4th month and 5th month I kept on getting the BSOD every few hours. I quickly got a new HDD and backed up. The old hard drive completely crashed 6 months after the clicking began.

[sweeper2]

My old HDD had a similar problem, clicking away. It worked fine for about 3 months after it began, but on the 4th month and 5th month I kept on getting the BSOD every few hours. I quickly got a new HDD and backed up. The old hard drive completely crashed 6 months after the clicking began.

[jrsweger]

For what it's worth, my daughter had one that worked one night and did nothing but click the next morning. Lost everything.......

[MTAtech]

If it's clicking, it can go at any time. back it up to CD/DVD if you must.

[Whir]

Go to Western Digital's website and download their disk tools. My 1600JB "died" on me. Tools found and repaired the bad sectors. Works fine again.

You might get lucky.

Also, like they say, having a backup strategy is always a plus when you're dealing with 100+GB of files you really don't want to lose.

[sweeper2]

Go to Western Digital's website and download their disk tools. My 1600JB "died" on me. Tools found and repaired the bad sectors. Works fine again.

You might get lucky.

Also, like they say, having a backup strategy is always a plus when you're dealing with 100+GB of files you really don't want to lose.

cool.. thanks for the advice !!

[MTAtech]

Go to Western Digital's website and download their disk tools. My 1600JB "died" on me. Tools found and repaired the bad sectors. Works fine again.

You might get lucky.

Also, like they say, having a backup strategy is always a plus when you're dealing with 100+GB of files you really don't want to lose.

Both are good advice. My data is duplicated in several areas. I use a file server in my home and the data is RAID mirrored on the server. Then, every night an incrimental backup occurs that copies new and changed files across the network to a PC that keeps a copy of the data.

When dealing with years of digital photos one wants to be safe.

[Wakeboarder141]

Go to Western Digital's website and download their disk tools.

By "disk tools" do you mean Data Lifeguard tools or Data Lifeguard diagnostics? I have a WD 120GB drive that I am having trouble accessing as well. Thanks.