Hard drive click on shutdown

Bionic Apple · 2010-07-15 16:24:53

First my specs:

HDD: 1-day old WD Scorpio Black 320 GB 7200 rpm
Laptop: Thinkpad W500
Kernel: 2.6.34 (fully updated from [core])

Problem: First, let me get to the problem the thread title describes. When I shutdown, Arch hangs at the "System is restarting...." message for 15 seconds or so. During these 15 seconds, I can really hear the hard disk spin. After a second or two of it spinning, I hear a click/snap and what I assume is a motherboard beep. However, I have all motherboard beeps disabled in the BIOS! This must mean either the disk is beeping or it is an emergency motherboard beep. This whole event may repeat itself a second time. After all of this, it shuts down just fine. So far, it appears there is no permanent damage.

Now, what makes this really interesting is how Windows 7 responds. As of now, it does not do this. However, if my memory is right, during the first shutdown or two with this Windows install, the same stuff happened. Also, I tested the SMART status of the drive using WD's drive diagnostic tool. It passes it just fine.

Is this just crappy HDD design that a good driver is supposed to remedy? Or is my drive faulty?

Secondary Problem: What I assume is the disk head parking from power saving features is kinda loud. In Windows 7, the disk sounds like a nice even whir. In Arch, it whirs, makes a half-click-half-spin sound, and whirs again.

Last edited by Bionic Apple (2010-07-15 16:27:09)

Inxsible · 2010-07-15 16:31:08

If you are under warranty, then definitely open up a ticket right away. The manufacturer might recognize the issue and replace the HDD for you.

A similar but not the same thing happened on my gf's laptop and Toshiba changed the HDD since the it was under warranty

Bionic Apple · 2010-07-15 19:14:58

Alright, I'll just get a replacement and see how that goes.

Thanks for the input and I will update the thread with whether the new drive works or not.

Inxsible · 2010-07-15 19:28:08

Bionic Apple wrote:

Alright, I'll just get a replacement and see how that goes.
Thanks for the input and I will update the thread with whether the new drive works or not.

Good Luck !

Arch Linux

#1 2010-07-15 16:24:53

Hard drive click on shutdown

#2 2010-07-15 16:31:08

Re: Hard drive click on shutdown

#3 2010-07-15 19:14:58

Re: Hard drive click on shutdown

#4 2010-07-15 19:28:08

Re: Hard drive click on shutdown

Board footer