Hard Drive Clunking Issues

Question

Hard Drive Clunking Issues

Okay, so I'm hoping this is just me and I can just get it replaced, but I want to see if anyone else is having this problem:

(1) Click to start a video.
(2) As soon as the iPod starts accessing the hard drive, move the iPod around in the air and turn it back and forth.
(3) Note clunking sounds and feel the clunking in your hand.
(4) Repeat any time the drive is being heavily accessed.

I noticed this yesterday when I turned the iPod over to look at the back while an episode of Lost was starting up--I felt a clunk and heard it too and almost spit out my gum.

I can reproduce it just about every time the drive is being heavily accessed (it's easier to do it when video is loading rather than music, but it still happens then sometimes too).

Please let this just be a bad drive and not a design flaw...

Posted on Oct 19, 2005 8:09 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 19, 2005 8:10 AM in response to Garrett Murray

Also note that this doesn't seem to affect playback--although once I heard a small beep and once I heard what sounded like a scratch--the video or audio just keeps playing perfectly fine while the clunking happens.

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Answer 2

Petey

Level 2

295 points

Oct 19, 2005 8:17 AM in response to Garrett Murray

humming = fine

Clunking = get it replaced. Might play ok now - but could be an indication of something not being right...and future issues....

Just my opinion.

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Answer 3

Oct 19, 2005 8:21 AM in response to Garrett Murray

Yeah, I just wanted to see if other people have this issue... because you might not notice it unless you do what I described (I didn't notice it at first).

I plan to get it replaced (if possible), but I'm afraid to do that now since I'm sure it will take weeks to get a new one (since I'll have to send this back, etc).

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Answer 4

Oct 19, 2005 8:54 AM in response to Garrett Murray

Garrett,

Apple has been putting patented drive protection circuitry in it's new products...this circuitry protects the drive head when motion of a certain type and velocity is sensed, to keep the drive surface protected in case of a falling device. Since you only hear this when moving the iPod during disk access, this could be the source of the clunking (I should get my iPod in the next day or two and will try your test too.)

Do a Google of "Apple drive protection fall" and you'll find some articles...

Tom

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Answer 5

Oct 19, 2005 9:03 AM in response to Garrett Murray

Tom--you might be onto something here. I just tried it a few times and I heard a beep. Once, though, I heard a scratch.

Something tells me, if this is the case--if it's a feature--on my iPod something isn't right, because if you were to run with my iPod it would totally freak out.

Does anyone have any more details about what it would sound like if the protection occurred?

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Answer 6

Oct 19, 2005 10:05 AM in response to Garrett Murray

Update: Talked to Apple. They put me through to a "product specialist" who was very nice. He said he's aware of what would be causing the sounds, but that they shouldn't be so loud. He didn't say what it was. He said I should keep the iPod for now, he's going to talk to the engineering department and see what they think and get back to me in 3 days.

It was great--over the phone I was able to make the iPod clunk and hiss and beep and he heard it!

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Answer 7

Oct 19, 2005 10:12 AM in response to Garrett Murray

Who all had the 4th generation that are having this problem. I got the same problems with mine but it has always worked well.

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Answer 8

Vipod

Level 2

325 points

Oct 19, 2005 10:13 AM in response to Garrett Murray

on my photo i get the occasional clunking and even on my computer (still a HDD) so it may be normal. i would not provoke it by moving it around lots when its happening though. its just reading for the data.

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Answer 9

Oct 19, 2005 10:22 AM in response to Garrett Murray

I'm used the the normal click and clunk that the iPod makes (I've had a 3rd gen for 2 years), Vipod, and I think that's what you're describing.

What I'm describing here is definitely not right. It feels like something is hitting the back of the iPod and it hisses and clunks REALLY hard.

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Answer 10

Oct 22, 2005 12:56 PM in response to Garrett Murray

I am having the exact same issue. Here is a copy of a post I made last night (right after opening the box and starting to play with my new toy -- I have this horrible feeling that I got a damaged one!):

--

I just received my unit yesterday evening and I am impressed, though a little bit worried about one thing: the noise level of the drive when plugged into my powerbook's USB2 port as well as seemingly after about two seconds from issuing a play command or completing a scrub operation. The sound is like a "chick" or a "clunk", yet it does not effect playback or normal usage of the product, but it worries me -- please someone respond to let me know whether or not my situation is unique and requires replacement or not. I have heard a similar sound emanating from a drive before, which troubles me since, statistically (in my experience with computers) those drives that produced such sounds failed or developed problems soon thereafter...I can only hope that the same ate does not await my new unit.
The one thing that I can note that would probably clarify that this could potentially be a malfunctioning unit is that, as I am logically assuming, if I were to use the recording feature on the new iPod, I am certain that the clunking noise that occurs would also be recorded. This leads me to believe that it cannot possibly be within design spec because it would sound horrible to have a clunking sound present in a classical music scenario or something of that sort!!! There is no doubt about that. I am familiar with the "normal" sounds that emanate from the iPod family, as i am currently the owner of one (or more) of each model ever released (I am a gear fanatic as well as a computer engineer out of University of Southern California School of Engineering)

Anyone else having similar observations while using the new 60Gb iPod with Video (which looks gorgeous by the way)?
Many thanks everyone who contributes to the resolution of my concerns.

--jonathan

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting different results" --Einstein

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Answer 11

Oct 22, 2005 3:47 PM in response to Garrett Murray

Mine has the "clunking" sound too. You have to be in a silent room to notice it though, but its there.

I just thought since this new iPod has more "stuff" in it, that the hard drive has to work a little harder. But, I hope its not more than that, like a defective unit.

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Answer 12

mickc82

Level 1

74 points

Oct 22, 2005 4:09 PM in response to Garrett Murray

I noticed this sound as well when I was syncing my 30 gig with my computer. I was able to reproduce it twice, but I haven't been able to make it do it again. It sounded like it scratched the hard drive and it was a clunk like noise. This clunk is defiantly not the normal sound that I usually hear from my 4th gen or 2th gen iPod.

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Answer 13

Oct 23, 2005 5:17 PM in response to Garrett Murray

YES... mine does that too. sounds like something is tapping very loudly inside the ipod when i move it around at all (even slightly). and the tapping can be heard and felt. i have not tried to workout with my ipod yet but this could be a problem. let me know what they said. i thought that it might be that drive locking system like in the powerbooks. but it is very distracting. and i just want to make sure what it is.

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Answer 14

Oct 23, 2005 5:40 PM in response to MINI VANIILI

REPLACE IT.

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Answer 15

Oct 23, 2005 5:52 PM in response to Garrett Murray

I've got it too...I seem to be having a lot of problems with this ipod...

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