The Saga of the Ever Clunking Hard Drive

Question

The Saga of the Ever Clunking Hard Drive

Hello All,

I know by now that some of you must have already seen my posts regarding the clunking hard drives on the 5g 30gb Ipod. I have another installation of the story for those interested.

After getting the original 5g ipod, that I ordered from Apple online, replaced at my local Apple Store, I was quite pleased to find that the replacement had the same problem. A definate and noticible clunk in the hard drive when the ipod is acessing media and is slightly jostled or twisted. Nothing harse in the movement of the ipod, nothing greater than would be expected in normal use.

So I took the replacement back for replacement #2. The guy at the apple store definately said it was a problem, hence he DOA'ed the replacement, and gave me another one, and then asked if that one had to be replaced too, could I please go to the other Apple store in my city (Houston).

Getting home and thinking that this cant possible happen a third time, I hooked up my Ipod, and when it was synching to my itunes, i twisted it around in my hand. As sure as rain, I heard that ever so pleasent clunk. To contain my rage, I had to go to bed.

I called Apple the nest day to inquire about the warranty on the Ipod. I am going to keep this one (replacement #2) and use it, to see if the clunking will go away with use. A long shot, but a try instead of going to get replacement #3.

So everyone that has gotten a 5g ipod, esecially the 30gb one, as soon as u plug it into your computer and the hard drive starts spinning, hold it in your hand and twint your wrist around, back and fourth. Just like turning a door knob, but a little faster. If it clunks, then you to have one of the wonderful (and supposedly rare) magical clunking Ipods.

Apple would like its consumers to think this is an isolated problem, but seriously, lightening dosent strike 3 times in the same place. One that came by mail, and 2 from an apple store, what r the chances that they would all have the same problem if it is supposedly an isolated occurance.

Check your pod and make sure your satisfied.

Posted on Nov 3, 2005 1:59 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 3, 2005 3:02 PM in response to Robert McGrath1

RObert I did read your posts earlier and am amazed this has happened 3 times now. I am curious....is the clucnking a sound you hear? I have notice holding my ipod, especially when playing video, that I can feel it vibrate with the heads moving on the drive. it does not clunk or make any noise...and to be honest I was not really even alarmed by this.....but I was surprised to feel the heads moving like that. This is my first Ipod and while I get that it is moving a lot of data with the video I just want to make sure I am not having a problem with mine. I don;t really get anything like this with audio being played

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Answer 2

Nov 3, 2005 3:08 PM in response to Robert McGrath1

Hey,

It isnt the spinning up and down of the hard drive. U can hear a loud click when u twist the ipod, and can feel it too. It does not happen unless u twist the ipod over in your hand. I know it isnt something you do regularily, but for people that use their pod when jogging, this can definately happen. It also causes the pod to freeze for a bit. If this problem was happeeing, you would definately know about. Access a movie on your pod and give it a twist or two when the hard drive is spinning to see if it will do it. The probelm will happen whenever the hard drive is spinning, not just when it is spinning up or down

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Answer 3

Nov 3, 2005 3:10 PM in response to Robert McGrath1

Robert, the clunking hard drive is normal. See here: Rokzy, "Noisy Hard Drive IS NORMAL!" #1, 01:53pm Nov 2, 2005 CDT

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Answer 4

Chas Hulme

Level 4

1,130 points

Nov 3, 2005 4:21 PM in response to Robert McGrath1

Yo Robert,

Yes, I can cause what you describe too, as can all iPod 5g owners...

What you are hearing and feeling is the drop protection mechanism reacting in the iPod's Toshiba Microdrive to your wrist snap. Within the hard drive is a silicon microtechnology three-axis accelerometer that is designed to detect the g-forces of a tumbling free fall. Once activated, the feature must then accomplish a park and spin down of the drive in less that 140ms. This is felt and heard as a snap or "clunking sound" you describe. Once the forces stop, the drive then returns to an operable state. I have attended technology lectures on this.

The Genius Bar staff at Apple Stores are meant to be experts in the use and appplication of Apple products, not in their engineering design. Moreover, the competition in the mp3 player market is fierce, causing companies like Apple to take very seriously the protection of their technical advances and advantages. I am not at all surprised that Apple does not publicize this and, in fact, Steve Jobs was quietly attempting to patent Apple's particular iPod implementation earlier this year.

In the absence of an actual 5g failure, maybe you could give it a rest. IMHO, I think you are wasting time and valuable resources.

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Answer 5

Nov 3, 2005 5:38 PM in response to Chas Hulme

I agree, Chas. The in-store Mac Genius isnt the "Mac God". He/she only knows what Apple tells him. The genius I spoke with (and im assuming many many others) had no idea about the noisy hard drives in these new iPods, so he is gonna assume there is something wrong.

But im telling you all right now, they are all normal. There are different parts in these new iPods that cause it to make these noises & I know its a little troubling, but please just look over it & enjoy your iPod.

Like I said in my other post, I seriously checked at least 10 or 15 new 5G (30GB & 60GB) display iPods in the Apple Store & they ALL made the clunking noise. It was almost closing time & the store was VERY quiet. So, I highly doubt they were all defective.

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Answer 6

Nov 3, 2005 5:38 PM in response to Robert McGrath1

iPod is well constructed, but if you shake it you may hear some rattling noises that come from the Hold switch and the hard drive. This is not unusual, however, you should not needlessly or carelessly shake it.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60969

Gayle

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Answer 7

Nov 3, 2005 5:44 PM in response to Chas Hulme

Chas,

Well researched. Many thanks for your technically superb and clear explanation. 5+'s - thanx

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Answer 8

Rob_W

Level 1

135 points

Nov 3, 2005 6:32 PM in response to Community User

Yep, clunking noise present here.

So Gayle, what would you say to us fitness fanatics who run with their ipods?
Running causes things to shake, hense the reason most people use mp3 players over cassette or CD players.
So now if these new ipods are gonna take a step backwards as far as stability is concerned, why did we discard our old sony walkmans?

Just curious...

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Answer 9

GFF

Level 4

3,654 points

Nov 3, 2005 6:55 PM in response to Robert McGrath1

good info to know thanks for bringing this to light. On a lighter note you culd jave kept replacement #1 and attached both ipods to sticks adn then they would have be great rattles in a salsa band im starting up called the ipod rattlers.

Anyonw wanna try out?

GFF

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Answer 10

Chas Hulme

Level 4

1,130 points

Nov 3, 2005 7:45 PM in response to Rob_W

Hi Rob_W,

Personally I use a Shuffle for running and biking. It's simple and light, and I couldn't care less if it gets sweaty and dirty. I know it's an added expense, but who really wants to be dragging around a bigger model when active?

But those who do, fasten their iPod's in a quiescent location that is not subject to great centrifugal forces like the waist or upper bicep. This is optimal for both the mp3 player and the athlete. Running with the iPod in your hand, where you might run into a problem, seems clueless, doesn't it?

Keep in mind that any drop protection as described is good, not bad. The iPod skip protection dictates that the disk is accessed sparingly to get the next segment of data. Only when the drive is spinning is it susceptible to g-forces. All in all, you should never see an interruption in program material except in the case of abuse. The "pause" mentioned by Richard is one in menu navigation, seldom music.

The 5g iPod is an impressive step forward, not backward. It does, however, require the screen to be babied -- but that's another issue altogether.

Best.

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Answer 11

Nov 10, 2005 5:04 PM in response to Robert McGrath1

Ok, question... I see that everyone here is talking about producing the sound when the iPod is suddenly moved.

I just fired up my new 60GB today. When mounting, it took about 20 seconds for it to be recognized by the OS and this is on my brand-new, less-than-week-old 17" PB on a less than 48-hour old clean install of 10.4.2, upgraded to 10.4.3 via the Combo Updater.

On disconnect, the iPod took about 30 seconds to go from "Do not disconnect" to the main menu. I found this a little odd, so I let it sit, connected it again, let it update and finish updating in iTunes (nothing really to update), and disconnected it again, only this time I put it to my ear, and a loud clunking sound was heard while holding it perfectly still about 5 or 6 times, followed by another clunk and an immediate spin down.

Then, it restarted itself in the middle of playing a song. Then it paused in the middle of another song for about 5 seconds. That very same clunking sound can be heard multiple times in succession too.

For fear of flinging it across the room, I have never made any quick movements. So. Am I speaking of the same activity or do you all think this is something different, or possibly bad? Before getting this 60GB I've had a 3rd Gen. 40GB one, so I'm just trying to make sure there's nothing about these that's different, or if I'm just paranoid.

Thanks in advance.

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Answer 12

hitstanz

Level 1

0 points

Dec 20, 2005 2:58 AM in response to InfraredAD

got 30gb video ipod 3 days back and noticed clunking sound when uploading from PC, its normal when used otherwise.
I am biting for that explanation cause replacemnet here wont be easy.
lets see if thats a glitch or a hard drive protection technology

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Answer 13

Dec 20, 2005 5:41 AM in response to Robert McGrath1

Harddisk spinning in one direction. I believe if you spin the unit in the same direction as the harddisk plate spin, it interrupts the reading process of harddisk, the same situation can be found on portable CD player, if you turn off the shock protection of the CD player, and spin slighly faster back and forth. Then, it will cause to stop of music.

By the way, it do reflect that the reading and caching of iPod still need to improve.

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Answer 14

lyp1089

Level 1

0 points

Jan 2, 2006 6:41 AM in response to Robert McGrath1

I have a question: My 60g ipod makes a series of small clicking sounds before the song is played? Is that the ipod accessing the hard drive, or is it a cause for concer?

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Answer 15

Me1Roger

Level 1

20 points

Jan 2, 2006 7:14 AM in response to lyp1089

It's normal.

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