Hard Drive Noise

You might be hearing the Sudden Motion Sensor:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1935

If this is what it is, it is normal and nothing to worry about.

I have the same issue. I removed the hard drive from the MacBook Pro and put it in to my MacBook, when i moved the Macbook it made that same sound i was hearing in the MBP. Called Apple, they sent me out a replacement drive, which should resolve the issue.

**When i called Apple they said the sound was most likely to be the motion sensor.

same exact problem with my brand new 2009 MacBook Pro Unibody SD.

I previously owned a first generation MacBook Pro and have never heard this issue. In fact, I work in a very Mac heavy environment, and I've seen/used hundreds of Mac laptops over the past 7 years and never heard any of them make this sound when moved/shifted. While it may in fact be the Sudden Motion Sensor, I suspect it shouldn't be this loud of a noise.

I will be getting my MacBook replaced assuming Apple agrees with me on Sunday that this noise is "not in spec".

nerfjames,

I got my MBP replaced because of this issue. I received the replacement MBP 3 days ago, i have the same issue.

**THE MBP 13" has the same issue as-well.

The same thing happens to me. I think it's normal but if anyone has contacted Apple and knows what to do please tell me.

"I think it's normal"

It is. As other posters have noted it is the sudden motion sensor. Another poster contacted Apple, and Apple replied that it was the sudden motion sensor. What else do you need?

It's not normal. At least the loudness of my issue was not.

And Apple agreed with me. They have now replaced my laptop with a brand new one, and the issue is gone.

And since this was like my 10th visit to the Apple Store in the last 2 months, Apple even upgraded me from the 2.53 model, to the 2.66 model. All I did was ask. I've learned it never hurts to ask.

-James

I've recorded the nose mine makes. (Recorded with my iPhone near the right side of the machine)

http://files.me.com/makentosh/pernlo.mov

While it makes this noise, the interface freezes. Sometimes it will make it two times in a row. I rarely move my laptop, so I don't THINK it's the sudden movement sensor. It can be sitting there while I'm surfing the web then "click, clack" and once it's done, I can use the computer again (the "freeze" lasts as long as the noise is being made, really short, but noticeable").

My last laptop made a noise like a ball dropping but, since it was always responsive even during those times, it didn't bother me. This one makes me think that there's something going wrong because the system is expecting data and the HD is going "NO, not until I finish my clackin' darn ya!"

The clicking and clacking combined with the lack of motion and freezing does make it sound like there is a hard drive problem of some sort. You might want to download S.M.A.R.T. Utility and see if it shows anything:

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32454

You can download the demo and run it several times for free. By clicking on the "Show All" in each panel, it will give you a very comprehensive view of the various things that are measured to determine the S.M.A.R.T. status of the drive. I believe that it is more critical than Disk Utility is and will show problems with the S.M.A.R.T. status before Disk Utility will report them.

Good luck!

Drat, it doesn't show anything, it says everything passed. So, even with that noise, the drive doesn't THINK it has failed anything. 😟 Has anyone else with the 500 gig HD heard that sound?

One thing does come to mind. I have read about a 250 GB Western Digital PATA drive making an "annoying clicking noise", although the one I have does not. There was also some discussion saying that WD had a fix for Windows users that eliminated the sound, but there was nothing available for OS X.

I am wondering if the noise is tied to any particular brand of drive, and if so, if there is any information on the manufacturer's web site or any assistance to be had from the manufacturer's technical support. You might be able to find out if the noise is considered to be normal or not, and if the manufacturer says it is not normal (and why should it be?), then that would be something to take to Apple.

Just grasping at straws I know, but if one make and model of drive could come with an annoying noise that is a known issue, then it seems possible that other makes and models could possibly as well. And the manufacturer of the drive should know if the noise is normal or not.

I tend to worry about weird hard drive noises, even if S.M.A.R.T. seems to be verified. Even S.M.A.R.T. may not detect everything. There have been enough hard drive failures when S.M.A.R.T. showed to be verified. I'd keep everything backed up, and I hope you get some responses from others who have this drive.

Good luck!

My MBP 15" (SD) exhibited the same sound when moved. However, I just tried moving my computer a few times and didn't get that sound. Strange. I will be installing a larger HDD soon, so I'll keep a note if I hear the sound. I never heard anything like that with my old 17" MBP. These unibodies are much stronger/thicker in design, so I would think I wouldn't have to hear any noise coming from inside.

Bryan

I also have a 500 gig and it does the click sound with the SLIGHTEST movement. If I rest my palm on the laptop to hard "click", if I pick it up off of one surface to move it to another "click", If I move the computer in the air quickly "click". It is very annoying, and I am concerned about the durability of the hard drive. I treat this computer like it is a child, so don't think that this is unnecessary movement, or that I am being rough with it. I had my white Macbook for over a year and never had one problem with the hard drive, or anything else for that matter.

Besides this, the computer has crashed on me TWICE since I bought it. I had to do an archive install both times. I constantly get the rainbow wheel, sometimes for longer than a minute. The problem seems to be more common when using Safari.

I have apple care. Does this sound like a problem I should take up with Apple, or are these common symptoms with the new Macbook pro 13"? Are these problems something that may be addressed with a software update?

" I treat this computer like it is a child,"

Your post reminds me of the author who wrote, "My car runs like a top. I wish it ran like a car."
If you do not like the motion sensor protecting your drive, you can turn it off.