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Level 1

1 points

Hard drive click + beep

I recently purchased a new MBP 15, 3 Ghz, 500 GB 7200 rpm hard drive, build-to-order. The hard drive appears to be a seagate ST9500420ASG. I am experiencing a strange hard drive click followed 80% of the time by a beep. It is definitely not a beep from the speaker. Additionally, it happens at any time, even when the computer is sitting on a perfectly still table. It is exactly the same sound as what is documented at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gOhgaIMpPI

and mine too appears randomly approximately 15-20 times per day. It does not appear to matter if the computer is under light or heavy use and it seems truly random when it occurs. Another user on youtube has also experienced this with their new MBP 15 and sent me a wav file with the same sound mine is making. So far, his experience is that it does NOT occur under bootcamp. This leads me to believe that it is something specific to OSX. Turning off the "put hard drive to sleep when possible" does not seem to make any difference. I have not personally tested bootcamp on my machine to confirm that mine is the same, but the original poster of the youtube video linked above also seems to think it is OSX specific.

Any clues? Should I try to get apple to swap the HD for a new one? Any help is greatly appreciated.

MacBook Pro 15 Mid 2009, Mac OS X (10.5.7), Hard Drive ST9500420ASG

Posted on Jun 20, 2009 10:14 AM

2,010 replies

ADKIM

Level 1

0 points

Jun 23, 2009 5:18 PM in response to wessto

ALCON,

*IT IS COMING FROM THE CD/DVD ROM TRAY *

I've been able to isolate the sound (don't ask how). It's the CD/DVD tray that is making the click-beep sound

wessto Author

Level 1

1 points

Jun 23, 2009 10:32 PM in response to ADKIM

I'm fairly certain it is not coming from the CD / DVD tray. Not sure how you can be so certain of this.

CLBlake

Level 1

0 points

Jun 24, 2009 1:48 AM in response to wessto

I just got my MacBook Pro Summer 2009 Model. I have the 500GB 7200RPM drive and it making the click + beep noise. Apple needs to address all of the customers that have this drive and HELP US.

It is becoming annoying and scary that a computer that is BRAND NEW is doing this. I havnet even taken my computer off my desk since it was taken out of the box so I KNOW this is a factory defect on the Hard Drive.

Help?

Jun 24, 2009 3:04 AM in response to wessto

Yea, I have mine 2.8G model with 7200rpm hd, do the same thing with the beeping noise from it. no idea but hope this doesn't effect too much.

baddit

Level 1

0 points

Jun 24, 2009 8:07 AM in response to wessto

Another one here with the annoying beep. Took delivery of my new MBP yesterday, after configuring it with 3.06GHz processors and 7200 RPM 500GB hard drive. Beep happens at seemingly random intervals, and it doesn't matter if I have headphones plugged in or not, so I'm thinking it's not coming out of the speakers.

Jun 24, 2009 8:15 AM in response to wessto

just an fyi,, i have a mid june 2.8 17" with the 500g 5400rpm drive and it doesn't make the beeping noise, so maybe the issue is only limited to the 7200rpm

Jun 24, 2009 8:41 AM in response to Aunty June

Same new Macbook Pro 3.06 with the 7200 drive. Same clicking/beeping problem. Was at the genius bar for something else a couple of days ago and mentioned the issue and this discussion to one of the guys there. They had no clue that there was an issue. We agreed to hold off on doing anything for now. Since the hardware test comes out normal, I'm hoping Apple can resolve this through a firmware update.

Jun 24, 2009 8:50 AM in response to KBeat

Count me in as having this same problem. I'm tempted to go buy an external hard drive just in case this ends up crapping out on me. Color me very concerned and awaiting some real help from Apple.

ADKIM

Level 1

0 points

Jun 24, 2009 10:45 AM in response to wessto

@ wessto and everyone,

YES this is definitely coming from the CD/DVD super drive.
1. when there is a CD/DVD in the drive the click-beep STOPS
2. I've actually just put my ear against it and waited for the sounds and it came from within that space (provided that there is nothing else occupying that space that could make that sound)
3. ONLY when the CD/DVD has stopped spinning and is at a stand-still is when the sound comes back, except this time it's only the beep and there is no "click" sound preceding it...

The "Click" sound that momentarily happens right before the beep sounds like the Super Drive trying to initiate the initial spin of the CD/DVD... at least that's what it sounds like to me.

I'm about 80% sure about this... can't say for sure b/c I don't want to open the thing up just to isolate it... but give it a try and you'll notice the same coincidences...

macboi45

Level 1

4 points

Jun 24, 2009 11:37 AM in response to wessto

nope sorry its not on mine as it makes the sound without any dvd or cd in it. Also the sound (chirp) is from the front left corner where the hd sits.

try this close the lid to put the puter to sleep re open after sleep then what sound do you hear?

pilote99

Level 1

0 points

Jun 24, 2009 11:41 AM in response to macboi45

Something is beeping also on my brand new Macbook Pro 15"with a 500gb 7200rpm HD !

baddit

Level 1

0 points

Jun 24, 2009 12:22 PM in response to wessto

I've just restarted my machine and it's running off battery power and I haven't heard a beep. Does anyone else notice a difference if they're running on main power or not?

CLBlake

Level 1

0 points

Jun 24, 2009 12:45 PM in response to ADKIM

@ADKIM

I am almost 100% sure its a the 500GB 7200RPM HDD. I have tested your SuperDrive theory and can tell it is coming from the 7200RPM drive. I can tell because the CLICK + Beep noise sounds like the HDD to me

I hope apple helps us out.

wessto Author

Level 1

1 points

Jun 24, 2009 4:18 PM in response to ADKIM

ADKIM wrote:
@ wessto and everyone,

YES this is definitely coming from the CD/DVD super drive.
1. when there is a CD/DVD in the drive the click-beep STOPS
2. I've actually just put my ear against it and waited for the sounds and it came from within that space (provided that there is nothing else occupying that space that could make that sound)
3. ONLY when the CD/DVD has stopped spinning and is at a stand-still is when the sound comes back, except this time it's only the beep and there is no "click" sound preceding it...

The "Click" sound that momentarily happens right before the beep sounds like the Super Drive trying to initiate the initial spin of the CD/DVD... at least that's what it sounds like to me.

I'm about 80% sure about this... can't say for sure b/c I don't want to open the thing up just to isolate it... but give it a try and you'll notice the same coincidences...

I have tried using my MBP with and without a disc in the drive and still get the click + beep with the same frequency either way. AC power or on battery, does not matter either.

Jun 24, 2009 10:54 PM in response to wessto

Yep, count me in. Same boat. I've got the 15" 2.53GHz 4GB RAM, 500GB 7200 RPM less than a week old. ClickBeep every so often... Guess I'll bring it into the store if it starts getting worse...and back everything up.

Hard drive click + beep