what can be causing 2007 macbook hard drive noise?

I would backup all your info asap and start looking for a new hdd, especially if it is the origional one 4 + years is a very decent life for a HDD. Is it making the noise all the time, or intermittently?

I would get a new one, often times they make "clicking noises" also when they are ready to fail.

well, a hard drive is much less expensive then a new SSD 🙂. If you can still get good use out of it by just replacing the SSD, I would do that. But I think replacing the SSD may void any warranty through Apple if you have one.

sorry..SSD is the acronym for solid state drive aka flash memory (what is in MacBook Airs). Please disregard. I had SSD on the brain instead of HDD (hard drive disc).

There’s one problem with running your MacBook with the battery removed. MacBooks and MacBook Pros automatically reduce the processor speed by about half when the battery is removed.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2332
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/apple-macbook-pro-battery-benchmarks,6643.html

You can get a new third party battery fairly cheap on eBay

Black Batteries http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=macbook+black+battery&_sacat=0&LH_BIN=1&_sop=12 &_dmpt=Laptop_Batteries&_odkw=macbook+white+battery&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0. m 270.l1313

White Batteries http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=macbook+white+battery&_sacat=0&LH_BIN=1&_sop=12 &_dmpt=Laptop_Batteries&_odkw=macbook+black+battery&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0. m 270.l1313

Or for $129 from Apple http://store.apple.com/us/product/MA566LL/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY

For a hard drive try Newegg.com http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=380&name=Laptop-Hard-Dr ives&Order=PRICE

Or OWC http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/2.5-Notebook/

Here are instructions on replacing the hard drive in a MacBook with a removable battery. http://creativemac.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=45088

To transfer your current hard drive I like the free application Carbon Copy Cloner. It makes a bootable copy of everything on your hard drive http://www.bombich.com/index.html You'll need a cheap SATA external hard drive case. Put the new drive in the case then partition and format the new drive and clone your old drive to the new one. Check that it's set up right by booting up from the external drive. Then replace your old hard drive with the new one. Here's a cheap SATA external hard drive case on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-5-SATA-HDD-HARD-DRIVE-EXTERNAL-ENCLOSURE-CASE-BOX-/120 636286623?pt=PCC_Drives_Storage_Internal&hash=item1c167ba69f

If you don’t have the tools to open up the MacBook OWC has a set for $5
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TOOLKITMHD/

You might have a hard time finding a hard drive at a decent price. The floods in Thailand have really cut into supply and almost doubled the prices.http://techindiareview.com/2011/10/expect-hard-drive-and-higher-prices-shortages -after-massive-flooding-in-thailand/
http://www.gaebler.com/News/Small-Business-Technology/Thailand-floods-mean-highe r-hard-drive-prices-and-rising-small-business-IT-costs-900000035.htm
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/28/us-thai-floods-drives-idUSTRE79R662201 11028

Tht ‘gritty’ noise may not necessarily be produced by a dying hard disk, but by the fan. I recently had that issue, and—upon replacing the hard disk—found that it was in fact the fan. It cost around $ 25 to replace it.

Hey nancyinaz,

I think I know your prob. When the sound "rises and falls with the activity", it seems to be the powermanagement-issue with some hardisks, which indirectly causes the interior fan to accelerate and fall back in short time-intervals. A proper solution in this (and only this) case is the tool "hdapm.dmg", which is downloadable here:

http://mckinlay.net.nz/hdapm/

download it and mount the dmg file, then follow the installation-process. The tool adjusts the pm-settings according to your drive, based on a large databank.

In my case (Macbook late 2006), it works wonderful. No more hassle with ANY strange sounds from the machine and porper performance without "dead seconds"

If the issue is not gone afterwards, replace the hdd.

Hope it helps, best regards,

chrishees

I cannot say whether your solution is good or not, may be good. I only think that he/she must identify the very cause of that noise, which may be the fan (as I think according to description) or disk, not excluded, of course.