Funny noises with Maxtor 6Y060P0/6Y080P0 drives

  • Thread starter Thread starter JonnyCab®
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JonnyCab®

Has anyone else noticed that these drives make, for the lack of a better
description, a "SHEEESH-CLUNK" noise periodically? I've worked with various
brands of drives for ten years, and I've never heard anything like this
before. They also sound like parts are loose inside the drives while
they're seeking.

Over a dozen samples of these drives, many from different lots, make these
noises. I can't find any firmware updates *anywhere*. Finally, Maxtor's
sound utility doesn't seem to be available anymore, and it was definitely
not for these drives anyway.
 
JonnyCab? said:
Has anyone else noticed that these drives make, for the lack of a better
description, a "SHEEESH-CLUNK" noise periodically? I've worked with various
brands of drives for ten years, and I've never heard anything like this
before. They also sound like parts are loose inside the drives while
they're seeking.
Click to expand...
Over a dozen samples of these drives, many from different lots, make these
noises. I can't find any firmware updates *anywhere*. Finally, Maxtor's
sound utility doesn't seem to be available anymore, and it was definitely
not for these drives anyway.
Click to expand...

Hmm, mine does that too. I have the 120 GB HDD (8 MB cache, 6Y120P0).
I guess it is a new feature? Anyways, see my newsgroup thread (long
URL so copy and paste if needed):

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...9&[email protected]

I am having problem with this HDD locking up. I haven't figured out if
it is a bad HDD, controller problem, funky setup, VIA chipset, etc.
Do you have this problem?
--
"No, I'd prefer a cooler WITHOUT an ant-door, thank you..." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ The Ant Farm: http://antfarm.ma.cx
| |o o| | E-mail: (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
\ _ / Remove ANT if replying by e-mail from a newsgroup.
( )
 
Hmm, mine does that too. I have the 120 GB HDD (8 MB cache, 6Y120P0).
I guess it is a new feature? Anyways, see my newsgroup thread (long
URL so copy and paste if needed):
Click to expand...
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...9&[email protected]

I saw this while searching through Google. I'm really surprised that we
seem to be the only two people complaining about this.

It's not just one drive, either. About a dozen 60 and 80GB DiamondMax 9
Plus drives do this, all in systems that I've built for other people. So
far, they all work fine, but that noise is kinda scary---it's actually more
like a "CLUNK-DINK". I should record a sample and post it in one of the
binary groups...
I am having problem with this HDD locking up. I haven't figured out if
it is a bad HDD, controller problem, funky setup, VIA chipset, etc.
Do you have this problem?
Click to expand...

Nope---no problems. I've used these drives with Asus A7V333 (VIA) and A7N8X
(nVidia) boards (two radically different chipsets), so I doubt that it's an
IDE controller problem. I suspect that it's a firmware bug.

I just want Maxtor to release a firmware upgrade to stop this noise.
 
JonnyCab? said:
I saw this while searching through Google. I'm really surprised that we
seem to be the only two people complaining about this.
Click to expand...

I am more concerned with the HDD lock up, not the noises. However, it does
worry me if it is related.

It's not just one drive, either. About a dozen 60 and 80GB DiamondMax 9
Plus drives do this, all in systems that I've built for other people. So
far, they all work fine, but that noise is kinda scary---it's actually more
like a "CLUNK-DINK". I should record a sample and post it in one of the
binary groups...
Click to expand...

Hehe, yeah record! I don't hear the dink part but my computer fans are noisy.
Maybe this is normal!

Nope---no problems. I've used these drives with Asus A7V333 (VIA) and A7N8X
(nVidia) boards (two radically different chipsets), so I doubt that it's an
IDE controller problem. I suspect that it's a firmware bug.
Click to expand...

Did you try using these HDDs with the Raid controller enabled? I already have
2 HDDs, 1 CD burner, and 1 DVD drive. So I ran out of places so had to use the
Raid controller (Promise).


I just want Maxtor to release a firmware upgrade to stop this noise.
Click to expand...

I am probably going to try another HDD to see if I still get lock ups.
Remember, I am concerned over the lock ups. They might be related to the
noises I hear.
--
"No, I'd prefer a cooler WITHOUT an ant-door, thank you..." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ The Ant Farm: http://antfarm.ma.cx
| |o o| | E-mail: (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
\ _ / Remove ANT if replying by e-mail from a newsgroup.
( )
 
Hehe, yeah record! I don't hear the dink part but my computer fans are
noisy.
Maybe this is normal!
Click to expand...

If I have the time today, I will. My fans are actually pretty quiet, which
is why the drive noise is so prominent.
Did you try using these HDDs with the Raid controller enabled? I already have
2 HDDs, 1 CD burner, and 1 DVD drive. So I ran out of places so had to use the
Raid controller (Promise).
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have a few pairs of them running on two Tyan Tiger 200T boards (VIA
Apollo Pro 133A chipsets), in mirror. They also do the "CLUNK-DINK" thing.
I am probably going to try another HDD to see if I still get lock ups.
Remember, I am concerned over the lock ups. They might be related to the
noises I hear.
Click to expand...

I would try another *brand* to see if that fixes your problem. I wrote
Maxtor last night about this; it will be interesting to hear their reply.
 
If I have the time today, I will. My fans are actually pretty quiet, which
is why the drive noise is so prominent.
OK!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I have a few pairs of them running on two Tyan Tiger 200T boards (VIA
Apollo Pro 133A chipsets), in mirror. They also do the "CLUNK-DINK" thing.
Click to expand...

OK, now it is starting to sound like a defect drive for my situation. I think
I will go get it replace tonight or tomorrow depending on free time. I
disabled the controller to avoid lock ups.

I would try another *brand* to see if that fixes your problem. I wrote
Maxtor last night about this; it will be interesting to hear their reply.
Click to expand...

OK! I bet they will say it is by designed. :>
--
"No, I'd prefer a cooler WITHOUT an ant-door, thank you..." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ The Ant Farm: http://antfarm.ma.cx
| |o o| | E-mail: (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
\ _ / Remove ANT if replying by e-mail from a newsgroup.
( )
 
JonnyCab® said:
Has anyone else noticed that these drives make, for the lack of a better
description, a "SHEEESH-CLUNK" noise periodically? I've worked with various
brands of drives for ten years, and I've never heard anything like this
before. They also sound like parts are loose inside the drives while
they're seeking.
Click to expand...


That's usually the sign of a dying drive. When the drive fails to read
a part of the drive, it will recalibrate itself and attempt to re-read
the data.

I've heard that happen with Maxtor drives, as that's the only brand
drive I've had fail when in service. Try running a diagnostic test to
search for bad sectors, such as Hitachi DFT or Maxtor Powermax. Though
the latter is more likely to say that the drive is fine, if you want to
get a replacement drive from Maxtor you will need an error code from
Powermax.

Oh, also if you're running an NT-based OS you can check the event viewer
for error messages regarding the drive. If the drive has bad sectors,
there will be error events indicating that.

-WD
 
That's usually the sign of a dying drive. When the drive fails to read
a part of the drive, it will recalibrate itself and attempt to re-read
the data.
Click to expand...

As I said, I've put together systems for ten years, and I know what a dying
drive sounds like. This sound is not that kind of sound. This is the heads
parking and then restarting. I can see it, for example, if I load a large
sound file into Sound Forge. The progress bar is smooth until the
CLUNK-DINK, then it stops, then quickly continues. No errors.
I've heard that happen with Maxtor drives, as that's the only brand
drive I've had fail when in service. Try running a diagnostic test to
search for bad sectors, such as Hitachi DFT or Maxtor Powermax. Though
the latter is more likely to say that the drive is fine, if you want to
get a replacement drive from Maxtor you will need an error code from
Powermax.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Powermax had no errors on several different machines---Asus A7V333s,
Asus A7N8Xs, and two Tyan Tiger 200T (S2505) server boards with DM9 6Y060P0s
running in mirror. Same CLUNK-DINK noise, but only occassionally, and only
when opening a large program or file.

I've avoided Western Digital in the past year or so because of bearing
problems, and I've avoided Seagate because of head problems. So leave it to
Maxtor to have the best bearings in their recent drives, but not to allow me
to use the acoustic management utility they had a year ago. I'd rather give
up some performance than listen to hard drive noise that should be
*diminishing* with denser platters.
Oh, also if you're running an NT-based OS you can check the event viewer
for error messages regarding the drive. If the drive has bad sectors,
there will be error events indicating that.
Click to expand...

Of course, the event logs show no errors---not even warnings.

Maxtor has offered me an RMA on any drive less than one year old, so I'll
probably take them up on that for a few drives.

My own A7N8X-based board is the one I'm wondering about. I may now go with
either an 80GB SATA WD or Seagate drive. I've been reading that the latest
WD drives have LOUD bearings, which still makes me wonder about their
longevity. On the other hand, Seagate SATA drives need those stupid power
cable converters (why???), and I'm still not convinced of their
reliability...

Decisions, decisions...
 
Go to alt.binaries.sounds.d

I posted the sound as an attached file (6Y080P0.MP3) with the subject
"Maxtor 6Y080P0".
 
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