# Why did my computer drive start roaring? (need answers fast) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 1, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113 "2010-11-01T19:14:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/1 "2010-11-01T19:14:27Z")
One of my computer drives started just ROARING today. Any ideas why? A little info (not a lot, because I’m a moron). - I added a 2 TB internal drive to this computer several months ago. I can’t be certain, but I believe that’s the one making all this racket. - It doesn’t have much on it except for a ton of video files. So - can I disable it for a while and see if it keeps acting up like this? Any specific things I can go into to see what the deal is? Help! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/2 "2010-11-01T19:26:03Z")
Loud Roars in a pc are usually a bad chassis fan. Try stopping the fan with a finger or unplug it. Sound should go away. I’ve always stopped chassis fans with the edge of my finger. But, it’s safer to unplug it. They either plug in to the motherboard or a power supply plug. Chassis fans are $10 most places. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/3 "2010-11-01T19:31:32Z")
The manufacture’s website should have an app to test the drive and read error/performance data (S.M.A.R.T). It will display failure indicators. If this is a new noise you better back-up your data. Big drives can make a lot of noise functioning properly. It could be a mounting issue, good quality cases have rubber bushings to help isolate vibration. Quiet PC enthusiasts recommend 2.5" drives (notebook size) which run much cooler and quieter. I put together a new system last spring and the 1 TB drive was by far the loudest (and hottest at idle) component. I went so far as to suspend mine by bungee - a pretty easy trick which reduced the noise from freakin loud to barely audible. Google if you are curious. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/4 "2010-11-01T19:53:11Z")
Would there be a reason for the drive to start spinning if nothing on it was activated? The ONLY things on that drive are video files, and I wasn’t watching anything at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/5 "2010-11-01T20:22:03Z")
> [@FluffyBob](#): > > The manufacture’s website should have an app to test the drive and read error/performance data (S.M.A.R.T). It will display failure indicators. If this is a new noise you better back-up your data. > > Big drives can make a lot of noise functioning properly. It could be a mounting issue, good quality cases have rubber bushings to help isolate vibration. I agree I have seen a lot of drives that make noise simply because they are not screwed in correctly. What kind of drive do you have? Start -\> Type “Device Manager” (wthout quotes) -\> Then when this opens look for Disk Drives -\> Click plus sign This will tell you the manufacturer and number of drive Then you go to the manufactuers website and they will have downloadable tools for S.M.A.R.T tests. You can also run a [CHKDSK](http://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/generic/0,295582,sid192_gci1276029,00.html) This is for Vista but it’s similar for other systems ---
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/6 "2010-11-01T20:30:58Z")
Here’s how I would troubleshoot your problem. First, let’s confirm that it’s actually the hard drive. Turn off the computer and unplug the power to all of the hard drives. Turn the computer back on. It won’t boot up, but all the fans and CD/DVD drives should spin up. If the noise is gone, then turn the computer back off and plug only the boot drive back in. Turn on the computer. Still no noise? Turn off the computer and keep adding drives until you isolate which one is causing the noise. Then, download the utility program that the drive vendor (find out which vendor’s drive you have by **Markxxx’s** description above). Either way, if it’s the drive making a loud roaring noise, it’s time to get any data you’d like to save off. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/7 "2010-11-01T20:44:27Z")
Okay - I downloaded the diagnostic from WD, looks like it could take quite a while. When it accessed the drive, it sounded a bit different (and maybe a different area than the roar), so I’m hoping it’s the fan. Thanks - I’ll keep this updated. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/8 "2010-11-01T20:54:24Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Okay - I downloaded the diagnostic from WD, looks like it could take quite a while. When it accessed the drive, it sounded a bit different (and maybe a different area than the roar), so I’m hoping it’s the fan. Thanks - I’ll keep this updated. It’s going to take awhile that is normal. If you decided to run CHKDSK that will take awhile, and please assure us you’ve back up your data 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/9 "2010-11-01T21:01:37Z")
I wish I could tell you I’ve backed up my data - but… It’s a TB of data! I can’t afford a backup 2TB right now, but I will as soon as I can. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/10 "2010-11-01T21:06:33Z")
Assuming the drive is mounted properly and you’re not misidentifying the source of the noise, a noisy drive (ie much noiser than normal past operation) is often indicative of incipient drive failure. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/11 "2010-11-02T13:55:10Z")
Update - it was the fan. It was roaring this morning, and I got down, dug the tower out from under my desk, and saw/heard the noise coming directly from the fan. Stopping it with a pen stopped the noise. Looks like I’ll get a new fan! (Yay - I get to learn something new about installing hardware into my computer!) Also - I ran the diagnostics, and it “passed”. However, it said that the SMART diagnostic wasn’t available. Clearly I downloaded the wrong program. Anyone want to help me find the right on on Western Digital’s page? It’s a 2TB Caviar Black internal drive. ---
**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/12 "2010-11-02T15:21:37Z")
Did the fan go into ‘high speed’ due to high temperature? Was it really dusty inside the case? Is dust building up on things that should be (more or less) clean? You might try giving a really good cleaning (if warranted), including getting the dust out of the cooling-fins and other places where air-flow is critical. It is not unusual for fans to have several speeds that are temperature-controlled. If temperatures are in doubt, you might try [Speedfan](http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php) as a monitoring program. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/13 "2010-11-02T15:43:59Z")
The room it’s in is really cold right now - but the vents were a little dusty. When I get the new fan, I’ll make sure to blast the insides and give it all a good cleaning. (Lots and lots of soapy water, right? 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/14 "2010-11-02T21:58:37Z")
Do you have SMART enabled in your BIOS? You can check by hitting setup (F2 usually) as the computer starts up. Then you will go to advance settings and you can see if SMART is enabled. ---
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/15 "2010-11-03T01:49:59Z")
I figured it wasn’t the hard drive. Hard drives click, whirr and grind, but don’t generally roar. I’d now be concerned as to why the fan started spinning faster. Fans don’t generally just start spinning up for no reason. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/16 "2010-11-03T03:44:27Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > The room it’s in is really cold right now - but the vents were a little dusty. When I get the new fan, I’ll make sure to blast the insides and give it all a good cleaning. **(Lots and lots of soapy water, right?** 😉 ) I just shove mine into the dishwasher. make sure its upside down, so the water can drain out. [/smart ass] Not sure what you meant by “The room it’s in is really cold right now…” but the room temperature won’t have much effect on the computer’s temperatures. If the CPU heatsink’s fins are clogged with dust, the CPU will roast while the fan spins futilely at 100%. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-my-computer-drive-start-roaring-need-answers-fast/559113/17 "2010-11-03T06:00:12Z")
> [@Amblydoper](#): > > I just shove mine into the dishwasher. make sure its upside down, so the water can drain out. Ah! That reminds me of the famous DOS [Drain.com](http://Drain.com) program. You copied it to someones computer (from a floppy) and left it running. It showed a screen with the normal C: prompt. But as soon as someone pressed a key, you got this sequence: SYSTEM ERROR: WATER DETECTED IN C: DRIVE NOW DRAINING (several seconds of the sound of water draining down a pipe) DRAINING COMPLETE; NOW INITIATING SPIN DRY (sound of a spin dryer in action) REPAIR COMPLETE: READY (Program ends, so the normal C: prompt appears) I had great fun putting this on people computers, many years ago.