Are you in a similar situation and experiencing a clicking sound coming from your hard drive when you try to transfer files? That’s not a good sign. In fact, it is usually the first indication that your hard drive is on its way to corruption or failure. And if you don’t take action soon, you may be facing data loss in the near future.
So if your hard drive is making a clicking sound and you are wondering what to do next. Well, you’re in luck because you have come to the right place! This article has everything you need to know to fix your clicking hard drive and recover your precious data. Keep reading!
How to Recognize the Click of Death in Your Hard Drive?
If you’re unsure if your hard drive’s clicking is serious, watch for these red flags:
- Click Amplitude: If it’s a loud, harsh metal-on-metal screech or so noisy it drowns out a chat, it’s time to worry and act.
- Boot Impact: Clicking plus not booting up? That’s a dead giveaway for a busted drive. Hearing clicks right at startup? Jump on it quick.
- Click Frequency: Rapid-fire clicks (tons in seconds) scream trouble, something’s off.
- Other clues pointing to the dreaded “click of death”:
- Sudden file transfer slowdowns: If speeds tank out of nowhere, your drive might be failing fast and heading for total corruption.
- Super slow startups: If your PC or laptop drags forever to boot, it could signal the click of death incoming.
Why is My Hard Drive Making a Clicking Noise?
You must be thinking what can be the reasons behind the monotonous and high-pitched clicking noise? Below we have mentioned some of the most common causes of hard drive clicking noise:
- Power supply issues: If your hard drive is not getting enough power and not showing up or if there is a problem with the power supply, it can cause the drive to malfunction and make clicking sounds.
- Connection problems: If the connection cable is incompatible or faulty, it can cause clicking sounds.
- Physical damage: Fire, water damage, high temperatures, and other physical damage can lead to hard drive clicking.
- Hardware issues: A worn or misplaced disk head, damaged service area, damaged PCB, or other hardware problems can cause clicking sounds.
- PCB malfunction: A malfunctioning printed circuit board (PCB) can also cause hard drive clicking.
- Disk platter rupture: If the disk platter breaks or ruptures, it can cause clicking sounds.
- Static friction (stiction): Stiction occurs when the read/write heads get stuck to the disk platter and can’t move, causing clicking sounds.
How to Fix Clicking Hard Drive without Losing Data?
Below we have added four proven methods to help you fix your clicking hard drive.
Method 1: Recover Data From Clicking Hard Drive
If you can access your clicking hard drive but files aren’t visible, prioritize recovering the data first. For that, grab a pro hard drive recovery tool.
Remo Recover tops the list for best external drive recovery. It can access even undetected clicking drives and pull back your data. It works on all Windows and Mac versions, handling over 500 file types, like your missing photos and videos.
Steps to Recover Data From Clicking Hard Drive Using Remo Recover
Follow the below simple steps to perform clicking hard drive recovery using Remo Recover:
Step 1. Download and install Remo Recover on your computer.
Step 2. Open the tool and choose your clicking external hard drive to scan for data.
Step 3. Hit Scan to start the process. It starts with a Quick Scan, then auto-switches to Deep Scan for a thorough sector-by-sector search to grab as many files as possible.
Step 4. During the scan, use the Dynamic Recovery View to check out recovered files. Preview them to confirm you’ve got the right stuff.
Step 5. When you’re happy with the results, select the files you want, click Recover, pick a safe save spot, and hit OK to wrap up the recovery.
Method 2: Consult Data Recovery Services to Recover Data from a failed Clicking Hard Drive
If it’s too late and your hard drive is failed then you might have to take the help of data recovery services.
In the case of physical data loss situations caused by hard drive failure, relying on unreliable data recovery methods is not recommended.
It is advisable to seek the assistance of a professional data recovery service that possesses the following attributes:
- Holds an ISO certification for their service center
- Utilizes a Class 100 clean room
- Offers a guarantee of data recovery after thorough analysis
- Provides secure and dependable service
- Ensures complete confidentiality of the retrieved data
- Implements a “no recovery no charge” policy
- Offers free shipping of the hard drive for recovery purposes.
Method 3: Change Clicking Disk Connection
One of the common causes of a clicking hard drive is an insufficient power supply or a problematic connection cable. Follow these steps to troubleshoot a clicking hard drive:
- Check if the connection cable is broken. If it is, purchase a new cable and reconnect the clicking (external) hard drive to your computer.
- Check if the power cable is securely plugged in. If it is loose, unplug and replug the power cable to your computer and the drive.
- Check if you are using a compatible drive. If you connected a USB 3.0 external drive via a USB 2.0 cable, it may not be recognized and make clicking noises.
- Connect the clicking (external) hard drive to another computer to see if it still clicks.
- Take the hard drive out of the enclosure and connect it to the PC as an external disk.
Method 4: Freeze the Hard Drive
When your hard drive starts making a strange clicking noise, it’s a warning sign that something might be wrong. One possible cause of this noise is overheating, which can cause the components inside your drive to become stuck or trapped.
Luckily, there’s a method you can try to fix the issue: freezing your hard drive! Here’s how you can do it:
Caution: Freezing a hard drive to fix clicking sounds is a risky method that may or may not work. It can also cause moisture to form inside the drive and lead to more damage. We recommend trying other methods before freezing the drive.
- Firstly, you’ll want to open up your computer or laptop case to access the hard drive. Make sure to clear out any dust or debris that may have accumulated on the fan, as this can cause your hard drive to overheat.
- Next, add an extra fan to your computer to help cool down the drive. This will help prevent overheating in the future.
- Stop using your computer and wait for the hard drive to cool down completely. This may take a little while, so be patient!
- Once the hard drive has cooled down, you can try using it again. However, be sure to back up any important data or recover any lost files immediately, just in case the problem returns.
- If your hard drive is too old or damaged to be fixed by freezing, it may be time to purchase a new one and replace the old drive.
How to Prevent Hard Drive Clicking or Failure?
Here are the tips for recovering data from a clicking hard drive:
- Act quickly: Stop using the drive ASAP to avoid extra damage and keep recovery feasible.
- Pick the right tool: Grab a trusted data recovery app to up your chances of salvaging files.
- Seek professional help: For seriously wrecked drives, call in a reputable recovery service.
- Don’t hit it: Smacking or thumping the drive? That’ll just worsen the problem.
- Avoid DIY fixes: Never crack it open or swap the head yourself. Professionals need a clean room for that
Frequently Asked Questions
The ticking sound usually indicates a mechanical problem in the hard drive, often called the “click of death.” It can be caused by failing read/write heads, motor issues, or firmware corruption.
Repairing a clicking hard drive typically requires professional services and can cost $100–$500 or more, depending on the severity and data size.
DIY repair is risky and may make data unrecoverable, so professional recovery is usually recommended for valuable files.
It depends on the value of the data. If the drive has important or irreplaceable files, recovery can be worth the cost. For an old or low-value drive, replacing it with a new HDD or SSD is often more practical and reliable.
Hard drives typically last 3–5 years under normal use. Signs like slow performance, frequent errors, or unusual noises indicate it’s time to replace it.
