T43 (2668) Hard Drive High-Pitch Sound

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jd2020 · #1 Post by **jd2020** » Wed May 25, 2005 6:57 pm

I have a new T43 2668-4DU with 40GB-5400 hard drive (HTS541040G9AT00). Not sure of brand.

When I copy files from a disk drive on my network I get a high pitched tone or squeal. Its not very loud but clearly noticeable to me. Only happens when copying over Ethernet, not wi-fi (throughput related I suspect).

I tested HD with PC-Doctor at boot up. It passed the initial tests, but when I try the read/write test it runs (for many hours), then aborts with the message "User Aborted (Aborted at sectors 59702954 - 59703081)" It did this twice.

Anyone else have a similar problem? Any recommendations? Thanks!

jd

chbone · #2 Post by **chbone** » Wed May 25, 2005 7:00 pm

From what you have said, you should call the service. I haven't encounter this serious issue.

Try the windows harddisk check, if it is still the same symptom, it should be the hardware problem. You should call for return or repare.

JohnDrake · #3 Post by **JohnDrake** » Thu May 26, 2005 10:35 am

The official drive testing program from Lenovo is here. Much better than any others. Free as well.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4HXKVX

jd2020 · #4 Post by **jd2020** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 11:15 pm

IBM/Lenovo sent me a replacement drive. FRU 13N6773, a Fujitsu MHT2040AH. Same specs as my original HTS541040G9AT00 hitachi drive - 40GB/5400.

Two questions:
1. The replacement is marked "Servicable Used Part" and was manufactured 28MAR05. Is this typical?

2. Anyone have experince with the newer Hitachi vs Fujitsu drives?

Thanks!

jd2020 · #5 Post by **jd2020** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 11:17 pm

JohnDrake wrote:The official drive testing program from Lenovo is here. Much better than any others. Free as well.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4HXKVX

This link doesn't work for me. I think its actually down on Lenovo's web site. Also, this seems to be for floppy disk. No floppy in T43...

Basker · #6 Post by **Basker** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 6:48 am

I don't know if this helps, but in the past when working with laptops (used to be part of my job), I was able to hear network traffic on some types of network and wireless cards. This sounds similar to what you were experiencing. With reference to what I used to hear, the machine is silent, then you do a sustained network file copy or something and you hear a whine coming from the computer that sounds somtimes mechanical maybe with pulsing rythm. Sort of like really fast morse code (almost like network packets transferring?). The most recent time I heard this was with an HP tc1x00 tablet. The ethernet and wireless cards would whine all the time if you had detached the keyboard (the tc1x00 was a convertible slate pc). In the past I often heard it on pcmcia/pccard adapters.

jd2020 · #7 Post by **jd2020** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:06 am

Thanks Basker, that's good to know.

In my case, the sound occurs only when transferring large files/data and connected via 100Mbps Ethernet to my LAN, not by 802.11g. The sound is more like a sine tone, and is faint but clearly noticeable. The sound seem to have disappeared lately -- I couldn't replicate it after my replacement (blank) drive arrived from IBM/Lenovo.

Now I don't know whether to go through the trouble of transferring everything to the new (used) drive.

Thanks again.

alpuzz · #8 Post by **alpuzz** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:40 am

What does the new drive do with the PC Doctor read/write test?
If you don't get errors, I would stick with the replacement.

--Al

jd2020 · #9 Post by **jd2020** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:32 pm

alpuzz wrote:What does the new drive do with the PC Doctor read/write test?
If you don't get errors, I would stick with the replacement.

--Al

I don't think I can run the PC Dr test on the new drive -- its completely blank.
The current drive shows no problems in PC Dr. Don't think its very thorough and there are no repair options.

pphilipko · #10 Post by **pphilipko** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:58 pm

jd2020 wrote:
alpuzz wrote:What does the new drive do with the PC Doctor read/write test?
If you don't get errors, I would stick with the replacement.

--Al
I don't think I can run the PC Dr test on the new drive -- its completely blank.
The current drive shows no problems in PC Dr. Don't think its very thorough and there are no repair options.

Well, format it and see if it has any errors!!!

jd2020 · #11 Post by **jd2020** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 12:22 pm

pphilipko wrote:
jd2020 wrote: I don't think I can run the PC Dr test on the new drive -- its completely blank.
The current drive shows no problems in PC Dr. Don't think its very thorough and there are no repair options.
Well, format it and see if it has any errors!!!

Maybe I don't understand you. Why would I format the replacement drive if and test it for errors if I don't plan to put it in my Thinkpad? I'm really not interested in the headache of reloading everything onto this new drive if the existing drive seems to check out ok.

cooljw · #12 Post by **cooljw** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:27 pm

jd2020 wrote:Thanks Basker, that's good to know.

In my case, the sound occurs only when transferring large files/data and connected via 100Mbps Ethernet to my LAN, not by 802.11g. The sound is more like a sine tone, and is faint but clearly noticeable. The sound seem to have disappeared lately -- I couldn't replicate it after my replacement (blank) drive arrived from IBM/Lenovo.

Now I don't know whether to go through the trouble of transferring everything to the new (used) drive.

Thanks again.

I second what Basker said. I have a T42 2378-FVU. And to clarify, I only hear the high-pitched sound when really pumping some constant heavy throughput through an ethernet connection, not wireless 802.11. It's almost as if I can hear that fat data pipeline pumping through the ethernet port. It almost sounds like a Dremel slicing through sheet metal (but of course not nearly as loud). I have always thought it was the internal ethernet card and not the hard drive. Not sure if yours is truly coming from the hard drive or is this seemingly typical Thinkpad ethernet card whine.

pphilipko · #13 Post by **pphilipko** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:22 am

jd2020 wrote:
pphilipko wrote: Well, format it and see if it has any errors!!!
Maybe I don't understand you. Why would I format the replacement drive if and test it for errors if I don't plan to put it in my Thinkpad? I'm really not interested in the headache of reloading everything onto this new drive if the existing drive seems to check out ok.

I must have misunderstood you. I thought you ordered a replacement drive to replace your existing one. I'm afraid I don't follow the logic of ordering a drive to use as a paperweight.

T43 (2668) Hard Drive High-Pitch Sound

T43 (2668) Hard Drive High-Pitch Sound

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