Disk Cloning Scenarios #1 Chapter 1: Hard Drive Is Failing, Making Clicking Noise

Never ignore the hard drive making clicking sounds as a minor mechanical issue or something harmless like the head actuator arm moving back and forth when it reads and writes data. A persistent "hard drive makes clicking noise" error, also known as the HDD click of death, indicates some failure and that your HDD is about to die or is already dead. This article from EaseUS will describe how to fix the hard drive making a clicking sound. Let's begin!

How to Fix the Hard Drive Clicking Sound

The heartbreaking news is that hard drive clicking can't be fixed because when a hard drive makes a clicking sound, it often indicates that the hard drive has reached the end of its lifespan or is about to fail. Once the clicking sound starts, it is no longer a question of whether the hard disk will stop working but when a failure occurs.

However, the truth is that you have data stored on your hard drive. Therefore, if you notice your hard drive is making unusual clicking noises, follow these methods to check errors and save your data on the hard drive.

Fix 1. Backup Your Data Immediately

The first and most crucial step is to back up important data immediately. You can back up your system or files to external drives or cloud storage solutions. To this end, free backup software, EaseUS Todo Backup, comes to help. This free backup software can back up files, systems, disks, and apps to any storage location.

Fix 2. Check Power Source

The power source is a common cause of hard drives making clicking noises. Try to plug your computer into another source. If the clicking sound stops, you will know it is the root of the power and not the hard drive failing.

Fix 3. Check Connections

Ensure cables connecting the hard drive are tightly secure. Sometimes, loose connections can cause issues that are close to mechanical failures. In addition, cables can be damaged, resulting in your hard drive not running properly. In this case, you can try swapping your cables to determine whether there is something wrong with your power cable or an issue with your hard drive. If your hard drive is still clicking after changing the cable, you will know it is the issue with your hard drive.

Fix 4. Clone Hard Drive to New/Good One

You can contact the support team of the hard drive manufacturer and send the clicking hard drive for repair, but if the clicking hard drive is beyond repair, changing to a new one is the only choice for you. Under such circumstances, you can clone the hard drive to a new one. Cloning can help you transfer data form one hard disk to another without reinstalling Windows or losing data.

To clone a hard drive to another hard drive, you must use third-party disk cloning software because Windows does not have cloning features to help you clone a hard drive. To this end, professional and dedicated disk clone software, EaseUS Disk Copy, comes in handy.

EaseUS Disk Copy is a safe and reliable disk cloning tool that lets you clone a hard drive to another in 3 simple clicks. Its sector-by-sector technology lets you copy a hard drive bit for bit, clone a drive with bad sectors, or clone a failing hard drive to save your data on the disk. In addition, it can directly help you migrate your OS to a new hard drive when detecting a new drive.

If your hard drive is making a clicking sound and you want to save your data and Windows, download Disk Copy to clone your hard drive to another:

Prior Notice:

• The "Sector by sector copy" asks the size of your destination disk to be at least equal to or larger than that of the source disk. Leave this feature unchecked if you wish to clone a larger hard disk to a smaller hard disk.
• All data on the destination disk will be completely erased, so take care.

Step 1. To start copying/cloning an entire disk to another, choose this disk as the source disk under "Disk Mode" and click "Next".

Step 2. Choose the other disk as the destination disk.

Step 3. Check the disk layout of the two disks. You can manage the disk layout of the destination disk by selecting "Autofit the disk", "Copy as the source" or "Edit disk layout". 

• "Autofit the disk" makes some changes by default on the destination disk layout so that it can work at its best status.
• "Copy as the source"does not change anything on destination disk and the layout is the same as source disk.
• "Edit disk layout" allows you to manually resize/move partition layout on this destination disk.

Tick the "Check the option if the target is SSD" option to put your SSD in its best performance.

A message now appears, warning you that data will be lost. Please confirm this message by clicking "OK" and then click "Next".

Step 4. Click "Proceed" to officially execute the task.

What Not to Do If Your Hard Drive Makes Clicking Noise

Unless you are an experienced technician with specific know-how, fixing the hard drive yourself is not recommended. One thing you can check is the power source. You may have a power socket that is overwhelmed and unable to deliver enough power. You can try replacing the power cable because it could malfunction and need replacement. You can also clone it to another to completely give up the old disk for a better user experience.

That said, it might be a minor issue, and a few quick fixes can solve the problem. However, what you do may lead to further damage and even permanent data loss. You can try to diagnose and fix your clicking hard drive yourself, but you should be careful before and during the process. You'd better avoid the following items that won't do you any good.

❌Cool Down Your Hard Drive in Freezer

Putting the hard drive in the freezer could stop static friction or constrict the mechanics. Still, it's a very outdated technique for fixing the clicking hard drive. Once it thaws and warms up, it will result in the corrosion of the hard drive and even electrical components.

❌Open the Drive Yourself

Try opening the drive and fixing the clicking disk yourself can completely damage it. Repairing the read or write heads asks for a very clean facility because even tiny dust particles could interfere with the hard disk and cause issues. You will risk dust and other debris corrupting your data without a clean environment.

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Why Is Your Hard Drive Making Clicking Noise

A clicking sound from a hard drive is often called the "click of death." This sound typically indicates a mechanical failure within the hard disk drive. Here are some common reasons why your hard drive makes a clicking noise:

1️⃣Read/Write Head Issues or Misaligned Actuator Arm

Old HDDs have more issues than brand-new hard drives, like misaligned drive heads. The bad or degraded heads are most likely to aggravate with continuous use. The read-and-write heads are crucial for accessing data from the magnetic platters in a hard drive. If these heads or the actuator arm are damaged or misaligned, they may fail to locate the correct position on the platter, causing a continuous clicking sound as the arm resets its position repeatedly.

2️⃣Defective Service Area

The service area is part of the HDD where manufacturer data is stored, known as firmware. If it gets corrupted or damaged, the actuator arm of your hard drive will swing back and forth to find the information, preventing your hard disk from operating correctly.

3️⃣PCB Issues

The Printed Circuit Board (PCB) controls most of the operations on your hard drive. If power surges or other electrical issues damage it, the actuator can fail to operate properly, resulting in clicking sounds.

4️⃣Bad Sectors

Damaged or corrupted sectors on the hard drive can cause the read/write head to try accessing them, repeatedly causing clicking noises.

5️⃣Power Supply Issues

Insufficient power or fluctuations can cause erratic behavior in hard drives, causing clicking sounds.

6️⃣Physical damage

Damage is the most obvious cause of HDD clicking. Dropping or mishandling the hard drive could dent or scratch the platters. Platters can also be deformed or damaged through other means, such as exposure to foreign substances (dust or liquid), humid environments, or strong magnetic fields.

To Wrap Things Up

If you hear a clicking sound on your hard drive or make any other kind of sound, you should check it by following the methods above. In such a situation, you should try to save your data first. You can back up or clone your hard drive to another to save your data. A clicking sound on the hard drive usually indicates that the disk is about to fail. Under such circumstances, a hard drive replacement might be your first presumed course of action.

Cloning is the easiest way to replace a hard drive without losing data. EaseUS Disk Copy can help you easily clone a disk to another to save time and effort in reinstalling OS and programs. Just download it on your PC to help you retrieve your data from the clicking hard drive!

FAQs on Hard Drive Making Clicking Noise

1. What is the clicking sound in hard drives?

It should be the head actuator arm of the hard drive moving back and forth. When the head actuator is used, the motion to read and write data should be fluid. When this movement is not smooth, the actuator repeatedly tries to reset itself, causing a hard drive-clicking sound. Some factors will lead to the hard disk making a clicking sound, such as insufficient power supply, high temperature, worn/misplaced disk head, hard drive spin error, damaged service area, damaged PCB, etc.

2. How to prevent hard drive from making a clicking sound?

To minimize the risk of the hard drive making clicking noises in the future, you can:

• Perform regular Backups: Create a data backup regularly to ensure you don't lose important files.
• Monitor hard drive health: Use disk monitoring software to monitor your hard drive's health and performance.
• Avoid physical shocks: Place your computer carefully and avoid dropping or jolting it, as physical shocks can damage the disk's internal components.

3. Is clicking sound from a hard drive bad?

The hard drive clicking sound is a symptom usually indicating a failing hard drive caused by mechanical problems such as head crashes or faulty platters.