Maxtor 10k IV startup noise

[krickster]

I just added a pair of Maxtor 10k IV 37 GB drives to my system which previously had only a Seagate 15K 37 GB drive. The Maxtors BOTH make a nasty startup racket. Anyone have any experience with these drives? I'd like to know if the noise is normal.

Thanks!

 

[dexvx]

Mine makes a freaking weird start up noise too.

 

[BuckNaked]

Is it a squeal like the platters are overcoming friction when first spinning up? I just RMA'ed a drive for the same thing...

 

[pandego]

Mine make them too, I have 2 x 10K RPM Maxtor Atlas 10K3's.

The grinding/ratcheting sound is normal at startup.

 

[krickster]

It is a weird squealing/grinding noise initially. Glad to hear that this seems to be pervasive. I checked each drive independantly to verify that they both made the same noise and they do. The noise undermines my confidence in the quality of the drives, but if everybody is hearing it..........

Thanks for letting me know!

 

[pandego]

I am sure the noises are drive mechanical/thermal calibrations of some kind.

If anybody could provide a link to a more technical explanation it will be appreciated.

 

[BuckNaked]

Originally posted by: pandego
Mine make them too, I have 2 x 10K RPM Maxtor Atlas 10K3's.

The grinding/ratcheting sound is normal at startup.

The noise my 10KIV makes is nothing like I have heard out of my 10KIII... I have a replacement drive from Maxtor, once I get it installed I will post a followup...

 

[BuckNaked]

Originally posted by: Buck_Naked

Originally posted by: pandego
Mine make them too, I have 2 x 10K RPM Maxtor Atlas 10K3's.

The grinding/ratcheting sound is normal at startup.

The noise my 10KIV makes is nothing like I have heard out of my 10KIII... I have a replacement drive from Maxtor, once I get it installed I will post a followup...

Finally installed my replacement drive, and it makes the same noise... I would have never thought a HD would be making a noise like this and not be defective...

 

[jose]

I think they all make that noise. I just got 4 10k4's 36g & 1 - 73 10k4 they all make the same noise.
I think it's the actuator arm stretching

I also got a 15k 36gig and it's quiet drive no noise at all. And real fast......

Regards,
Jose