Two Q's: HD noise, and need to watch out for anything after minor "fall"?

Question

Apologies in advance; I'm guessing that I'm concerned about nothing in both cases here, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask (besides making me look paranoid :D).
1) You know that "grinding/clicking" noise HDs typically make when working? (I mean the one normally associated with HDs, not any of the "click of death" stuff.) Occasionally, I hear a single grind/click that's louder and/or sharper than the usual. Anyone else hear that? I'm assuming it's normal, but just asking.
2) I put my laptop down on a wad of sheets atop a futon of mine while I did something else. Unlike usual, the laptop slid off the sheets onto the surface of the futon. The momentum caused it to further slide off the edge of the futon onto the carpeted floor (about 10.5 inches off the floor; it's a thick futon) with a very audible "thunk." It landed with one edge still propped on the edge of the futon, and I believe, tho' I'm not 100% sure, it landed hinge-side first.
Any chance anything got jarred out of whack or anything like that? Anything I should watch out for as I use it (as I'm doing now; seems fine so far)?
Thanks.

Answer 1

LeaperBP wrote:
Perhaps, then, "grinding" wasn't the best word, because it definitely wasn't any sound that I haven't heard from a perfectly functioning HD before - just a little louder. "Whirring"? Hmm.
This still concerns me. The HD should not make any noise other then a very light tick or click caused by the r/w head seeking a track or another slightly louder click or even clunk when the heads park. The parking is a one time thing, repeated as often as once every half minute or so under some undesirable circumstances, not a continuous chatter of any kind. Normally it should only sound when you power down or when you move the computer.
One other normal sound is a "white noise" sound caused by the rushing of air as the platters spin. They spin at a constant speed but the whooooosh sound made can vary slightly due to the fact the r/w head may be near the center of the platters or near the outer edge, each place making a slightly different noise. The whooosh sound maybe should be described as a continuous shhh. It is always present when the drive spins if it is audible at all on any given drive. On slower drives, 5400 RPM, it can be virtually silent.
A hard drive can have a vibration that can be felt in the hand, and can also be heard as a hum. It will also be constant whenever the drive is spinning. It does not come an go. It is by far more common in 7200 RPM or faster drives.
• light clicking = head seek
• louder single click/clunk = head park
• shhh = air turbulence caused by spinning platters
• continuous hum = vibration caused by spinning platters