Hard drive making low pitch noise

[gaccm]

This just started happening, thats why it worries me. I've had this harddrive for 1/2 a year now, and it just now started making this low (really low) pitch noises. The noise only happens when reading or writting occur. The only recent thing i've done to the drive is tape an old 486 heatsink to it, but i doubt that could be causing the noise. So, is this something i should worry about or not?

[Kendan]

Back up your DATA!!!! I am kind of curious about the heatsink on the drive though. Do you have a picture? What kind of drive is it? That noise could mean that the harddrive is going bad. Did you try to take off the heatsink to see if that could be the source of the noise? I doubt that but you never know:confused:

[repo man11]

I'm with Kendan, backup NOW! Strange noises are usually a sign of impending doom. It's not so much a matter of if a harddrive will fail as when. The heatsink could be amplifying the drives normal noise, sort of like a speaker. If you took it off and the noise stopped...
Otherwise, I hope you have a warranty.

[3DMike]

Is it possible that the heatsink you taped to the drive is resonating in sympathy with it? The vibration could be amplified by your case as most cases are a perfect shape to generate standing waves, boosting low frequency noise.

Try taking the heatsink off, or securing it better.

Just an idea...

[Shadow ÒÓ]

check that all the screws in the case are tight as well. Could it be a vibration problem making the noise?

[Yodums]

Make sure the heatsink isn't vibrating on the hard drive due to loose contact.

Hold the hard drive down for 10seconds if it stops making sounds then your screws aren't in tight if its neither I'd say you backup your data and run some diagnostic tools on your drive.

What kind of drive is it ?

Yodums

[gaccm]

well, i took off the heatsink and the drive doesn't make any more noise, so i guess/hope that was it.