My computer is making grinding sounds. Is this bad? What should I do?

Originally written by: J.D. Biersdorfer, writer for The New York Times

Technology Q & A

“A. Unless you are operating a power tool, loud clicking or grinding from a mechanical device - including a hard drive - may be a sign that something is about to break.

The complication with a hard drive, of course, is that valuable files are stored there, and there may be no easy way to rescue the data.

Hard drives are basically motorized platters spinning rapidly as a read-write head floats above on a cushion of air and magnetically inscribes the data onto the disk. All your files, folders and Green Day songs are stored on the disk’s magnetic surface.

There are other sources of computer noise, including loud internal cooling fans and even desk clutter that rattles with the natural vibrations of your computer. First, clear the area and listen closely to the machine.

Grinding noises can mean that the read-write head is scraping against the surface of the disk and damaging it. Clicking noises coming from a hard drive are also cause for concern, and may mean that the drive’s read-write heads are misaligned; the drive is probably damaged.

If you hear a high-pitched whine, your hard drive’s bearings may be on the way out, but you may be able to save most of the data if you get the machine to a computer-repair professional right away…”

“If your hard drive dies before you can back up the files, a data recovery service may be your last hope. … Disaster Recovery Group (www.disasterrecoverygroup.com)… specialize in extracting stranded files from broken hard drives…”