Dell laptop making clicking noises along with blinking hd

Plumeria1201

New Member
Messages
7
Aloha everyone.

I just bought a Dell Inspiron laptop 17i17RM-2419sLV almost a month ago. Today the computer has started making a soft clicking noise that goes in sync with the flashing hard drive light. Is my hard drive bad already? Suggestions? I'm in grad school and can't afford for this to suddenly crash on me again. I actually bought the same make/model right before this and the hard drive crashed three weeks after I bought it. It was replaced for me and now here I with a almost constantly blinking light and accompanying clicking sound. I don't know a whole lot about computers but will post hopefully some helpful info. Thank you for any suggestions!

  • 3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3337U Processor (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz)
  • 6 GB DDR3 RAM
  • 750 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive
  • 17.3-Inch Screen
  • Windows 8
  • 17.3 inches
    Max Screen Resolution1600x900 pixels
    Processor1.8 GHz Intel Core i5
    RAM6 GB DDR3
    Hard Drive750 GB SATA
    Graphics CoprocessorIntel HD Graphics
    Wireless Type802.11bgn
    Number of USB 2.0 Ports 2
    Number of USB 3.0 Ports 4
    Brand NameDell
    SeriesInspiron 17R
    Item model numberInspiron 17R (5721)
    Operating SystemWindows 8
    Item Dimensions L x W x H20.20 x 13.13 x 3.58 inches
    Color Moon Silver
    Processor BrandIntel
    Processor Count1
    Hard Drive Rotational Speed5400 RPM
    Batteries:1 Lithium ion batteries required.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 17i17RM
    CPU
    3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3337U Processor (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz)
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 RAM 750GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
Is my hard drive bad already?

It doesn't sound good and I really suspect that hard drive is going bad as well. With that said, I would take this opportunity to back up all important data to a USB drive while you still can and then contact Dell support for service under warranty.

Good luck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
Is my hard drive bad already?

It doesn't sound good and I really suspect that hard drive is going bad as well. With that said, I would take this opportunity to back up all important data to a USB drive while you still can and then contact Dell support for service under warranty.

Good luck.

:ditto: Click of death, hard drive will likely fail. It sounds like the hard drive supplier had a bad batch of drives. Very unfortunate but it happens. Rough treatment can cause this too. Back up your data to an external drive while you can.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I turned on my computer this morning and I logged in and then just a dark screen with my arrow. It won't do anything :( I turned it off, unplugged it, turned it back onand just a dark screen with my arrow. I have a paper due Tuesday :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 17i17RM
    CPU
    3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3337U Processor (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz)
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 RAM 750GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
If the hard drive has failed there isn't much you can do but replace it. If you know who made the hard drive you can go to their web site and download a utility to check the drive for errors. If you slave that drive in another PC you might get lucky and be able to recover some of your data.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
The computer is less than a month old. Would it be better to replace the hard drive or get a different make and model altogether? The place I purchased my computer at is willing to refund me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 17i17RM
    CPU
    3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3337U Processor (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz)
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 RAM 750GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
Depends on who is going to replace the hard drive and reinstall Windows? If the shop does it you likely won't get your factory install with a recovery option. If Dell does it it will be just like it was when you first turned it on. Either way I hope you have your data backed up. If it was me I'd likely get a refund and switch brands.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Dell would do it but I don't have a week to wait on them. I attached my papers that I'm working on now into an email to myself last night just in case. What make model would you recommend? Thank you for your help!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 17i17RM
    CPU
    3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3337U Processor (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz)
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 RAM 750GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
I am quit happy with the ASUS listed in my System Specs. My Wife and my daughter have Acers. My father and sisters have HP's. I haven't herd any complaints about any of them. If I hadn't bought the ASUS it would have likely been an HP.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Thank you for your suggestions!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 17i17RM
    CPU
    3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3337U Processor (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz)
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 RAM 750GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
I would avoid Packard Bell and Toshiba, but HP, Samsung, Sony, all good. Cheaper models might have a dead pixel.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio
    Memory
    4Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Onboard
    Antivirus
    AVG
So all the models you listed your saying to avoid? Thank you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 17i17RM
    CPU
    3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3337U Processor (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz)
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 RAM 750GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
Okay I understand now. Thank you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 17i17RM
    CPU
    3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3337U Processor (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz)
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 RAM 750GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
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