Whirring noise on new drives, ONLY at shutdown.

[Palle_visti]

I am writing here in this forum because I have not yet found a person who can help me.

I recently bought a new Hard Drive where I would sacrifice a little more than usual, and get the best. I bought 2 stk. WD red pro WD2002FFSX-2TB.
Shortly after they were taken into use, it occurred to me that they appear with a strange vibrating humming sound in approx. 3 seconds when they are turned off or they go to sleep.

I have talked to my dealer about it, and they have stated they should be submitted as an RMA case, as they must be defective. I then got 2 new ones, and in addition bought one WD Gold WD2005FBYZ – 2TB, a drive that should be of even better quality.

Both the 2 new Red Pro and the new Gold drive make the same sound when turned off, as the first 2 I had, I'm losing my mind.

Why? Because somewhere I am told they are defective, and after many many hours searching the web for the problem, I find a place (WD Forum) where in 2020 someone asks exactly the same thing, and is told "it is normal" when the drive parks the reading head. And I can see there are others besides me who have recently inquired into it, though without answer.

It is impossible to have the reading head parked that makes that sound. And I would really like to know what it is, that is causing that sound, is it dangerous for the continued operation of the drive, or what.?

Link: https://community.wd.com/t/whirring-noise-on-new-drives-only-at-shutdown/252416

WD refers to sounds that are told about sounds when reading and writing, and clicks of death, but nowhere is the sound I ask about described.

Are there any here who can help?

 

[Bruce]

you have so far tried five WD new drives with all the same sound.
getting that many in a row with the same issue would rule out faulty hardware.
it does strongly suggest an 'undesirable feature'.
and although I have never had any drives make an audible noise when parking, it sounds like this is normal for these WD units.

what happens when you simply pull out the power plug from the wall, in effect, not giving the drives a chance to park?

but really, if it concerns you that much, I'd simple return them and get another brand, like Seagate.

 

[Palle_visti]

I can understand what you are describing, but I have just talked to a colleague who has tasks, where he uses the same drives. He has sent an audio file to WD support, freshly recorded, similar to the one you can hear in the link I provided, from WD’s forum, in my post. Here is what WD support states:

”Thank you for your reply and your patience.

Our engineers have reviewed the audio bit you have sent us and do agree that the sound is most definitely not normal and should be replaced.

Since we determined that your device needs replacement please take some time to go over our replacement process, which is outlined below.”

Then that's what I'm saying. What's up and down in this case. On the WD forum, someone from WD states that it is normal, when you send an audio clip to WD support, and an "engineer" has listened to it, you are informed that it is defective.

If an engineer has listened to it, it would make sense if they contacted a product manager who deals with the type of hard drives, this person or department, must know what generates that sound, and with a good informative explanation will be able to close the case as faulty, or a normal function sound based on the explanation of what is happening.


I hope, when it apparently can not be done via WD that we can get closer here. Or through someone here, who has a better contact with WD.

 

[Palle_visti]

what happens when you simply pull out the power plug from the wall, in effect, not giving the drives a chance to park?

I will try it as soon as possible so you will be notified. It's an interesting experiment.

I have, of course, considered Segate, but since we have now invested in WD, I am very surprised that one can not get a clear answer to a simple question. As you can see in the thread on the WD forum I have linked to, it has been brought up in 2020, now 2 years later you get from WD support to know they are defective. Thinking there must be others besides me who are interested in finding the truth.

 

[Bruce]

@Palle_visti - any progress?

 

[Palle_visti]

Thank you for your interest ;o)

I have tested it by taking the power from the drive, and the sound described is still there. So that is not the reading head parking, that makes that sound. It would also be strange for the reading head to make a loud vibrating sound for 3 seconds when parking.

There is still the question left, that on the WD forum that I have linked to, and where you can hear the audio file. Here, the WD staff states, that it is a normal sound.. And then when my colleague recently sent WD official support an audio file, freshly recorded, you are told the drive is defective and needs to be sent back via RMA. Regardless, all the drives we get have the same sound when it shuts down.

Since it has been on since 2020, there must be someone other than us and the others who have commented and asked about it on the WD forum, who are experiencing the same thing, and have concerns about not knowing if it is a faulty drive. (Both red Pro and Gold)

 

[Bruce]

if the drive still makes the sound when you remove its power while everything is on, that it would seem to be normal - weird but normal.

sadly, you only have two options left since you have already RMA'd the drive, and they are 1) live with it and assume it's all good, or 2) RMA it again but not get a replacement, just a refund, and change manufactures.

 

[Bruce]

@Palle_visti - I'll close this thread as you are also getting help on the TechSupport Forum.

plus, as already stated, your issue does seem to be the way WD now make their drives, and as such, your issue is 'normal' and the only guaranteed way to get around it is to stop using WD drives.