Symptoms
- Rhythmic, repeated clicking sound distinct from normal drive activity noise
- Drive fails to be recognized, or is recognized then disappears repeatedly
- Clicking gets worse or more frequent over hours or days
- Drive was previously reliable with no prior noise
Likely causes
- CommonRead/write head unable to park or find data correctlyThis is the classic mechanical cause behind the phrase 'click of death'.
- PossibleFailing spindle motor unable to spin the platters to proper speedThis produces a similar repeating sound as the drive tries and fails to reach speed.
- Less commonFirmware corruption causing the drive to reset repeatedlyLess common, but produces a similar cyclical behavior.
What to do
- Stop using the drive for anything beyond an immediate data rescue attempt.
- If the drive still mounts even briefly, copy the most critical files off first, not everything indiscriminately.
- Avoid powering the drive on and off repeatedly, which can worsen mechanical wear.
- Do not attempt to open the drive casing; this requires a cleanroom and will void any chance of professional recovery.
- If it's not detected at all, stop attempting further power cycles and consult a professional immediately.
- Replace the drive; a genuine mechanical click of death does not resolve itself.
When to call a pro
The click of death on a drive with unbacked-up important data calls for a professional data recovery lab rather than DIY software, which generally can't help with this type of mechanical failure.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.