How to Fix External Hard Drive that Keeps Beeping (STEPS)

Why does my external hard drive keep beeping?

External hard drives can keep beeping due to internal breakdown of the disk drive and insufficient power going to the spindle motor.

• Internal Breakdown: Breakdown of the very structure of the disk drive may cause beeping sounds. Your external hard drive may be making beeping sounds because its components have broken down or are facing some sort of a failure.
• Unable to receive enough power: The external hard disk drive’s electronics may be unable to receive enough power. Insufficient power transmission to the spindle motor of the hard drive can be another possible reason.
• A problem in working of the hard drive: The hard drive functions by way of a spindle motor hub. The spindle motor hub causes the hard disk platters to spin at a rate of about a thousand revolutions per minute. These platter surfaces face the read/ write heads.

External hard disks normally don’t beep. So, it becomes a bit of a strange abnormality when you hear your external hard disk drive beeping. You could hear your external hard disk drive beeping for a lot of reasons.

But before understanding why your external hard drive is beeping, one must note that the beeping is a way for the hard drive to communicate. It is communicating its predicaments and that it needs fixing by way of abnormal beeping sounds.

These read/ write heads are delicate instruments that help the hard disks to read and write data. In some instances, these two surfaces crash together.

Given that they are unable to move, a crash of this kind renders the external hard drive useless. To alert the user, the spindle motor hub produces a beeping sound.

4. Other issues: Other possible reasons include a faulty cable, a bad port, a burnt or faulty motor, and the like.

 

How to Fix an External Hard Drive that Makes Beeping Noises?

You can easily put an end to the beeping noises produced by your external hard drive. But before you proceed to fixing, do try backing up the external hard disk drive if the drive allows, of course.

Even if your external hard drive makes beeping noises, if it is still accessible and recognizable, do back up your data as soon as possible.

Copy and paste all your data to an alternative hard drive or some other device of your preference.

Furthermore, you can try fixing your external drive easily. Some of the solutions are:

1. Use an alternative cable or wire.

If the problem lies in the cable and or wiring, then you should try out an alternative cable or a wiring system altogether. Just plug in the cable and or wires, and check if the external hard drive beeps again or not.

If it beeps again, then unplug it immediately and do not try anything. If the beeping continues again, you can seek professional help.

 

2. Look into the power source

Sometimes, the power source can create problems. If the spindle motor hub does not receive enough power supply, then it will not rotate, the read write heads won’t operate efficiently.

The external hard drive won’t work properly, and you may lose data. Thus, you can look into the power source to see if there is a problem or not.

 

3. Try using a different USB port or cable

As you connect your external hard drive to a computer, try to use a different USB port. Moreover, try using different USB ports with alternative cables. See if the external hard drive beeps again or not. If it beeps again, unplug the cable from the USB port.

 

4. Try connecting dual cables to dual USB ports

Also, many external hard drives like the ones by Seagate, use two USB ports to connect. They even come with dual cables to connect to the USB ports.

Often, only one of the ports connects to the cable. Try connecting with both the USB ports, and you might just solve your problem.

Maybe power from dual connectors is just what your beeping external hard drive needs.

 

How to Fix Western Digital External Hard Drive Beeping Noise?

1. ELIMINATE AND FIND THE CAUSE

As illustrated above, there are many reasons as to why your external hard drive may keep beeping. Figuring out the beeping sound’s root cause is important since it will direct your fixing process in the right direction.

The first step towards mending the western digital external hard drive would be to check if the beeping sound is really coming from the hard drive. Eliminating other sources of noise is essential, and will help you a great deal.

 

2. CHECK FOR ERRORS AND WIRES

Don’t forget to check the cables and their connections to the USB ports. Also, manufacturers of Seagate, Maxter, and Samsung hard drives give a bootable copy of the drive’s diagnostics.

Use it to test the drive. This will be a more comprehensive way to run tests than the simple tests during start-ups. Furthermore, these tests will also give you return diagnostic codes that can help if you have a warranty on the drive.

 

3. KEEP IT DISCONNECTED

While running the tests mentioned above, ensure no ongoing background applications and processes are running. Keep only the problematic hard drive connected and try to remove the other drives if possible. Disconnect the drives safely and let the manufacturer’s diagnostics test do the job.

More often than not, the test will give you answers and specify the type of issue:

1. Mechanical Issues
2. Sectoral issues or
3. Other issues with a high degree of seriousness

 

4. CORRECT THE POWER ISSUES

Western Digital drives require a sufficient and regular power source. If the power source for some reason is not enough, then it can have adverse effects on the drive. The drive’s internal components can clash. This ultimately ends with a hard drive that beeps constantly.

 

To put an end to these issues:

1. Try and use a powered hub.
2. Use recent versions of USB preferable USB 2.0 and later.
3. Ensure that there is a direct connection to a USB port, and there is no front slot.
4. Use strong cables that span to a length less than 18 inches long.
5. Switch your previous cables for power booster cables to give the drive the power of dual USB ports instead of one.

 

How to Fix a Seagate External Hard Drive Beeping Noise?

METHOD 1

While you may think that fixing the beeping noise can be tricky, it is pretty straightforward.

More often than not, your Seagate external hard drive’s port may be dusty. All you have to clear the dust and clean the port a bit.

For this, follow the steps:

1. Disconnect the external hard drive from the computer.
2. Unplug the drive’s cable from the disk
3. Blow into your computer, hard drive, and cable ports to clear the dust.
4. Reconnect the hard drive to your device.

 

METHOD 2

If the beeping sound persists even after you clean the dust from the ports, connect with a different cable. Sometimes, the problem is not in the drive’s internal functioning, but rather in the cable connecting to the hard disk.

In such an instance, the root cause of the problem is the damaged data cable. For this, you can try a new cable. Check if the beeping sound continues.

 

Seagate hard drive beeping and not recognized

METHOD 1

Another problem that you may encounter is the Seagate hard drive beeping and being unrecognizable. This can be fixed pretty easily.

Sometimes, the problem may not be in the wiring and cables or due to untidy ports or in the drive’s internal working. The problem may lie in the USB port it connects to. A faulty port can lead to the Seagate hard drive beeping continuously.

 

For this,

1. Try connecting the hard drive to the device by way of different ports.
2. Check if the beeping sound persists.

 

METHOD 2

As stated before, the power supply is extremely important, and without a doubt, essential to its working.

The beeping of the Seagate drive and the failure to detect it could happen when an adequate power supply is lacking. When the power source is not giving off enough power, it can make the hard drive beep.

To fix this:

1. Try using a USB Y cable.
2. The USB Y cable is a dual cable that helps power up the drive the right way. With its two connectors, it can do the job well.
3. Make sure the USB Y cable connection is secure.

 

METHOD 3

Alternatively, you can try connecting the Seagate drive indirectly.

1. Use a USB hub to connect the hard drive to the computer.
2. Check for any beeping sounds.
3. If the beeping sounds persist, then contact a professional.

 

METHOD 4

Besides this, you can always try:

1. Cleaning out ports
2. Checking for cables and
3. Weak connections

 

Seagate hard drive beeping after dropped

Try out these options:

 

METHOD 1

Dropping the hard drive is pretty normal. Fixing it can be a bit tricky.

1. You will have to open the drive to take a look inside.
2. The manufacturer’s label covers two screws. These two screws are the key to opening the drive.
3. Press firmly and run your finger along the hard drive’s surface.
4. Do this till you can make out a depression.
5. The depression is where the screw head is.
6. Use a screwdriver to go past the label and remove the screw.
7. Once you remove the screw, pry open the top the cover off.
8. Check for any abnormality.
9. Besides this, you can try tapping the drive and see if you can get it to spin again.
10. However, seeking professional help is the best option. They might even be able to recover the data.

 

METHOD 2

Besides this, you can try out the below-mentioned methods:

1. Cleaning out ports
2. Checking for wiring and cables
3. Interchanging ports
4. Interchanging cables
5. Using USB Y cables
6. Using a USB hub

 

Seagate hard drive beeps twice

METHOD 1

If your Seagate hard drive beeps twice then try:

1. Connecting the hard drive to another computer.
2. If the beeping sound persists, then the problem is because of internal failure.

 

METHOD 2

1. If that is the case, then try out the below-mentioned methods:
   1. Cleaning the ports.
   2. Checking the power source.

• Using a USB Y cable.

1. Changing wires and cables.
2. Changing ports.

 

METHOD 3

Further, you can check the Seagate drive using the Windows CHKDSK command line too.

1. Connect the concerned disk to the computer.
2. Type CMD in the search box. Once the list opens, right-click on this tool.
3. This will run the Command prompt
4. Input the following into the blank field: chkdsk g: /r.
5. Press Enter.
6. This will reveal the root cause of the problem by checking the disk as well as drive.

 

Seagate hard drive beeps 11 times

METHOD 1

1. Run the manufacturers diagnostics test. The test is available as a bootable copy.
2. Use the test to assess the condition of the drive. The diagnostics test is a more tangible and precise testing mechanism.
3. This is because it also gives the user return diagnostic codes.
4. If one has a warranty period offer, one can redeem it and thereby, ensure recovery of the data in a cost-effective manner.
5. Ensure that while the test is going on that no applications and processes run in the background.
6. The only thing connected to the computer is the hard drive that beeps 11 times and nothing else.
7. Remove other drives, if any.
8. The test will discover and provide the kind of issue at work. It could be either mechanical issues or sectoral issues or other issues.

 

How to Fix a Buffalo External Hard Drive Beeping Noise?

METHOD 1

1. Try tracing your steps back and identify the problem.
2. Identify whether it is the hard disk making the noise or something else.
3. Verify the source of the noise.

 

METHOD 2

1. Further, begin with identifying the ports.
2. If the port is USB 2.0 or lower, consider upgrading the port to higher versions, or else you might lose the data.

 

How to Fix a Samsung External Hard Drive Beeping Noise?

METHOD 1

1. The beeping sound is perhaps indicative of low power supply.
2. Switch the conventional cable with a USB Y cable.
3. The cable has dual connectors that power up the drive and may stop the beeping sounds indefinitely.

 

METHOD 2

If this does not work, try switching to a USB hub.

It will direct an adequate amount of power supply and put an end to the incessant beeping.