Is my new HDD dying/defective?

[Doomsayeragain]

One month ago I bought WD60EFPX disk and installed it into UGREEN US222 enclosure, ran SMARTS test + read/write test with Victoria. Everything was looking good so I started filling it up with content till I had 1.5 TB free space left.

Two days ago on a quiet night I noticed that it sounds a bit too loud for my liking and as if it's working harder just to read files, as in I'd just open a folder/file and would hear HDD clacking. I redid the SMART tests and Victoria read test (all came back great), the disk itself also seems to be working perfectly fine, but I'm somewhat paranoid (and very nervous since it's my only storage and I can't just backup the files willy nilly) and maybe it was always sounding like that and I just didn't notice, so I'd really appreciate if someone could tell me if it the sounds are normal or not.

Recorded during unpacking a zip file on said HDD - please turn up the sound (sorry for bad mic)

And this was recorded while running a short SMART self-test with Kitfox, this is definitely not normal, right? What is causing these sounds?

 

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

I think you're just being paranoid. HDDs always make sounds, as they have moving parts. That doesn't sound like a bad sound.

As long as SMART isn't seeing any faults, I wouldn't worry about it.

As I was always taught, have your files always in 3 places. In your system, and a backup on separate drive stocked up on the shelf, and one away from your house, cloud or a friends house.

[Doomsayeragain]

On 12/04/2026 at 02:29, Mindovermaster said:

I think you're just being paranoid. HDDs always make sounds, as they have moving parts. That doesn't sound like a bad sound.

As long as SMART isn't seeing any faults, I wouldn't worry about it.

As I was always taught, have your files always in 3 places. In your system, and a backup on separate drive stocked up on the shelf, and one away from your house, cloud or a friends house.

Even the second video's sound? It sounds like a grinder, I don't even know what could possibly make that sound normally.

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

On 11/04/2026 at 18:57, Doomsayeragain said:

Even the second video's sound? It sounds like a grinder, I don't even know what could possibly make that sound normally.

Your stomach?  

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

On 11/04/2026 at 23:11, Doomsayeragain said:

this is definitely not normal

You were not using it in a "normal" way, you were running tests on it.

[Steven P. Administrators]

I think it has more to do with the enclosure if it is too loud. I can't see in the second video if the HDD is in the enclosure or not (too dark).

Outside of the enclosure is also going to be loud, normally HDDs are built inside computers or an enclosure which absorbs some of the sound HDDs make.

If the S.M.A.R.T test passed, then it is not dying.

[Doomsayeragain]

On 12/04/2026 at 13:03, Steven P. said:

I think it has more to do with the enclosure if it is too loud. I can't see in the second video if the HDD is in the enclosure or not (too dark).

Outside of the enclosure is also going to be loud, normally HDDs are built inside computers or an enclosure which absorbs some of the sound HDDs make.

If the S.M.A.R.T test passed, then it is not dying.

Yeah, sorry, forgot to add - it's in UGREEN US222 enclosure always.
I don't mind the noise itself or the loudness of NAS drives, I'm just afraid that it shouldn't be making THOSE particular noises, it sounds like a grindstone and not like the usual popcorn machine.

SMART is seeing no faults, neither short nor extended, but I was told that SMART is VERY unreliable when it comes to predicting failure so that's why I'm panicking.

[Steven P. Administrators]

On 12/04/2026 at 14:45, Doomsayeragain said:

SMART is seeing no faults, neither short nor extended, but I was told that SMART is VERY unreliable when it comes to predicting failure so that's why I'm panicking.

I am pretty sure WD has their own disk checking tool, yeah they do here: https://support-en.wd.com/app/answers/detailweb/a_id/51537/~/download%2C-install%2C-test-drive-and-erase-using-western-digital-kitfox

Can't get better than that 😛 

[Doomsayeragain]

On 12/04/2026 at 19:55, Steven P. said:

I am pretty sure WD has their own disk checking tool, yeah they do here: https://support-en.wd.com/app/answers/detailweb/a_id/51537/~/download%2C-install%2C-test-drive-and-erase-using-western-digital-kitfox

Can't get better than that 😛 

Yeah I know, the sound I linked was happening during short SMART test using that very same tool you linked.

[Alpha_Tay]

from experience long ago, some unbranded external hdd Enclosure has poor quality power adapter that may decrease the lifespan of hdd itself. that probably wont happen to international big brand like UGREEN.

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

Can you attach the hard disk drive directly to your computer via SATA and then re-run the tests without the intervening USB enclosure?  Are the results any different if you perform the test that way?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

[winrez]

It sounds completely normal under the conditions you had.

[xrobwx71]

https://www.techsupportforum.com/threads/is-my-new-hdd-dying-defective.1265802/