Hello,

Since i've installed linux on my laptop, i could sometimes notice worrying hdd noises ("tick .. ticklock") at random frequencies. It's the same sound when the computer powers off (actually it's the sound of the mechanical arm parking outside the physical disc). This sound did not occured so often under windows.

Guessing this could be damaging the disc, i searched the web and saw that it was a common problem. I have been looking for a new firmware, but nothing for my hardware in the dell's support download page. All firmwares i've found were older than mine.

The solution was not to install a new firmware but to make a few settings. This is possible with this "Feature Tool" provided by the official Hitachi website :
http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm
Download, burn on a RW, and boot it.
What i did is to glide the APM setting a bit more towards Performance. Thus the disk is just idling but does not shut off. It's well explained in the help.

I don't hear the noise anymore (for now).

'Hope this helps :p