How do i prevent my macbook from making this noise ?

Mine does the same thing. I’m pretty sure they all do. Next time I see my roommate, I’ll try his and see if it does it as well.

Mine does it as well. MacBook Pro. Don’t lose any sleep over it.

Ditto to argaudette.

When the computer switches off, the optical drive and hard drive lock heads and (and in the case of the optical drive) mounting spindles in place for transit. When you switch the computer back on, the noise you hear is the mounting spindles (a) coming out of the locked position (b) the optical drive test.

It’s normal, don’t worry about it.

Thanks rich! =) I never knew why it made that noise, I just knew it did.

No problem. It’s the same thing when you put the computer to sleep, too.

Another nifty feature is that the hard drive automatically parks if it detects sudden movement, to prevent damage. Try playing a movie off your hard drive, and then dropping the laptop five or six inches onto the sofa. The movie will briefly pause, as the hard drive freezes to prevent damage, and then carry on playing once the movement stops.

Great explanation, richardhenry. I’ve learned a lot from your answers because they are always so clearly written. Thanks.