Hard drive runs constantly

Dear Person: I have a question , maybe not a problem….1st; I am a newbie….When useing my computer , my hard drive seems to be ALWAYS running , even when I'm not doing anything………I can hear the speed change , but it never seems to stop….I recently went thru a crash, installed a new hard drive & a full reinstall of WinXP Pro…Since I just put in a new hard drive & it's always running , I do NOT want to crash ( or fry ) this one also…BTW , the fan is cooling working fine…I don't know if this is normal or ?…….. …..Thank you , in advance….

Well first I'm not sure you can hear your hard drive running. If so it would be very quiet, your most likely hearing your fan. Computers can have several fans and each one has their own speeds, so the sounds can be quiet different. Just to check though, press Ctrl + Alt + Del and go to the Performance Tab, tell me what your CPU Usage is. Also if you want to give your hard drive a rest while leaving your computer on, right click on any blank spot on your desktop and choose properties. Go to the screensaver Tab and click on the button at the bottom called "Power…". Click on the "Turn off hard disks:" drop down box and choose a fitting time, 1 hour is good if you leave your computer on a lot, I wouldn't go any lower than a half hour though, otherwise it can shut down on you during downloads. Also if you are going to download something big you may want to switch it back to never so it doesn't interrupt it. You can keep "System standbye:" on never too, it's not very useful.

Dear Vectris; Thanks for that SUPER FAST reply…My computer usage varies from 12% - 57%…Also the sound of the speed gradually varies in pitch…My computer is off when I'm not online ( Saving electricity & money ) …. So your 2nd paragraph , as good of advice as it is , does not apply to me…During this reply ,I noticed the usage went to about 98%…Thank you VERY much…RON

Hmm that is a lot, especially for something so simple. Go to the Task Manager again (Ctrl + Alt + Del) and this time go to the Processes tabs. Use the horizontal scrollbar to scroll the right until you can see the sub-heading CPU (it's in between Session ID and Mem Usage). Now look for any high numbers, if you find one, scroll back to the left and tell me what the name of the program is and what it's CPU number is. Also give it's Mem Usage (the sub-heading to the right of CPU). Keep scrolling down in the taskmanager to view all your running processes, tell me the processes of anything over a CPU of 0. Even tell me how much CPU the taskmanager is using and how much your System Idle Process is using. Also, I realize that hard drives do sometimes make noises, not the soft purring of fans but they can make sort of like those scratching noises right? I'm just to used to a laptop, and laptop hard drives are the ones that don't usually make noise, but instead have more fans. Desktops have more hard drive noise, you have a desktop correct? EDIT: After telling me about your running processes and answer my questions. Right click on my computer, choose properties, and give me all the information under System: and Computer:. Also double click on My Computer and tell me how much Free Diskspace you have.

Vectris; Boy, you're fast…Many thanks….I took 2 screen shots of Task Manager for you…If I did it right they should be enclosed here….I hope they're clear enough for you to read…( I'm new to this stuff)….I have 70% free disc space….Yes , it' a Dell Optiplex GX1 desktop……… You said;; "".EDIT: After telling me about your running processes and answer my questions. Right click on my computer, choose properties, and give me all the information under System: and Computer:. Also double click on My Computer and tell me how much Free Diskspace you have""..I could not find System and/or Computer there…. Talk to ya later….. EDIT :: OK , I don't see the screen shots…Too much data there to print up……I followed the site directions, so I'LL try again another time…Perhaps you could tell me how to do that properly….

I was under the impression you had XP, you have vista correct? Also I do not see your screenshots. Just attaching them to the post doesn't work, you have to go to manage attachments and put in a link to them, try that. As for giving me your specs, try pressing the Key with the windows logo on it at he same time as the Pause Break key, then tell me whats under System: and Computer: (if it comes up). And as for your Free Disk Space, look for a shortcut on your desktop called just "Computer" (if it's not on your desktop, go to the start menu and look for it, single click it if it's in the start menu). Double Click it and then right click on Local Disk (C:). Then under the General Tab, tell me what it says by Free Space. Oh, and if you still can't get the screenshots to work. Go to www.imageshack.us, click the button "Browse…", locate your screenshot on your computer, click Open, then click the button on the web page called "host it!". After it uploads, highlight all the text in the "Thumbnail for forums (1)" text box and copy and paste it at the end of your post.

Vectris; No , I have Windows XP Pro , not Vista….Here's how I tried to get you the screen shots….1st , I hit Print screen , then opened up Paint , then saved to a file, then I selected Browse on this site , selected the screen shot, then hit Upload..I got the Uploading File graphic…I did that same for both screen shots…So whaaa hoppen ?? OK , I JUST discovered why it didn't work….Each screen shot is larger than 1mb , Site rules say I can not upload anything larger than 500kb….SORRY about that…I have to go offline now…I will check back later tonite OR tommorrow for sure…Maybe we can figure out a way to upload some data to you then…Best Regards…RON

Ok ya that would do it for the screenshots, to big file size , oh well not to worry , do this . Find both your screenshot files, open one first in Paint, go to File > Save As, now go to the drop down box for "Save as type:" and choose "JPEG (*.JPG;*.JPEG;*.JPE;*.JFIF) and click save. Do that for both screenshots and then try to upload them again, they'll be a lot smaller.

Also, back to the My Computer and Free Disk Space, do try it again. Right click on My Computer (My Computer is either on your Desktop or in your Start Menu). Go to the General Tab and tell me the information by System: and Computer:. Look at my screenshot and tell me whats different about it when you do that.

(click it so you can see it full-sized)
[external image: Posted Image]

As you can see I highlighted everything from my instructions in a red box.

1) The My Computer shortcut on my desktop is highlighted, right click that and choose properties to get the window that is shown open.

2) The My Computer in my start menu is the one I right clicked and then chose properties with, do the same with the one on the desktop and you'll get the same results, it's just an alternate method.

3) I'm clicking on the Option Properties after right clicking on the My Computer shortcut, regardless of which shortcut you right click on, Properties will still come up, make sure that's the option you click.

4) As you can see I am on the General Tab, just click the title to go to this tab, unless you are already there.

5) This is the System: information, tell me everything you see there, in my case, I would need everything in the red box for number 5.

6) This is the Computer: information, tell me everything there too.

If you notice under Registered to: I blacked it out as that is personal information, don't tell me what's there because that's dangerous to have on the internet and it is not necessary in this case.

Vectris;..I'm back, tho not for long tonite…System info is as follows: System , Microsoft Windows XP ,Proffessional , Version 2002 , Service Pack 2…Computer info is: Intel Pentium ll Processor , 398MHz , 512MB of RAM… HEY,we DID it …there's the screen shots , just like you said…I DO hope you can read them as they don't seem too clear on my comp…Free disc space=13.07 GB I'm going offline for tonite…I'LL be back tommorrow AM…Hope to see you then…MANY thanks for your kind help….RON….. …. PS: Total disc space is 19.07GB…& you give REALLY GREAT detailed instructions…MUCH appreciated……………..8/15/08….I deleted screen shots for personal reasons….Ron.M

Ron.M

Well your currently running processes look ok, but your computer's Mhz are very low, 398 is the lowest I've ever seen. Because of that, your CPU has to work very hard to run things. Mhz stands for Megahertz, on my computer I actually have 3.00Ghz, which is Gigahertz, a Gig is 1,000 times a Meg, and while my computer runs fast, it still isn't top of the line. So I'm fairly certain that your very low Mhz is the main reason your hard drive is making so much noise. There is not much you can do about your low specs other than a hardware upgrade, which can be costly, and you have to spend a lot of time finding the right pieces, and to top that you have a low amount of RAM memory too. So overall, your better off with getting a new computer than upgrading your hardware. However that's a decision you would want to think through for a while, but I can safely tell you that your computer is not a very good one, you should consider buying a new one if you have the finances. As for the problem at hand, aside from new hardware/computer, you can try to free up as much space as possible.

Here are some things you can do to free up space and help your computer run faster, which should make it easier on your hard drive:
Use ATF Cleaner once a week to clear out your internet caches, giving you some extra space. When you use it, just Check the box called Select All and then click Empty Selected and give it 1-5 minutes. The longer it takes the more space it's freeing up, so don't worry.

Also, you yourself can go through your files and try to delete as many documents and programs as possible (aside from anything important or necessary). Try to uninstall any software you do not need and you do not use. Go to your Start Menu > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs and look through your programs for any unused ones, then remove them.

Overall this may not make a visible (or in this case audible) difference but emptying out all your old files will help your computer run a bit faster and may help your hard drive, but it also may stay the same.
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That is pretty much my last advice seeing as your problem is pretty much just the way your computer functions, I do not believe it to be any one thing causing the problem, thus it is not very fixable. I wouldn't worry to much about it though, if your computer does start to overheat because of the hard drive then you can try cleaning out the fans by dusting or evening taking the hose of a vacuum and sucking up the dirt from the fans.

There are 7 questions I have for you as I am trying to gather as much information as I can.

1) When did this problem occur? Have you always had your hard drive making a lot of noise, or did it just happen recently?

2) How often does your hard drive make the noises, right after bootup, after bootup while your running programs, or all the time?

3) If this problem is something that recently occurred and has not always been there, what changes have you made to your computer in the past week, changes as in any major software updates, any new programs installed, moving your computer around the house or any new hardware you may have put on it?

4) Did Windows XP come installed on your computer? If not what was the first Operating System installed on your computer?

5) What year was your computer made in (if you don't know put when you bought it)? And did you buy it used or new?

6) How did you crash your first hard drive?

7) Turn on your computer and use it normally for at least 10 minutes (browse the internet, do work, play games, etc.), after 10 minutes (or longer is fine) put your hand behind where the fans on your computer are and just tell me the temperature (very hot, hot, cold, very cold, warm, just describe it in your own words).

Regardless of your answers to those questions, you should take my advice in the first part of this post as it will help your computer whether it runs fine or not. It will save you valuable disk space and give your computer an easier time while running.

These questions of mine are my last major ones (I hope) so please answer them as fully and descriptively as you can. Some of these I realize I should of asked earlier, however I hope to be of more assistance once your answers come in.

-Vectris

Vectris: I'LL reply to your 1st paragraph , then on to your questions…( Before I forget,how did the screen shots look at your end ??)…I'm a retired TV repair tech (over 45 yrs) ,so I am familiar with eletronics…My finances ARE VERY tight due to a SMALL Soc. Sec. check….So I HAVE to make due with what I have….( BTW, NONE of this is meant to be a put down,strictly FYI )….NOT so with computers , but I AM learning…This IS an older comp but it works VERY well…The hard drive is NOT making a loud noise…Just a background whirring that changes pitch when various functions are being done…I won't be upgrading this one ( too expensive & lack the know how)…I want to get a new one but that's going to have to wait…I've been shopping around & I realize 398MHz IS slow…512MB is the max I can get this comp to work with…It won't accept any more……….FREE SPACE: Since this is a complete recent FULL re-install of WinXP PRO , my free space is 70%, that's a lot of free space…I do not have hardly any new programs installed,,YET…So , I don't think thats a problem…I do have ATF installed & use it regularily…I was told it's better than the Disc Cleaner in WinXP…OK , Questions in order..#1, I just noticed the noise recently , but it may have been something I didn't pay attention to…#2 …I haven't noticed the noise during boot-up..I'n not sure if it makes a noise running programs, ( don't run that many )…..But it definitely does it when I'm online….#3…Have not seen any changes involving software updates from MS or others…I do NOT move the comp (desktop) & NO additional hardware installed since waaay before the crash…..#4…It originally came with Windows ME…After I replaced the hard drive (original had very small gbs, new one has 20 gbs ), I purchased & installed WinXP Pro…#5 …It was made in 1999..I bought it used about 5 yrs ago from a store that folded up & up til a few months ago it did fine….It's a Dell optiplex GC1…..#6…The hard drive itself went bad…..Tried it in a similar working comp…..#7….It' been on for well over an hour now & the fan air is barely even warm…(fan is working fine)….I hope all this added info helps…At this point , it looks like to me that I have a normal situation…I'LL leave that call to you….Thanks so VERY much….later……

Yes everything checks out ok. I'm afraid that the noise is normal and is something you'll just have to get used too. Your computer has very low specs -.- definitely save up for a new one when you can. However I'm sure you can make do with what you have, since you've been doing so for a while. Sorry that it's become an annoyance to you, but there really isn't much you can do. Also just to clear up, the temperature of the fan basically reflects the temperature of the hard drive. The fan itself never creates heat, it simply blows out the air which is heated by the hard drive. The fan itself doesn't have much to do with the temperature, it just blows out air. And if anyone else on the forum has any more input for Ron nows a good time. I think this thread is about over. If you have any other problems Ron feel free to post again. Oh and you asked about the screenshots, well for me they looked fine, I'm sure you know that there very small at first so you click the image once to bring up the larger one, but then I have to click it again to zoom in just a little bit more, and the second zoom is the one that clears it up. Simply clicking the thumbnail brings it up to a large size, but not all the way zoomed in so it still looks blurry at first.

Vectris; The noise is very low volume so it's not really an annoyance…..Due to the fact that the hard drive failed , I was concerned that it MAY be happening again..It's like putting a new engine in a car & hearing a strange noise….So I may have gotten a little paranoid…I do NOT want to go thru all that grief of re-install, etc again…But you , with your expertise , have calmed my fear…I am trying to save for a new comp , but it's tough rite now (long story )….I got the same results on the screen shots….Thanks for showing me how to do that & upload them…I want to thank you VERY , VERY much for ALL your time , expertise , & patience….That said , I will say Bye for now & wish you the BEST in HEALTH , HAPPINESS & PROSPERITY….. ……………RON………………..PS: I cant find a "Rate your Tech" location….Is there one ???………PSS: I removed the screen shots for personal reasons….

Yes there is, if you click on my avatar (the Punisher Skull) then it takes you to my profile, then look underneath my Personal Photo (which is currently blank) and you'll see the stars that represent my rating, you can rate me and it will average the stars and update when you refresh the page.

Vectris; Thanks again for the info….It' done…