Noisy Hard Drive on Bootup using XP

#1 (**permalink**) 03-26-2007, 11:05 AM

I Have a Pentium PC and have had a HD failure. Prior to failing the
drive had excessive head movement on bootup.

As I had a second PC not in use I changed the hard drive which was
quite on the second PC. but is also acting in the same way on this
one.

After bootup no problems.

Has anyone got any ideas what the cause is and how to stop it.

Regards

Namurt

#2 (**permalink**) 03-26-2007, 11:37 AM

"namurt" <tom_truman@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1174903552.042664.134230@o5g2000hsb.googlegro ups.com...
>I Have a Pentium PC and have had a HD failure. Prior to failing the
> drive had excessive head movement on bootup.
>
> As I had a second PC not in use I changed the hard drive which was
> quite on the second PC. but is also acting in the same way on this
> one.
>
> After bootup no problems.
>
> Has anyone got any ideas what the cause is and how to stop it.
>
Only happens during bootup ?.
Some software polling the hard drive ?.
The drive needs defragging ?.

#3 (**permalink**) 03-26-2007, 12:43 PM

On 26 Mar, 11:37, "meerkat" <x...@xxxx.com> wrote:
> "namurt" <tom_tru...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
>
> news:1174903552.042664.134230@o5g2000hsb.googlegro ups.com...>I Have a Pentium PC and have had a HD failure. Prior to failing the
> > drive had excessive head movement on bootup.
>
> > As I had a second PC not in use I changed the hard drive which was
> > quite on the second PC. but is also acting in the same way on this
> > one.
>
> > After bootup no problems.
>
> > Has anyone got any ideas what the cause is and how to stop it.
>
> Only happens during bootup ?.
> Some software polling the hard drive ?.
> The drive needs defragging ?.

Thank You

Drive is partioned C: and D: D: needs defragging C: reports that it
doesn't.

Have defragged both in the past with no difference.

Only software that may be polling it is Ghost or Anti Virus software
if in fact they do.

Have another prob which may throw some light on it.

PC will not power down without removing power. It simply reboots
itself.

Any other ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks Again

Namurt

#4 (**permalink**) 03-26-2007, 01:08 PM

"namurt" <tom_truman@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1174903552.042664.134230@o5g2000hsb.googlegro ups.com...
> I Have a Pentium PC and have had a HD failure. Prior to failing the
> drive had excessive head movement on bootup.
>
> As I had a second PC not in use I changed the hard drive which was
> quite on the second PC. but is also acting in the same way on this
> one.
>
> After bootup no problems.
>
> Has anyone got any ideas what the cause is and how to stop it.
>
> Regards
>
> Namurt
>

How much RAM is fitted to each machine? A lot of drive action is often an
indicator of insufficient RAM.

#5 (**permalink**) 03-26-2007, 01:53 PM

"namurt" <tom_truman@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1174909394.450569.229610@y66g2000hsf.googlegr oups.com...
> On 26 Mar, 11:37, "meerkat" <x...@xxxx.com> wrote:
>> "namurt" <tom_tru...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
>>
>> news:1174903552.042664.134230@o5g2000hsb.googlegro ups.com...>I Have a
>> Pentium PC and have had a HD failure. Prior to failing the
>> > drive had excessive head movement on bootup.
>>
>> > As I had a second PC not in use I changed the hard drive which was
>> > quite on the second PC. but is also acting in the same way on this
>> > one.
>>
>> > After bootup no problems.
>>
>> > Has anyone got any ideas what the cause is and how to stop it.
>>
>> Only happens during bootup ?.
>> Some software polling the hard drive ?.
>> The drive needs defragging ?.
>
> Thank You
>
> Drive is partioned C: and D: D: needs defragging C: reports that it
> doesn't.
>
> Have defragged both in the past with no difference.
>
> Only software that may be polling it is Ghost or Anti Virus software
> if in fact they do.
>
> Have another prob which may throw some light on it.
>
> PC will not power down without removing power. It simply reboots
> itself.
>
Check the Event Viewer for errors.

#6 (**permalink**) 03-26-2007, 04:19 PM

could the power supply be 'surging'? just a guess.

"John A" <e455gkf@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4607b7db$0$8718$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
>
> "namurt" <tom_truman@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1174903552.042664.134230@o5g2000hsb.googlegro ups.com...
>> I Have a Pentium PC and have had a HD failure. Prior to failing the
>> drive had excessive head movement on bootup.
>>
>> As I had a second PC not in use I changed the hard drive which was
>> quite on the second PC. but is also acting in the same way on this
>> one.
>>
>> After bootup no problems.
>>
>> Has anyone got any ideas what the cause is and how to stop it.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Namurt
>>
>
> How much RAM is fitted to each machine? A lot of drive action is often an
> indicator of insufficient RAM.
>
>

#7 (**permalink**) 03-26-2007, 07:46 PM

On 26 Mar, 13:08, "John A" <e455...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> "namurt" <tom_tru...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
>
> news:1174903552.042664.134230@o5g2000hsb.googlegro ups.com...
>
> > I Have a Pentium PC and have had a HD failure. Prior to failing the
> > drive had excessive head movement on bootup.
>
> > As I had a second PC not in use I changed the hard drive which was
> > quite on the second PC. but is also acting in the same way on this
> > one.
>
> > After bootup no problems.
>
> > Has anyone got any ideas what the cause is and how to stop it.
>
> > Regards
>
> > Namurt
>
> How much RAM is fitted to each machine? A lot of drive action is often an
> indicator of insufficient RAM.

512 mb on each PC

#8 (**permalink**) 03-29-2007, 04:55 AM

On Mar 26, 3:05 am, "namurt" <tom_tru...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
> I Have a Pentium PC and have had a HD failure. Prior to failing the
> drive had excessive head movement on bootup.
>
> As I had a second PC not in use I changed the hard drive which was
> quite on the second PC. but is also acting in the same way on this
> one.
>
> After bootup no problems.
>
> Has anyone got any ideas what the cause is and how to stop it.
>
> Regards
>
> Namurt

Just in case to see if this drive is failing too, use a utility to
check the SMART status, if the drive supports it. Th utility I would
recommend is SpeedFan

#9 (**permalink**) 04-01-2007, 09:56 AM

On 29 Mar, 04:55, happymac.supp...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Mar 26, 3:05 am, "namurt" <tom_tru...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > I Have a Pentium PC and have had a HD failure. Prior to failing the
> >drivehad excessive head movement on bootup.
>
> > As I had a second PC not in use I changed theharddrivewhich was
> > quite on the second PC. but is also acting in the same way on this
> > one.
>
> > After bootup no problems.
>
> > Has anyone got any ideas what the cause is and how to stop it.
>
> > Regards
>
> > Namurt
>
> Just in case to see if thisdriveis failing too, use a utility to
> check the SMART status, if thedrivesupports it. Th utility I would
> recommend is SpeedFan

Thank you but how do I do this

Regards

Nanmurt

#10 (**permalink**) 04-01-2007, 06:55 PM

> Thank you but how do I do this
>
> Regards
>
> Nanmurt

OK, Download SpeedFan (http://www.almico.com/speedfan432.exe). Install
the program. Now run the program (just wait while SpeedFan reads the
computers bus, etc.). When SpeedFan is done initializing, gon the the
"S.M.A.R.T" tab. Now, from the drop down menu, choose your hard drive.
The utility will scan the hard drive and will list the model and
firmware. Now click the "Perform an in-depth online analysis of this
hard disk" button. It will open your browser and take you to a page.
Scroll down to the middle of the page where there is a chart. As long
as every attribute says "Normal" or better "Very good", you HD is OK.
Right below the chart, it will summarize the hard disk's health. If it
says something like "All of the attributes of your hard disk have
normal values. This is good.", then the hard drive's health should be
OK.

Hope this helps

#11 (**permalink**) 04-01-2007, 06:57 PM

Woops. If any attribute says "Good" thats OK too.