Please, a quick answer to verify my thaughts.

1031982 · 8th Mar 2007, 03:53 AM

Ok, I am working on a system that is taking forever to access things on the HDD. Well, after my tests, I found that there is no spy-ware, no virus, and no conflicts on the system at all. Also, I tried running just the HDD without any extra internal hardware to test the power output, and it still reacted slowly. The drive itself is loud by nature, which helps with this conclusion that the HDD is failing. It barely access the HDD at all, and when it does, it's only is small time frames. Like about 10 seconds of HDD access, and then it stops for a minute. It does this during loading and in Windows XP. I have also checked the drive for errors using Chkdsk in windows and off the OS CD, and it's not fragmented.

Is this the HDD, or something else.

PsYkHoTiK · 8th Mar 2007, 03:57 AM

What kinda sounds is it making? You can tell if the drive is failing or about to fail by the sounds (grinding, clicking, whining, etc.)

1031982 · 8th Mar 2007, 04:14 AM

Well, the drive always made a light clicking noise when reading or writing. It was a cheaper system, so the drive noise is normal.

1031982 · 8th Mar 2007, 11:20 AM

Ok, I have an update. I left it running chkdsk from the XP install disk, with it doing a through scan and now it seems to be fine.

Adrian Wong · 8th Mar 2007, 05:17 PM

Hmm.. If the clicking noise has been there from the start, it should be nothing. But it only developed rather recently, then I would really take note of it.

As for CHKDSK, if you are doing a thorough scan, including a scan of bad sectors, it will scan for and replace bad sectors with spare sectors if it finds any.

If your drive works much better after a thorough scan, it could be due to bad sectors. The drive could be having trouble reading them. Replacing them with spare sectors would solve that problem.

1031982 · 9th Mar 2007, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

Hmm.. If the clicking noise has been there from the start, it should be nothing. But it only developed rather recently, then I would really take note of it.

As for CHKDSK, if you are doing a thorough scan, including a scan of bad sectors, it will scan for and replace bad sectors with spare sectors if it finds any.

If your drive works much better after a thorough scan, it could be due to bad sectors. The drive could be having trouble reading them. Replacing them with spare sectors would solve that problem.

Ok, now that I re-read my post I can see how it's confusing. To simplify it, here is the confusing part much better written.
The drive itself has always been a little noisy, and the specs say that it should be heard when working properly. Now, it does not make much noise, making me believe it is going bad.

I hope that explains what I was trying to say MUCH better.
But yes, now I have confirmed that it is reading just fine, all noise as it should be. The drive was made in 2001, and I was sure that by default it would make it to 2015 because of it's use. The system is used for E-Mail, Internet, and word processing 99% of the time. So I would have been shocked if the through scan didn't work.

8th Mar 2007, 03:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
1031982 Super Active Join Date: 25 Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,585 Reputation: 285 Rep Power: 9	Please, a quick answer to verify my thaughts. Ok, I am working on a system that is taking forever to access things on the HDD. Well, after my tests, I found that there is no spy-ware, no virus, and no conflicts on the system at all. Also, I tried running just the HDD without any extra internal hardware to test the power output, and it still reacted slowly. The drive itself is loud by nature, which helps with this conclusion that the HDD is failing. It barely access the HDD at all, and when it does, it's only is small time frames. Like about 10 seconds of HDD access, and then it stops for a minute. It does this during loading and in Windows XP. I have also checked the drive for errors using Chkdsk in windows and off the OS CD, and it's not fragmented. Is this the HDD, or something else. __________________ Running : Gigabyte EP45-DS3R, Intel E7200 C2D, 2GB DDR2 Dual Channel, WD Raptor 74GB, WD 500 GB HDD, ASUS 16X DVD-ROM, LiteOn 16X DVD+/-RW, 1.44 MB Floppy, ATI Radeon HD 3450, Dell 2005FPW, and a SB Audigy2 ZS PRO with Logitech Z5300e speakers.

8th Mar 2007, 03:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
PsYkHoTiK "Little" Devil Join Date: 8 Apr 2004 Location: On the "throne" Posts: 14,385 Reputation: 4069 Rep Power: 59	What kinda sounds is it making? You can tell if the drive is failing or about to fail by the sounds (grinding, clicking, whining, etc.) __________________ Intel SLAPL 4.3GHz @ 1.35v : 2x2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 1066 : Asus P5K Premium : WD RE3 250GB x2 RAID 0 : 3ware 9650SE-2LP : G92 8800GTS 512mb 820MHz Core : XFi Platinum : Silverstone OP650 : Silverstone TJ-07 : Dtek FuZion CPU : Swiftech MCW60 : MCP655 : Thermochill PA120.3 w Scythe Ultra Kaze CPU-Z: SLAPL : SLA9U : FX-55 : DDR 600 : VX www.techarp.com PsYkHoTiK's Meanderings

8th Mar 2007, 04:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
1031982 Super Active Join Date: 25 Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,585 Reputation: 285 Rep Power: 9	Well, the drive always made a light clicking noise when reading or writing. It was a cheaper system, so the drive noise is normal. __________________ Running : Gigabyte EP45-DS3R, Intel E7200 C2D, 2GB DDR2 Dual Channel, WD Raptor 74GB, WD 500 GB HDD, ASUS 16X DVD-ROM, LiteOn 16X DVD+/-RW, 1.44 MB Floppy, ATI Radeon HD 3450, Dell 2005FPW, and a SB Audigy2 ZS PRO with Logitech Z5300e speakers.

8th Mar 2007, 11:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
1031982 Super Active Join Date: 25 Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,585 Reputation: 285 Rep Power: 9	Ok, I have an update. I left it running chkdsk from the XP install disk, with it doing a through scan and now it seems to be fine. __________________ Running : Gigabyte EP45-DS3R, Intel E7200 C2D, 2GB DDR2 Dual Channel, WD Raptor 74GB, WD 500 GB HDD, ASUS 16X DVD-ROM, LiteOn 16X DVD+/-RW, 1.44 MB Floppy, ATI Radeon HD 3450, Dell 2005FPW, and a SB Audigy2 ZS PRO with Logitech Z5300e speakers.

8th Mar 2007, 05:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 30,382 Reputation: 3147 Rep Power: 68	Hmm.. If the clicking noise has been there from the start, it should be nothing. But it only developed rather recently, then I would really take note of it. As for CHKDSK, if you are doing a thorough scan, including a scan of bad sectors, it will scan for and replace bad sectors with spare sectors if it finds any. If your drive works much better after a thorough scan, it could be due to bad sectors. The drive could be having trouble reading them. Replacing them with spare sectors would solve that problem. __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs