Hard disk running constantly

Den · Apr 29, 2011, 21:12:35

Just had a phone call from my son saying that his hard drive has started running constantly. He has done all the usual things like checking tasks/programs running and checked his virus checker but it still runs. He is running W7 and MS Esentials and has cleaned out with CC cleaner. HELP

Glenn · Apr 29, 2011, 22:51:20

I think more info is needed Den.

HDU size
Free space on the drive
Amount of RAM
How much free RAM
Size of pagefile

for starters

Simon · Apr 29, 2011, 22:55:20

Reboot?

pctech · Apr 29, 2011, 23:51:45

Sounds like it could be paging (shifting stuff from RAM to the pagefile to free up RAM for program operation)

zappaDPJ · Apr 30, 2011, 03:14:18

I have the same problem with the same O.S. The hard disk (light) is running constantly. My PC also takes an age to boot as it searches for an O.S. My gut feeling is that it's a HD about to fail so I'm backing it up every day.

Technical Ben · Apr 30, 2011, 08:37:05

Virus scan running in the background, or windows update? Else Defrag running or Search indexing.
You can go and see what services are running... um. One second.
["Google Fu GO!"]

http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/disable-search-indexing-in-windows-7/
Disable "superfetch" too to help.
You can go to "task manager" then "resource manager" and see which program is accessing the HDD. Windows 7 is great like that.

I had a similar problem with an update, had to do a roll back to before it happened. I think an update or something messed up the PC. It works fine now, so no idea what it was.

[Edit]
Oh, except for the already mentioned dying HDD or full disk.

pctech · Apr 30, 2011, 17:40:24

Vista indexing had the same effect on my current PC when I installed it.

Disabling indexing did seem to solve it.

sobranie · Apr 30, 2011, 18:47:43

What's running (free) here ....

http://www.whatsrunning.net/