Thinkpads Forum

Hello - I have another question for you all.

My new Thinkpad T60 has a Fujitsu 120 gig hard drive (5400 rpm) installed, and I've noticed that it's quite noisy. In addition to the sound that it makes whenever it is on (a constant, yet soft sound almost like a fan), I've noticed that it is being accessed very often - even when I am doing nothing at all. For example, sitting in front of the computer reading while no programs are open, I can hear the soft grinding sound of it being accessed repeatedly. The sound itself doesn't sound abnormal; it's just the frequency that seems unusual to me.

Anyone have any insight on this? Could this indicate that my hard drive is damaged or is this a typical experience?

Thanks all.
Chris

are you using vista? if so, it's probably indexing your hard drive. should become less frequent over time.

Thanks for the response. I'm actually using XP Professional.

The hard drive should not be being accessed continuously, although some programs can make it so. Retail Norton Internet Security 2003, for example, would access the hard drive all the time checking for non-existent windows messenger. I dispensed with that product.

To check for this, I turn my machine off, do a cold start, and then as soon as it is fully running, do a Search -> All Files -> Advanced -> Select System and Hidden -> When Modified -> Set for "today" and then when the results come, sort on time/date and see what the most recent accesses are. Sometimes a clue here, and that is how I determined the issue in the first paragraph.

... JDH

Interesting idea -- I'll give that a try. So you think this sounds like a software issue rather than a possible hardware issue?

Edit: FYI, I've noticed that the accessing doesn't seem to happen as much whenever I'm using the computer. It seems to be mostly when the computer is idle.

Thanks

Try FileMon from Microsoft
It displays which processes are opening which files[/url]

check on diskeeper light settings. could be its accessing to reorganize fragmented disk, especially in idle times!
greetz

I just noticed my harddrive is chirping as well. It is happening at quite refular intervals, every few seconds. I have used filemon and it is happening even if no file is accessed.

FileMon is your key, as linked by Smalltalk80. You could have Windows Desktop Search which uses the HD during idle times.

As I mentioned I used filemon (I am very very advanced user and the noise is happening even when no file is accessed. I shutdown as many processes as possible as well.

BTW. The only 2 things that changes since it started is to install Intel Pro/Wireless 11 software and new Thinkpad bios. I did uninstall the Intel software to eliminate it as a possible cause of problems and the noise is still there.

I have the same hdd in my t60, it makes the same clicks, I've used following update of firmware (see link) 2 weeks ago and it did help, I did not hear any clicks last weeks and I hope this will remain like this.

here are the link:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-63685

here is an explanation from ibm:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-42320

P.S. I've got a new hdd (ATA) from fujitsu, but for t41 , and it cliks as well.

Don't use Symantec Security Client.

I'm using Zone Alarm. It's better now.

arthurcorell wrote:Don't use Symantec Security Client.

Please do not post this kind of message. If you don't like a product - Fine. But stop telling the rest of us not to use a good product. There is little to nothing wrong with Symantec Client Security (Corporate) - which is what you wrote. ... JDH

I have been getting the same constant harddrive activity, while i disabled al the unnescesary start-up's, services, pre loaded third party prog's and even a few of the Thinkvantage stuff, especially removing Client Sec. Solution 7, made my machine a lot more responsive!!!
Not only when booting or shutting down, but also while doing average work on the machine.
Maybe very handy when being a heavy top nodge executive, windows password will do for me...
Still i haven't completely gotten my harddrive to go to bed, to save battery...
But i do have one tip......
This one took away i think 60% of the unwanted activity; wcescomm.exe

This comes with activeSync....i had already dragged it out of my start-up by the haires, this one was left behind, if you use a ppc and use this utillity, look it up in processes.

Like i said, lose as much dead weight as you can, i did and it worked!!!
Finnaly, having put my harddrive into 30 seconds no activity, no more spin, it did....
No activity what so ever!
A very silent laptop, but no programs running, even starting firefox powered up the drive, i think it is igrxpers.exe the Intel stuff that accesses it.....