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Hard drive spinning constantly-computer really slow
Name: MTL Date: February 5, 2001 at 12:50:40 Pacific
Comment:
I just upgraded my computer to a Pentium 233mmx and added 32 megs of EDO ram to give a total of 64 megs. I am running Win95. I leave my computer on all the time. Since I did the upgrade, when I come home from work in the evening, the harddrive is spinning like mad (almost as if a defrag is happening) and when I try and start up any programs, it is extremely slow and the hard drive will not stop spinning. I have to reset the computer and then everything runs perfectly until I come home the next evening and the same thing is happening. I am only running a blank screen screensaver and no other programs are running.
It can't be good for the harddrive to be spinning all day long. Please help....
Name: Peer Date: February 5, 2001 at 12:58:11 Pacific
Reply:
Are you sure there are no task schedulars set to run anything?
Just incase (may be overboard) make sure there are no viruses. I have a link to InoculateIT a wonderful free AV at My security page
Also consider the file system monitor from www.systeminternals.com that will tell you what is accessing the harddrive.
Just so you know the harddrive usally spins all the time (unless set to shut off) but it's the read/write head moving that makes the noise.
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Response Number 2
Name: DAVEINCAPS Date: February 5, 2001 at 12:58:25 Pacific
Reply:
If you leave you computer running you need to check the power saving options in your bios and windows so that your hard drive stops spinning after a certain length of time.
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Response Number 3
Name: Smitty Date: February 5, 2001 at 19:40:31 Pacific
Reply:
Which would be easier, replacing a hard drive or shutting down the computer when it is not to used for a few hours????????
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