Hard Drive Oddness?

So basically I've had my M11x for about a year and a half now and I've had this problem the whole time but I never figured it was that big of a problem. I also noticed that no one else reported this problem so eventually I decided I'd just ask you guys. So this happens maybe once a week, maybe once every other week. What happens is while I'm doing something, anything from watching a youtube video while ripping songs from a CD to surfing the web while transfering large files from a usb drive, my laptop will make a noise that basically sounds like a really loud disk going around. I thought it was just my laptop crashing but I'm starting to think it's more than that. I've had certain times where it will make the noise and freeze up for half a second but then go back to normal. So I'm not really sure why it happens but it just freezes the whole laptop while a loud buzz is heard, not any other way really to describe it but every time I have to hold the power button down to shut it off. I'm not in warranty so it's way too late to call dell about it, but I'm sure wondering if anyone knows what it could be or any possible fixed. And it doesn't happen enough to be too troublesome, but it is kind of annoying when I'm just playing a game and all of the sudden the whole laptop freezes and then buzzes super loud. Sooooo... yeah. LOUD buzzing. A lot deeper sound than you might expect + complete freeze.

Quick: Sometimes laptop makes loud, deep buzz and freezes completely. Hard drive problem? Just ask for more info if that's not enough I guess...

 

Check the temp,could be that it heats up to the point of major throttling.

 

It shouldn't be the temps. I don't think it gets that hot just transfering files or doing normal tasks...

 

From my experiences, that's either an overheating issue or a driver issue.

It happens to me when my temps are too high (because I've been playing a game in a room without ventilation for a LONG time, or have something accidentally obstructing the fan) or when I install drivers that don't really work well with certain games (285.33 drivers don't give me this issue, but the 266.58 do, for example).

 

Hmmmmm interesting. I just thought something was just slightly faulty but I guess it makes sense that things were overheating. I don't remember it being hot when it happens but I wouldn't doubt it. Time for new thermal pasting maybe...

 

the sounds that you speak of would either be caused by the fan or your hard drive. i'd recommend just upgrading to an ssd. you won't look back.