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    Disk checking software

    Discussion in 'Gateway and eMachines' started by gamadaya, Dec 31, 2009.

  1. gamadaya

    gamadaya Notebook Evangelist

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    Is there any software that checks a hard drive for possible physical problems? I just installed a new hard drive, and I've occasionally heard some strange noises. I'm not sure they're coming from it or my old hard drive (sounds like old), so I want to check them for problems. Does such software exist?
     
    gamadaya, Dec 31, 2009
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  2. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    Tinderbox (UK), Dec 31, 2009
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  3. gamadaya

    gamadaya Notebook Evangelist

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    Actually, I think it might be the WD. I got the sides they were on mixed up. But thanks for the link. Is there anything for the WD as well?

    I also noticed something weird. The noise isn't always there. It only happens when the HDD light is blinking in a specific pattern. Blinks about 4 or 5 times, then goes solid for maybe half a second. Just before it goes solid, that's when the noise happens. A click, then a hiss, and it's pretty loud. Only happens when I'm idling, and only sometimes. If I access the WD (play a movie or open a document or something that is stored on it), the noise will stop for as long as it is being accessed, even though activity increases.
     
    gamadaya, Dec 31, 2009
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  4. gamadaya

    gamadaya Notebook Evangelist

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    Ha ha wow. Ok, it appears to start when I turn on HWMonitor, and stop when I turn it off. I think that's what's happening anyway. I have to try turning off everything else, and I have to try it with another hdd, but it looks like that's what's happening. It would explain why I didn't notice this problem yesterday.
     
    gamadaya, Dec 31, 2009
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  5. gamadaya

    gamadaya Notebook Evangelist

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    I have no idea why HWMonitor is causing this, but it is only with the WD. Both drives seemed to pass all the SeaTools tests (ran on WD drive too). There was some clicking going on with the WD drive while the tests were running that was audible over my cooling pad though.
     
    gamadaya, Dec 31, 2009
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  6. Syngensmyth

    Syngensmyth In All Seriousness

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    HDTune has an error checking feature in the free version.
     
    Syngensmyth, Jan 1, 2010
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