Strange noise from Z11WN HDD + Slow Boot

Hi guys,

I've noticed on the last few days my machine has become incredibly slow to boot, I'm a little worried that the HDD is on it's way out. I've purchased an external drive and have backed up some of the important stuff.

Will be running a complete rebuild of Windows 7 in the coming few days. Is there any checks I can do on the HDD to see what the problems may be? Also, if I'm to be replacing this drive, is there one you'd recommend to slot in? I'm assuming the drive is SATA (its 250gb), would a higher capacity slot in OK/would it have significant battery wear?

Thanks for the help,

 

Try to use free version of HD Tune website to check your hard drive. I doubt it became faulty unless you shook laptop while it was turned on. I would suggest you to defrag hard drive or at least registry or boot files. If you can't use VAIO care for defragging (if it is VAIO notebook) you can use this http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...files-under-win7-post5459182.html#post5459182 . I don't like that guy but he wrote here not bad way to speed up booting speed (If you have windows 7, but if it is Vista or XP then tell me).

How old is your hard drive?
how much empty space are there?
when did it start?
what software you installed before that happened?
Antivirus?

 

Laptop is about 1.5 years old so I think the Hard Drive is factory,
There is 88.3 GB free from 232 GB, It's started around a week ago but haven't made any major software updates. I've the Microsoft Security Essentials virus scanner.

I was thinking of replacing with a 7200rpm HDD, do you think a rebuild would maybe solve?

 

Not sure what does rebuild exactly means. You mean just change the harddrive?
Well as I said at first do that boot defrag which is described in the link. It is super easy to do, just follow instructions.

About another hdd, If it is Windows problem (bad software or registry aсcident) - new hard drive won't help if you will try to restore your windows by using some recovery disks or tools etc.
If it is HDD malfunction or high fragmenting - it will resolve

Make screenshots of Task Manager and show me. If you could record how it is booting - do it. It will be better. Perhaps it is just some software unable to start quickly. I need a list of processes and screenshot of all system trays too.

 

Hi James,

Did the defrag and restarted the Laptop. Started very quickly but after shutting it down and starting again, back to having the noises coming from the machine.
I will try post an update on the noises (an audio clip of what it sounds like) and will time the machine booting.



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Above is the screenshots of the processes. At current, I've downloaded SeaTools from Seagate (the HDD is reported as a Toshiba - think thats standard).

I've purchased an external HDD which is on the way to back everything up before I reinstall Windows. PC seems to be restarting reasonably quickly once it reaches the Windows resuming/starting screen, it's when sitting in the BIOS screen with VAIO in the middle of the screen.

Any ideas? Again thanks for the help!

 

Here's the results from HD Tune. If anyone else has any ideas, please feel free to help. I'm at my wits ends with this boot problem.



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I forgot to mention to do a non-quick scan by HD tune. Quick one find almost nothing. If it all will be green then it is not hdd problem.
About processes. It looks fine. Did you install Epson soft long time before it happened?

You want to tell that it is slow in the start of turning on or it becomes slow when windows boots?
Have you ever updated BIOS?

 

Think I sorted it, reflashed the BIOS, reinstalled Windows 7 and seems to be sorted now. Thanks James for all the help! Good man.