Hard Drive Contstantly working?

l)ark_Scorpion

Real SN AT99Scorpion
Power User
Hi, Idk why my HDD is doing this, but it's CONSTANTLY running, the lights on, and I can hear it writing/reading. It's been going on for like an hour since I woke up, and it was doing it when I booted it like 12 hours ago.

Why?
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    AMD
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI
The only possible answer is that it is a program updating or scanning. The question is what program. Lets be sure that it is not a problem. Run a virus scan. Then download and run malwarebytes, so we can be sure that it is nothing bad.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware : Malwarebytes

Righrt click on the task bar (bottom of screen) and view the task manager and

run process explorer to see running programs
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I already Checked Process Explorer, and nothing is running.

I recently Installed Ubuntu, and it said my HD has many bad sectors and is starting to fail. I am trying to get a back up HD to clone to.

Could having a bad HD make it run so much?
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    AMD
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI
Yes, a failing HD can cause a similar problem. Check for virus and malware. It will not hurt to be sure they are not the culprits. That is the most common cause. Run the scans and report back. If you come up negative, I would back up everything just in case.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I REALLY think my HDD is failing. I did a restart, and the disk is still constantly reading, and then when I started Malwarebytes, it got locked up, and had to restart the program. Then it will sometimes lock up for like 10 seconds and continue going.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    AMD
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI
As I posted above, it can be a failing hard drive. If you have trouble with the malwarebytes scan, make that back up. Once all your documents are saved, a failing hard drive becomes an inconvenience and not a tragedy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
You can go to the website for your HD and test it. Most mfg. have an online test for the HD.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
The HD light is now just on... and I can't hear it reading or writing, I can just hear the platter spinning when I put my ear to the case of my comp.

Spybot came up with spyware, and removed them, but the problem still persists. The disk stopped reading/writing like an hour ago, but sometimes it'll start reading/writing for like 10 seconds and stop for like 5 then continue.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    AMD
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Great and ty for the rep.

Allow me to help you avoid the problem in the future. Make regular SR points and make a system image and store it on a separate Hard Drive. It will make problems a thinkg of the past.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Yes, I always have SR on. My dad insists that I turn it off because of Malware... and I say he's crazy.

Malware probably can hide in SR points, but I don't think they can even come out of them onto the main OS.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    AMD
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI
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