mick2me 3,033 Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 I have this problem that whilst typing on the computer, the hard drive starts grinding away and the hard drive light comes on permanently. I continue typing but the text stops appearing, after a minute or two the hard drives light becomes normal and the line of text appears where I have been typing? Whilst this is happening I can do nothing with the mouse, the mouse pointer changes to the text sampling bar but left clicking does not work on anything, until the hard drives stops. Its quite an old laptop, but what is the hard drive actually doing? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pwatmo 3 Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 I have this problem that whilst typing on the computer, the hard drive starts grinding away and the hard drive light comes on permanently. I continue typing but the text stops appearing, after a minute or two the hard drives light becomes normal and the line of text appears where I have been typing? Whilst this is happening I can do nothing with the mouse, the mouse pointer changes to the text sampling bar but left clicking does not work on anything, until the hard drives stops. Its quite an old laptop, but what is the hard drive actually doing? Mick, I would say you have the beginnings of a hard-drive bearing failure. And once that happens there is Nowt yer can do abaht it. I suggest you move quickly to back it up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,674 Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 A similar thing happens to my laptop but only when the scheduled anti-virus software is going through its daily scan . As you say the hard drive light is permanently on, without flashing . If you go into the system tools it tells you what is using all the computers resources . On mine , as soon as the scan finishes everything returns to normal . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alisoncc 379 Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 Easiest is to hold down Ctl, Alt and press Del, all at the same time. Then select Task Manager. Irrespective of the Op Sys you are running you will be able to see what is happening on your machine at that moment. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted September 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 I'll do that and copy the processes and services here next time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alisoncc 379 Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 If you select the "Processes" tab in Task Manager, and then click on the CPU heading twice. It will list the processes in order of CPU resource being used. The top process should be using 99% of the resource. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted September 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 give 02 01 01 then all 00s. Is there a way of getting a text file of all running processes? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alisoncc 379 Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 Hi Mick, don't know what version of Windows you are running. But if you have a "Run" command in the "Start" tab, then select it and enter "msconfig" and click Okay. If running Win 7 then select the "Tools" tab and then Select "Resource Monitor" and "Launch" it. I would use this to find out what is happening. If not Win 7 get back to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted September 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 Vista Yes I know MSCONFIG, but what in that? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob.L 1,084 Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 Sometimes, hard drives keep looking for files that are still shown in the registry, but may have been deleted. That leads to the HD 'thrashing'. I have a regular routine for clearing up redundant files and cleaning the registry. All the programmes I use are free and I can vouch for how well they work. To clear out the cr@p, I use CCleaner (http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner), which empties internet caches, etc. It can also clear out some registry errors and, if you know what you're doing, you can prune the files your computer loads on start-up - which makes it boot a lot quicker. For a more in-depth clean of the registry, I then use Eusing Registry Cleaner (http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm) It's amazing how much better, and quieter, my XP computer performs after running these. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted September 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 Thanks Rob I did not know of the second, and it found 1,880 problems with the registry. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob.L 1,084 Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 See if it improves. If it's no better, you may have to defrag the hard drive. And, yes, I have another freebie for that - http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/download/ which works a lot better and faster than Microsoft's own defragger. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted September 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 Thanks All installed and run. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 Just run your alternate to piriform (That found 1200 bits of crap on my PC too, even though I use CClean at least once a fortnight.!) I'm running your defrag now too Thanks for the tips Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alisoncc 379 Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 Vista Yes I know MSCONFIG, but what in that? I haven't run Vista for yonks. so can't second guess what is there. There should be a "Tools" tab in msconfig. Select the "Resource Monitor" "Tool" and launch it. If available it will show you all activity. If there is lots of disk and little CPU it might suggest disk re-reads due to problems there. The previous process list under Task Manager should show the "System Idle Process" at 99% at the top. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted September 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 No tools tab. But maybe CPU usage at the bottom bar will help? I will look again when the problem returns. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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