Hard drive runs continually

[Ditzian]

I recently noticed that my hard drive keeps running for no apparent reason.  It does not actually run continually, it runs for about two seconds, stops, then, at a variable interval of five to fifteen seconds, it runs again.  This is a lot of running to get nowhere.  I tried shutting down all applications other than those running all the time by default (no browsers, file managers, or e-mail), and this made no change.  Rebooting makes no difference.

It may be that I have set some program or service to run that I do not realize.  Can someone help me to diagnose what is happening?

Thank you,

Jan

[T6]

is it old?

is it full?

what kernel are you using?

the latest kernel i installed uses the hard disk differently than the previous ones i had in my netbook

[Ditzian]

The board is a few years old, but is an AMD 4-core.  The drive is 1 TB, not full, although if you are asking about specific partitions I would have to check.  The kernel is 2.6.38.5.A64.  I have the next version, but I have not started it because I decided to tackle this question first.  Perhaps the A64 is not the correct version for me, but with the multicore processor, I thought it was.

Jan

[T6]

the a64 kernel is designed to use 64 bit extensions present on amd and some intel cpus

it is not necessary to have more than one core to use it, with more cores it is just faster than with one

about the hard disk, did you installed it?

the sata cable, can you use another?

when the hard disk usage happens what apps are running?  can you run top on a konsole?

[Hootiegibbon]

Ditzian,

Do you use any monitoring apps? conky?

Jase

[Ditzian]

Ditzian,

Do you use any monitoring apps? conky?

Jase

The only one I know of is Network Monitor.  I just removed it from the panel and quit it from the tray.  I still hear the drive, but soon I will shut down all software (Firefox and Thunderbird) and check again.

Jan

[Ditzian]

the a64 kernel is designed to use 64 bit extensions present on amd and some intel cpus

it is not necessary to have more than one core to use it, with more cores it is just faster than with one

about the hard disk, did you installed it?

the sata cable, can you use another?

when the hard disk usage happens what apps are running?  can you run top on a konsole?

I built the computer, and I installed the hard drive.  I am pretty sure that the drive is SATA, although I have an IDE controller as well, but I think that they only make SATA drives in that large a configuration.  I will have to get another SATA cable to try it.  Why would this make a difference?

I can run top, but I do not know what to look for.  I do not understand the columns.

When the hard disk starts and stops, there is no consistent pattern that I detect in the content of top.  Things change, but nothing seems to stand out.

Jan

[exploder]

Are you sure this isn't normal journaling? I have one machine that has a very sensitive hard drive LED, it flashes about every 5 seconds. There is absolutely nothing wrong with my machine, it has a 320 GB SATA hard drive and the LED has always flashed like that no matter what distribution is installed. My main computer has an identical install made with mylivecd from the machine with the flashing LED. and it's LED does not flash near as often. Unless your hard drive LED is staying lit up for long periods of time I wouldn't worry about it. The computer I have with the flashing LED has been doing that for about 2 years now and it doesn't hurt anything.

[Ditzian]

Exploder,

I have no idea if this constant disk operation is to be expected.  I only know that this is a mini-tower that I built myself, which means there is lots of extra room in the box.  This is also known to loudspeaker aficionados as a baffle, and it seems to really help the sounds inside be loud outside.  I know that I can hear the drive starting and stopping in the next room with both doors closed, and it bothers me.  Perhaps the only way to escape it is to shut down the machine whenever I am not using it.  This, of course, is a darned nuisance.  It is what I have begun to do, now that a quick solution has not presented itself.

Jan

[T6]

"I will have to get another SATA cable to try it.  Why would this make a difference?"

it is just to discard a faulty sata cable, i had a similar problem some years ago, weird hard disk behavior, the cable was the problem

this was on xp but i had problems doing the backup using the livecd

the activity you describe, is noisy or just the led shining for few seconds

[johnmart]

You can run System Activity (ctrl esc) which shows your running processes. You may get an idea from there to activity that matches your HD activity.

[Ditzian]

You can run System Activity (ctrl esc) which shows your running processes. You may get an idea from there to activity that matches your HD activity.

Firefox
Thunderbird
Plasma
X

I suppose I will have to get used to it.  Right now I can still see the light going on and off, but I cannot hear the drive--probably because I just booted up.  I think it gets louder as the system gets warm.

[Hootiegibbon]

Is msec running in that list?

Jase

[OMSkates]

Exploder,

I have no idea if this constant disk operation is to be expected.  I only know that this is a mini-tower that I built myself, which means there is lots of extra room in the box.  This is also known to loudspeaker aficionados as a baffle, and it seems to really help the sounds inside be loud outside.  I know that I can hear the drive starting and stopping in the next room with both doors closed, and it bothers me.  Perhaps the only way to escape it is to shut down the machine whenever I am not using it.  This, of course, is a darned nuisance.  It is what I have begun to do, now that a quick solution has not presented itself.

Jan

With both doors closed?  The drive could be physically failing.  Are you all backed up?

[Ditzian]

Exploder,

I have no idea if this constant disk operation is to be expected.  I only know that this is a mini-tower that I built myself, which means there is lots of extra room in the box.  This is also known to loudspeaker aficionados as a baffle, and it seems to really help the sounds inside be loud outside.  I know that I can hear the drive starting and stopping in the next room with both doors closed, and it bothers me.  Perhaps the only way to escape it is to shut down the machine whenever I am not using it.  This, of course, is a darned nuisance.  It is what I have begun to do, now that a quick solution has not presented itself.

Jan

With both doors closed?  The drive could be physically failing.  Are you all backed up?

I backed up documents yesterday and will rummage for more today.  I will do this every other day for a while.

Thank you to all who have helped.

Jan