HDD lag?

[mynameiseliot]

I hope this is the right place for this issue...

I've recently upgraded my whole PC. I'm now running an SSD with Win 7 x64 on, then 2 further drives with games/programs and then music/movies etc on another.

Before upgrading I had Win7 x64 and had none of the problems I now have.

I seem to be finding that when accessing the drives (mainly the drive with the music on) the drive is initially unresponsive, then there's a small clicking sound before it starts to work.

This is most noticeable on iTunes when trying to play a song.

NB once the HDD has started to work, it will do so for a good little while.

Anyone got ANY ideas as to what this is/how to sort it out?

 

[seavixen32]

Is everything on the HDD or do you have more than one drive?

It sounds as though the hard drive is about to fail.

Backup anything on it that you need to keep, and then run chkdsk on it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

 

[marsmimar]

I'd try running a diagnostic on the HDD. Sounds like it may be ready to croak.
SeaTools from Seagate can run a diagnostic even on non-Seagate drives.

| Seagate

 

[mynameiseliot]

Uhoh.

Should I have both boxes checked on the Disk Check Tool?

 

[seavixen32]

Uhoh.

Should I have both boxes checked on the Disk Check Tool?

I certainly would, just in case, but do the suspect one first.

 

[TVeblen]

Also, the major drive manufacturers have downloads of Drive Diagnostic Tools - an ISO image that you burn to CD or other media that are then bootable - that will further test the drive for problems.

 

[mynameiseliot]

Could I use Daemon tools for example to mount that ISO then run it? Daemon Tools is on a different drive to the one in question

 

[TVeblen]

Not advisable.

The Drive Diagnostics need to run at boot time. The OS or any working programs should not be running.

 

[mynameiseliot]

Sooo, just ran Disk Check. No problems.

Any ideas as to why this is happening?

 

[TVeblen]

If you have run Windows Disk Check and your hard drive's diagnostics CD and there are no issues reported you can eliminate a failing drive as a possible cause for now.

Another avenue to explorer is illustrated here:
Browser makes "Click" Noise, Music becomes corrupted... - CNET Digital music Forums

I have come across this iTunes/click issue a few times in the past. You should do a web search on the issue (itunes+hard drive+clicking sound)

 

[mynameiseliot]

It's not just in iTunes though.

I can try to access a folder on that drive, and the same problem can occur - computer seems as though it has frozen for 3 or 4 seconds, then a little click and the folder opens.

 

[sreigle]

It sounds like he's saying he has two external drives. I suspect he needs to check the Power advanced settings to see if those drives are being allowed to go to sleep after a period of inactivity. Also check the same for USB if these are usb drives.

 

[mynameiseliot]

Both drives are internal.

I'm running a 1.5TB Seagate Barracuda with music etc on, a 750GB Samsung SpinPoint with programs on and then 1 120GB OCZ Vertex 3 with OS and PS on.

The only drive that seems to be having this problem is the Seagate one. Just to reiterate what is happening:

When the drive is accessed after a while (this can be opening a folder or using iTunes), it has a period of lag where nothing can be clicked (the computer does not freeze, just explorer). After a few seconds, and with a "reassuring" click-type sound, the drive starts to work and continues as normal.