Badieh
Device: Laptop Dell, Duo Core.
Operating System: Windows Vista previously, then Windows 7.
Issue: Random Hard Drive rests where the application I'm working on freezes for sometime then resumes. Application can be the internet browser, a game, file browsing, or even the desktop.
Once it freezes for sometime, whatever commands you do it will not be executed directly, and opening new stuff will get locked, until I hear the Hard drive stops spinning. This is followed by the hard drive restarting and spinning again. Once that happens all the commands done during freeze time will be executed rapidly as if it is catching up, then works normally until the next freeze.
I used to have Windows Vista, worked fine for quite sometime, but then out of nowhere it started doing that. I thought it was the hard disk dying, but when I formatted to Windows 7, everything worked well. Now, after quite sometime of working with Windows 7, this issue came up again!!! But luckily this time I had a restore point few months back, which fixed the problem. Another note is, even when the operating system was doing such freeze, entering safe mode fixed it. So I think it is because of some drivers or settings that got corrupted or damaged during some windows update. I doubt it is a virus or malware since i got avast always running, and I barely browse stuff out of the ordinary (forums, fb, myspace...). Plus nothing ever was caught whenever I scan.
By the way, the freezing occurrence time interval decreases until it gets so bad that you cannot work anymore, that is if it is left without being fixed.
Anyone got any idea of what is the cause of such problem? and maybe a solution for it? Other than format or restore of course. I'm curious.
AvoK95
Try updating your drivers , crashing drivers might cause issues like this.
If you were more specific on what laptop you are using I would have provided you with a link to your drivers.
d3ad
are you hearing any clicking sounds when the HDD spins down/spins up, also do you have another HDD u can use to test out.
rolf
Try disabling power saving. There is an option in power options (control panel) where the hard drive would spin down if not in use after some time - make sure it's disabled, spinning the hard drive down and up again will shorten it's life anyway.
Otherwise i'd try a new hard drive, and take the opportunity to fit it with an SSD, it does enhance performance.
It is a weird issue indeed, hard to point the origin!
az09za90za
I had this problem with my hp dv4.
Nothing actually fixed the problem. I tried booting from live-cd, hdd, bad sectors fixer, defragment, change os, ...
I ended up connecting hdd to desktop backing up my data and buying a new one.
Gamer
check and see if your HDD or laptop motherboard got damaged, either from physical impact or electrical
AvoK95
As Badieh said, if he restores the system back it's running normally, meaning it can't be a hardware problem.
Badieh
AvoK95 wroteAs Badieh said , if he restores the system back it's running nkrmally ,meaning it can't be a hardware problem.
Exactly, I don't think it is a hardware issue because the restore got it working well again. Even formatting fixed it for quite sometime (more than 6 months).
My laptop is Dell Studio XPS, Intel centrino 2, 2.4 ghz, running on Windows 7 32 bit service pack 1.
AvoK95
Badieh wroteMy laptop is Dell Studio XPS, Intel centrino 2, 2.4 ghz, running on Windows 7 32 bit service pack 1.
That's not what I had in mind.
I was requesting you to give me the exact model of your laptop , with your service tag, so that I can provide you with the link(s) for the latest drivers.
scatman
badieh i had a similar problem.
i upgraded from vista to 7 but without formatting, and problem appeared.
i updated my bios driver and everything worked fine (don't know y though).
Badieh
AvoK95 thanks for mentioning the service tag, I remember one time I visited the Dell website, but didn't know about the service tag.
If updating the BIOS would fix this, i just downloaded A15 replacing my A05 from Dell website. So thanks Scatman, ill try that.
shant
are you using molex to sata power cable? (if so those miss the 3.3v cable)
does you hdd receive clean power? have you tried chaging sata cable or socket? have you tried your hdd on another pc with usb?
sounds like bad sectors to me or a defective hdd, if i were you id save my files,NOW
once i had a similar problem with ticking sounds, i got bored and backup up my data and the next day bam! my hdd died!
AvoK95
shant wroteare you using molex to sata power cable? (if so those miss the 3.3v cable)
does you hdd receive clean power? have you tried chaging sata cable or socket? have you tried your hdd on another pc with usb?
sounds like bad sectors to me or a defective hdd, if i were you id save my files,NOW
once i had a similar problem with ticking sounds, i got bored and backup up my data and the next day bam! my hdd died!
Let me remind you that this is a laptop and not a desktop PC , so it will have clean power with the 3.3+ current to the SATA power ports.
I doubt its the HDD since the problem goes if e restores the system.
AvoK95
Badieh, did you delete the partition and creat a new one when you reformated your system?Or did you use the partition Vista was on ?
Badieh
shant, just like AvoK95 said, once I restored, it is working well again. If it was a hardware issue, neither restoring nor formatting would fix it.
AvoK95, when I format I usually like to delete the partition and format on a totally new one, I hate to leave "junk" around. I still haven't formatted my Windows 7 this time, yet it is still working normally from the time I did a system restore 3 days ago.
My guess would be there maybe some driver conflict with an update that causes this issue. I have yet to confirm it though.
AvoK95
Badieh wroteI still haven't formatted my Windows 7 this time, yet it is still working normally from the time I did a system restore 3 days ago.
You have to delete the partition of the C drive and OEM drive( If available) When installing Windows 7, because Windows 7 makes a hidden system drive so that it can optimize performance, since you don't have that hidden partition your laptop is running wired.
I have had this problem before in the past, and when I reformatted by deleting the old partition the system ran better, faster and stabler.So I suggest reformatting and remaking your C drive
Badieh
AvoK95 wroteYou have to delete the partition of the C drive and OEM drive( If available) When installing Windows 7, because Windows 7 makes a hidden system drive so that it can optimize performance, since you don't have that hidden partition your laptop is running wired.
I have had this problem before in the past, and when I reformatted by deleting the old partition the system ran better, faster and stabler.So I suggest reformatting and remaking your C drive
Last time when i formatted I had only 2 partitions, C and D, where D is factory restore. I didn't remove the factory drive yet. However, there is one thing here, I did end up with the same issue on Windows Vista, so I'm quite sure it is not a sole windows 7 problem.
Kareem
Is your HDD led showing activity during the freeze ? How about checking the resource monitor on Win7. You can check which application is writing/reading or accessing the drive and how frequent.
AvoK95
Badieh wroteLast time when i formatted I had only 2 partitions, C and D, where D is factory restore. I didn't remove the factory drive yet. However, there is one thing here, I did end up with the same issue on Windows Vista, so I'm quite sure it is not a sole windows 7 problem.
Was your Vista the factory installed Windows or did you install it yourself ?
Also , try doing a low-level format to your drive to reset it.
shant
just because its a laptop doesnt mean it can't give wrong voltage output, and ive seen a hard disk or two with the same problem, restore fixing it etc but still was hardware issue