Laptop HD Question
 

I just replaced a fried HD and every so often the new drive will make a powering down type noise while I am working. I am debating whether to wipe this drive, take it out and go exchange it. Does this sound like a problem waiting to happen or is it possible that this is normal behavior. The drive is a Samsung HM120JC 120GB drive

Any info/opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.

sounds like ull be best off exchanging it

Do you have power management set to turn it off after X minutes of inactivity?

I do but it seems to power down while I am typing or working. I guess I should pay close attention to that.

Sounds like it is powering down to save battery etc.

I'd be backing up everything often just incase though.

Is there any real benefit to having the HD power off? I always thought it would help the life of the drive and maybe reduce heat? Should I just let it spin?

sounds to me like the drive is dying

while you're typing or "working" could very well mean no hard drive activity (e.g. me typing this does not touch the hard drive).

If you have a low setting set in windows/bios for hard drive inactivity, you're likely hitting it. If you have sufficient memory there isn't much reason for your machine to be hitting disk after applications are open.


I'd try turning off the power saving stuff and see what happens, if it still does it there may be an issue.

-Phil

I'm going to do that and see what happens tonight. Thank you all for the input.

What fried the old drive?

damn for HD .... lifespan only 4 hrs

Just 3 years of hardcore nonstop use. I don't think there was really a problem with it other than it being pushed around the clock. It was definitely a physical issue and not a virus as I could hear the disks and head acting up.

Yours? Sounds like my current problem. Crap out of the box. It is really a joke with these drives.

Go find a S.M.A.R.T. utility. S.M.A.R.T. is built into harddrives nowadays, its a technology that allows for determining of predictability of failure, before the failure happens.

For instance, my dell laptop harddrive, is now at 40% for reliability (Acronis True Image rules btw. for cloning.) and at some point, I'll bite the bullet, have a few shots and deal with someone in some non english speaking world and try to convey my drive is toast and I need a new one.

Just my :2 cents: ..

Try program ACTIVE SMART.Perhaps then you will found error

Not sure about laptops but if it has a Power On Self Test (POST) display then it may mention S.M.A.R.T. errors there, or at least whether the drive is capable of it. Then again the two laptops I've had tell you basically nothing, they just quietly boot...

hope u get it sorted, hate having dodgy HDDs :(