HD or other problem?

Ok so I am having a weird problem with my system. My computer keeps having random freezes. Can be every 2 mins or once every 2 days or so. I can hear my hard drive spinning down right before it freezes up. I can still move my mouse but can't open folders etc. About 30-60 seconds later all is well again.

The sound the hd makes is like its powering up and down. Like a winding sound I guess you could describe it.

So I am thinking it either a PSU problem or the HD is going out. I ran smart tests from bios and they reported fine. And ran the WD quick test from their diag util and it was fine as well. Running extended test now will be done in about 15 more mins.

I'm not on that pc at the moment but the basic specs are.


HP
AMD X2 64 3200
2 gigs ram
Windows 7 Utimate
WD Caviar sata 400gb
ati 4670



The power supply came with it is like 300w I believe.

I will edit in my exact specs when I can get back on the PC.



Is there anything else I should be checking? Is their a way to check my psu with a multimeter? The drive actually has done this spinning up and down thing several times during the extended test already will report back after the program is done.

Thanks

 

I don't believe the problem is the PSU due to the fact that the freeze is random. If it was freezing at the same time, then I would say it is either the CPU or PSU. you could check the hard drive in another system and see if it freezes....if so, then you know for sure it is your hard drive, or something on your hard drive.

 

Greetings, rastie.

Agreed with the HD switch, although it may be tough to run the drive as a primary without extraneous symptoms popping up.

Another easy shot is to boot into Safe Mode (or Safe Mode w/Networking), run the machine for a while and put it through some stresses, see if you get a freeze. That will pretty much cut any software troubleshooting in half.

As far as PSU testing, you'll have to load the outputs when checking with any meter - I use something like this.

I'm assuming you've visually and/or manually checked connections, etc.?

This could also be heat related - if you don't have a monitoring program loaded, try checking your BIOS for any readings that are abnormal.

Intermittent problems can be amongst the hardest to diagnose, so hang in there.

 

Ok so I ran the extended test from WD and it came back fine which I find a little weird considering it did the spin down and up thing at least 5 times during the test while I was around.(which was only about 30 min of the 2 hr test).

I also ran some test on the ram and it had no errors as well.

I backed up all my information onto a external when this first starting happening and just put fresh windows 7 on last night. So I don't think its a software problem. Really the problem is very random. It can happen just moving the mouse around on the desktop. Or when just surfing the web. Or even on the windows screen during boot up. Youll hear it wind down. It will just hand on the windows 7 screen, though the gfx will still be moving and then 30 sec later you hear the HD go back on and all is good. Doesn't happen everytime just thought I would elaborate.

I will check temps in the bios and dowload a software monitor as well and see what that has to say. When I reinstalled windows I did a full format not quick.

You think there is any point in zeroing the drive?

Thanks for the help guys. Will report back after checking temps etc.

 

Ok so I got a new hard drive and so far I haven't noticed the freezing but my computer is doing something weird during startup. The front power light is now blinking several times during start up.

Could this be some form of error code from HP? It flashes I believe 6 times before starting up from cold boot. All fans are working and PS light is solid in the back. And it is at perfect intervals. Does anyone know if this might be the case?

If so does anyone have any information on what the different error codes are?

 

The Win7 install on your new hard drive went smoothly, no hiccups?

As far as the flashing power light/error code: what's the model # of your machine? And, you might check in BIOS, see if anything network related is turned on (Wake On LAN, etc.) - if so, change the state and see if your symptoms change.

One more thing: 300W PSUs (especially OEM) are mighty low for today's hardware.

 

Thanks for the reply.

I checked the bios setting and tried changing the things you suggested and no change. There are no voltage readings I can seem to find in the BIOS either.

Windows install went smooth no problems. I was wrong about my power supply as well its actually a 250w PS. Which is quite small but my system is basically stock and is what came in it. So I guess my next step is to get new PS and even if this comp is screwed will just use parts for a new build I have been meaning to do anyways.

I am curious to know if these are error codes or maybe if its just not getting correct power on boot. the model is a6248x Hp Pavilion.

For the record I tried disconnecting everything put the HD and still same thing. I also have replaced all the cables and switched the hd to a different feed from PS and no change.

Thanks for your help.


EDIT: Windows install went fine also and there was no errors or problems during the install. I am using Ultimate windows 7 64 bit.

 

I'm currently having trouble d/ling .PDF files from HP, so I can't look up their codes - if you want to try, just go to HP support and plug in your model/OS and look for Manuals.

I don't know - can't really see how this could be a suddenly new error code, especially since the new install went smoothly. I'm leaning towards letting the machine run for a while, see if any other symptoms pop up.

 

Yea I haven't noticed any problems what so ever yet while in windows...None of the freezing and winding down so far with the new hd. Everything seems to be running pretty well. I watched a few movies last night and no hiccups and haven't noticed any problems since I got home and am on the machine right now.

I look through the hp manuals last night and saw nothing about error codes. But I just tested in 4 times in a row its 8 flashes. I might shoot a video of it later tonight so you guys can see what I'm talking about.


Thanks again.

 

Since it is a new install of 7 are you sure you are selecting Shut Down rather than Sleep when shutting off?

 

yea I am sure....this happens from a cold boot or if I click restart.

 

I did some research into the Power light flashing 8 times. According to HP support documents relating to Diagnostic Lights, when a system flashes 8 times with "RED" on the power light it indicates bad motherboard, or power supply failure. There are no other colors indicated in the reading so I would think if you're getting "GREEN" Powerlight Flashing 8 times, then all is good.
Once again...........that's just my assumption.

 

Yea the light never goes red its always blue...I dunno. But some more problems are starting to arise.



Installed new hd....and swapped another ps supply over from a pc I had laying around. Now I am starting to get some hd errors again.

Getting i/o errors on some larger files when trying to copy them to another partition on hd. I checked my event log and I have some crazy stuff going on there. Ill copy and paste the problems below.

1.

Log Name: System
Source: nvstor64
Date: 1/17/2011 10:15:54 PM
Event ID: 3
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: rastie-PC
Description:
Data error on device.

Device: \Device\RaidPort0
Model: ST31000528AS
Firmware Version: CC3E
Serial Number: 9VP9QB7K
Port: 0

2.


Log Name: System
Source: volsnap
Date: 1/17/2011 5:16:25 PM
Event ID: 14
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: rastie-PC
Description:
The shadow copies of volume C: were aborted because of an IO failure on volume C:.





Both errors started happening within minutes of eachother. Thanks