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General discussion

Constant Hard Disc Access

Jul 25, 2005 4:23PM PDT

Just had a new computer built including a Raptor drive for the OS and programs. This is very noisy and I have become aware of the level of disc access which is happening even when the computer has been idle for several hours. The clunking noise from the drive is like a distant drum beat and happens every 1 to 2 seconds. Is this normal - and if not is there any way of finding out what is causing it?

If it should be happening all the time - any recommendations an enclosure to quieten it which will keep the temperature reasonable - it runs at anything from 32 to 34 degrees at the moment?

Discussion is locked

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Can be normal.
Jul 25, 2005 10:47PM PDT

But without any details, I can't guess if more RAM may help or if you should look at what's running on the machine.

Bob

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More details!
Jul 26, 2005 12:50AM PDT

Don't know if this helps - sorry it's a lot!! Not a shortage of RAM - 2Gb fitted

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (build 2600)

2.40 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64
128 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. A8N-E 2.XX
Serial Number: 123456789000
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD ASUS A8N-E ACPI BIOS Revision 1001 01/21/2005
407.09 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
269.97 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

NEC DVD_RW ND-3540A [CD-ROM drive]
SONY DVD-ROM DDU1615 [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

ST3250823A [Hard drive] (250.06 GB) -- drive 1
VIA-P VT6205-DevB USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 3
VIA-P VT6205-DevM USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 4
WDC WD1200JB-00EVA0 [Hard drive] (120.03 GB) -- drive 0
WDC WD360GD-00FLA2 [Hard drive] (37.02 GB) -- drive 2, s/n WD-WMAKH1107854, rev 31.08F31, SMART Status: Healthy
2048 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot 'A0' has 1024 MB
Slot 'A1' is Empty
Slot 'A2' has 1024 MB
Slot 'A3' is Empty

c: (NTFS on drive 2) 37.01 GB 27.32 GB free
e: (NTFS on drive 0) 120.03 GB 77.88 GB free
f: (NTFS on drive 1) 134.22 GB 77.48 GB free
g: (NTFS on drive 1) 115.84 GB 87.30 GB free

Standard floppy disk controller
NVIDIA nForce4 ADMA Controller (2x)
NVIDIA nForce4 Parallel ATA Controller
RADEON X300 Series [Display adapter]
RADEON X300 Series Secondary [Display adapter]
LGE 782LE [Monitor] (17.1"vis, January 2002)

MPU-401 Compatible MIDI Device
Realtek AC'97 Audio
Standard Game Port

HID-compliant device
USB Human Interface Device
CanoScan N670U/N676U
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
HID-compliant mouse
PS/2 Compatible Mouse
NVIDIA Network Bus Enumerator
Generic USB Hub
USB Mass Storage Device
USB Printing Support
USB Root Hub

Fujitsu USB ADSL WAN Modem
NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller


All required security hotfixes (using the 07/12/2005 Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary) have been installed.
F-Secure Anti-Virus 2005 5.10 Version 5.10 Realtime File Scanning On

ABSoft - Neat Image Home edition Version 5.1 *
Adobe Acrobat Version 7.0.0.0 *
Adobe Help Center Version 1.0.0.793 *
Adobe ImageReady (tm) 3.0 Version 3.0 *
Adobe ImageReady (tm) CS2 CS2 *
Adobe LM Service Version 2.67.10.1 *
Adobe Photoshop CS2 CS2 *
Adobe Photoshop Version 6.0 *
Adobe Reader Version 7.0.2.2005060200 *
Adobe Systems, Inc. - Bridge Version 1.0 *
Adobe Systems, Inc. Adobe Gamma Loader Version 1, 0, 0, 1 *
Adobe Systems, Incorporated - ExtendScript Toolkit Version 1.0.0 *
Ahead software - NeroMediaPlayer Version 1, 4, 0, 34 *
Ahead Software AG - Nero BackItUp Restore Version 1, 2, 0, 53 *
Ahead Software AG - Nero BackItUp Scheduler Version 1, 2, 0, 53 *
Ahead Software AG - Nero BackItUp Version 1, 2, 0, 53 *
Ahead Software AG - Nero Burning ROM Version 6, 6, 0, 15 *
Ahead Software AG - Nero DriveSpeed Version 3, 0, 1, 0 *
Ahead Software AG - Nero MediaHome Version 1, 3, 0, 2 *
Ahead Software AG - Nero Photosnap image editor Version 1.1.0.5 *
Ahead Software AG - Nero Photosnap Viewer Version 1.1.0.5 *
Ahead Software AG - Nero StartSmart Version 2, 0, 0, 25 *
Ahead Software Gmbh NeroCheck Version 1, 0, 0, 2 *
Apache HTTP Server Version 2.0.52 *
app_filter Module Version 1, 0, 1, 0 *
ATI Desktop Component Version 6.14.10.5142 *
ATI External Event Utility for WindowsNT and Windows9X Version 6.14.10.4113 *
ATI Smart Version 5.13.0023 *
ATI Technologies Inc. - Catalyst Control Centre Version 1.1.1879.40242 *
Belarc, Inc. - Advisor Version 7.0r *
BillP Studios - WinPatrol Explorer Version 9.5.0.1 *
BillP Studios - WinPatrol Monitor Version 9.5.0.1 *
Breeze Systems Limited - Downloader Pro Version 1.6.2.0 *
BreezeBrowser Version 1, 3, 0, 0 *
BreezeBrowser Version 2, 9, 0, 3 *
Canon BJ Raster Printer Driver Installer Version 1.61.2.0 *
CANON INC. - CanoScan Toolbox Application Version 4.1.3.1 *
Cinematronics - 3D Pinball Version 5.1.2600.2180 *
CoolSwitch *
Easy JPEG Printer *
EZ FireFox Backup *
EZ Outlook Backup *
F-Secure Anti-Virus 2005 *
F-Secure Corp. - F-Secure BackWeb Version 6.70 *
F-Secure Corp. - F-Secure Corp. Startup service Version 1, 0, 7360, 56 *
F-Secure Corporation - F-Secure Anti-Virus Internet Shield Version 5.80 Build 380 *
F-Secure Corporation - F-Secure BackWeb Version 6.70 *
F-Secure Corporation - F-Secure Management Agent Version 5.61 Build 7670 *
F-Secure Corporation - F-Secure Personal Express Version 5, 10, 0, 0 *
F-Secure Corporation - F-Secure Try & Buy Utility Version 5.10.450 *
F-Secure Internet Security 2004 Version 5, 80, 1580, 0 *
Firetrust Ltd - MailWasher Pro Version 5.0 *
Gadwin PrintScreen Version 2.6 *
gearsec Version 1, 0, 0, 3 *
Guide *
Inno Setup Version 51.34.0.0 *
InstallShield unInstaller Version 2.20.924.0 *
IrfanView Version 3.97 *
Kerio Personal Firewall 4 Version 4.2.0 *
Kerio Technologies - KPF Configuration Convertor Version 1.0.0.10 *
Lavasoft Sweden - F-Secure Anti-Spyware VI.Second Edition *
Licensed from Lavasoft Sweden - F-Secure Anti-Spyware Version 3.2 *
Macrovision Corporation - InstallShield (R) Version 11.00 *
Microsoft (R) .NET Framework Version 1.1.4322.2032 *
Microsoft (r) Windows Script Host Version 5.6.0.8820 *
Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta 1) Version 1.00.0615 *
Microsoft Clip Gallery Version 5.1.00.1221 *
Microsoft Corporation - Internet Explorer Version 6.00.2900.2180 *
Microsoft Corporation - Messenger Version 4.7.3001 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows Installer - Unicode Version 3.1.4000.1823 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows Movie Maker Version 2.1.4026.0 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows

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Looks like a busy machine.
Jul 26, 2005 1:03AM PDT

With that much running, that may be normal. Have you turned off the INDEXING SERVICE while will always have the hard disk working?

I see an odd nameserver in there too. You should know what that is about.

Finally, with such a machine, the latest motherboard drivers should be found, installed then the old XP trick of setting all channels to PIO, then OK your way out then going back in and setting them to DMA should be performed since you can't tell by looking.

Bob

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Not that busy?
Jul 26, 2005 1:45AM PDT

I must admit I didn't think there was that much on it!

Mostly it's simply the virus/firewall stuff plus Photoshop and Office programs and a few small utilities.

I have not turned off disc indexing - did wonder about that but did not know if there were significant disadvantages.

Not sure what you mean about the server and the rest of the stuff was way over my head too!

Appreciate you trying to help though Happy

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I'd ask who is in control.
Jul 26, 2005 6:19AM PDT

The machine has the Apache web server running and more than usual. I asked about the nameserver entry since it's an odd entry.

-> Take time to understand each line of your long post and if you don't, consider why it's running or installed.

As to the indexing service, it must be one of the first services that many disable in a quest to quiet a busy machine. As to the DMA issue, it's a simple procedure that doesn't require a reboot.

Just my impression is that the machine looks like some developer loaded it up with everything and needs to curb the activity a little.

Bob

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Stuff that loaded
Jul 26, 2005 4:17PM PDT

Interestingly I?m afraid I am the developer you referred to ? but actually just a normal not very competent user!

Apart from the OS I have loaded my required programs i.e.

Office
Nero
Drive Image
Breezebrowser (Image management and RAW processing)
Raw Shooter Essential (RAW processing)
Photoshop
Neat Image (Photo processing)
Irfanview
Easy jpeg Printer
Mailwasher (checks mail on the server to get rid of Spam)
Firefox

And a few utilities:


Roboform (manages passwords)
Gadwin Print Screen
Win Patrol
Microsoft Anti Spyware
Kerio Firewall
F-Secure anti virus
EZ Backup for Outlook and Firefox
Belarc advisor
Winzip
Power Toys
Adobe Reader 7
Google desktop search

I want and need all the programs and most of the utilities are fairly ordinary and useful/essential to me.

I can't imagine that any of the above are causing the constant access which is just like a small thumping noise every two or three seconds.

I have now turned off the disc indexing on all three disks but am not sure if it has made any difference although it may be slightly less.

It's a fairly quiet machins and a noisy disc which is not a good combination but it has highlighted the access which I don't understand.

The Apache server reference does surprise me. I checked using Win Patrol and their web site states:

"Forceware Web Interface
C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NetworkAccessManager\Apache Group\Apache2\bin\apache.exe -k runservice
Apache Web Server ? APACHE.EXE

APACHE.EXE for Windows may be running as a service on your system if you're running a web server."

It appears therefore to be something to do with NVIDIA prsumably from the motherboard installation. I am certainly not running a web server!

Thanks again for your time.

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Take back control.
Jul 26, 2005 8:53PM PDT

Your machine is indeed running a web server.

It's time to take back control of the machine. Dig in and disable that web server, research why you have that DNS entry as well as perform the disable of the indexing service and the XP DMA TRICK.

If you've done nothing, please tell why.

Bob

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Acton taken
Jul 28, 2005 1:50AM PDT

"Your machine is indeed running a web server.It's time to take back control of the machine. Dig in and disable that web server"

Not sure what it means that I am running a web server. The entry appears to be connected with NVIDIA and I am therefore uncetain as to whether or not this is needed for some reason. In any case - I don't know how to disable it!

"research why you have that DNS entry as well as perform the disable of the indexing service and the XP DMA TRICK".

Not sure what a DNS entry is nor do I know how to perform the XP DMA trick!

I have stopped the indexing as this was all I was confident about!

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This link...
Jul 28, 2005 2:14AM PDT

While I call it the XP DMA TRICK, it's mostly because people continue to be amazed that such a simple procedure helps. Here's the OFFICIAL WORD -> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/IDE-DMA.mspx

If you just look at the setting, it means you didn't read the article.

As to running Apache, it is in your log. Yes, nvidia is implicated but I will not do research why that is. It's not a good idea to run any server that you don't need.

Bob

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DMA/PIO
Jul 28, 2005 3:28AM PDT

Article says

Double-click IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers to display the list of controllers and channels and right-click the icon for the channel to which the device is connected, select Properties, and then click the Advanced Settings tab.

I may be going blind - but where on earth is the "Advanced Settings" tab

I have selected the channel to which my Raptor drive is connected but there is no such tab!

I have Driver, Details, Resources, General, Primary Channel and Secondary Channel tabs

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The tab vanishes in very specific cases.
Jul 28, 2005 4:07AM PDT

Mostly when we install the Intel Accelerator software but that's for Intel based boards. Or when we use odd RAID or other controllers. For those I have to ask the maker for guidance to find where they moved the DMA tab.

The issue is not simple. XP will degrade the DMA from say 5 to 0 and not tell the owner.

Read http://www.blackmaxpc.com/Guides/Enable_DMA.htm for more pictures to see where this setting is.