Hard Drive Revs

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TrevorBubbles

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Jul 11, 2013
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Hi All,
I maybe have posted this in the wrong area so apologies if that is the case.
I have noticed un characteristic sounds which I think is my hard drive revving up and slowing down when I carry out certain tasks on my PC. I use adobe Photoshop and Illustrator a lot and this problem occurs when carrying out tasks in these applications. In photoshop it seems to happen when using the lasso tool and just before I wrote this it was happening when turning on and off layers.
Also it has happened when surfing the net. When it happens it could rev up, then rev up again and then go rev up again. Each time it revs up it stays at that rev. When I say it revs it sounds like it is working over time.
My PC is over 5 years old. It is a 465GB Western Digital Harddrive (WDC) and it has 96GB free space. Could this be the problem that I dont have enough free space.
Should i start backing up anything that isnt backed up.

Thanks, TW
 
Solution
Fouchey
You probably are hearing the CPU cooling fan if it is really THAT noticeable. Try cleaning out the inside near the fan making sure there isn't a build up of dust.
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Sakkura

Sakkura

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Aug 22, 2011
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How much memory does your computer have? Try opening Task Manager and look at the memory in use, while you're performing these types of tasks. If usage reaches 100%, the computer has to use the hard drive, which will cause a lot of hard drive activity as well as slowing the system down.

There's nothing wrong with having 96 GB available of a 465 GB hard drive (actually it's a 500 GB hard drive, but Windows measures in binary GB, also known as GiB).
 
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Fouchey

Fouchey

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Jun 26, 2013
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To answer your last question yes I would start backing your data up. HDDs typical start having problems after 3-4 years; this is not always the case but It's still better to be prepared. As for your HDD reving up when using applications, this could be because you don't have enough memory and your HDD is being used instead. You said your PC is about 5 years old so it may have a small amount of ram. Also you may just have a loud HDD and when it is quite it may be in idle.

Edit: Beat me to it :p
 
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TrevorBubbles

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Jul 11, 2013
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Hey guys and thanks for the reply's. Windows list my machine as having 3.25GB of RAM. I have tried to re-create it to see what the task manager outputs but its not reving now. Typical ha. And I think I will back up everything that is not backed up. Thanks for the info so far.
 
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TheDraac

TheDraac

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Feb 1, 2008
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Are you sure the sounds you hear are coming from the hard drive and not your CPU cooling fan. Kinda sounds like when you do something to put the CPU under load you hear the increase in sound.
 
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TrevorBubbles

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Jul 11, 2013
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TheDraac
I have had my task manager open when carrying out tasks in PShop and the cpu usage has jumped to about 45% when the revs are at their highest. The sound of the revs does seem to correspond to the jumps in CPU usage. Would their be a problem with CPU cooling fan.


 
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Fouchey

Fouchey

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You probably are hearing the CPU cooling fan if it is really THAT noticeable. Try cleaning out the inside near the fan making sure there isn't a build up of dust.
 
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TrevorBubbles

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Jul 11, 2013
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Hi Fouchey
Sound like good advice. I will do this and let ye know what the results are.
TW




 
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Fouchey

Fouchey

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Great! Let us know how it works out good luck.
 
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TrevorBubbles

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Jul 11, 2013
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Hi Fouchey
I said id get back to ye to update ye. I opened up my PC tower and gave it a good clean out with a hoover (not too powerful but did the trick) around the fan areas and when I located the cooling fan for the CPU it was completely clogged up with dust. I gave it a complete clean and got rid off all dust and my PC has been purring like a kitten since. When I carry out the same tasks and have a look at the CPU usage, it jumps to the same percentages but there are no more revving sounds. Fouchey was on the money, it was the CPU cooling fan.
Thanks for all the inputs, and you Fouchey, this site is very handy I have to say.
Regards, TW

 
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Fouchey

Fouchey

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Great, I'm happy to help! Glad everything is working better now.
 
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TrevorBubbles

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Jul 11, 2013
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Hey all back again. I just wanted to add to this that I have noticed that my PC is actually running faster and it could be too early to say but I havent noticed some glitches that were happening when starting up my PC. Id recommend to all to spend a bit of time and clean all the fan areas and anywhere you can inside your tower.
TW
 
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