Hi guys, Im usually found lurking on the video forums, but I need some pc advice. My desktop keeps making an intermittent 'clunking' sound, as if its powering down.(but it doesnt). Im concerned its my hard disk on the way out, though Im not getting any visible hardware errors. Ive bakce dup all my photos / video files to an external disk, but would like to back up the whole disk in case it crashes. So firstly any thoughts on whats making the noise ? Should I run anay sort of check disk? And , more importantly, can somebody please recommend some free software to backup my disk drive. Many thanks for any advice.
Since you want free software, I'd recommend Macrium Reflect. You can read about it here. http://www.nirmaltv.com/2009/07/22/free-disk-imaging-software-macrium-reflect/ If you're willing to pay some money, then I'd recommend Acronis True Image. http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/ There's a free 15 day trial available, but I'm not sure what the limitations are.
I also recommend macrium reflect. Make sure you back it up first before you decide to run tests on it. The tests might "push the drive over the edge". Replace the drive and use the "problem drive" to store unimportant data. Sometimes they can last for years even with the clunking noise or fail within days.
First, clunking is not typically associated with powering down. It's possible that the heads are resetting themselves. This in and of itself is a possible indication that the drive is dying. Spindown sound exactly like what it is, a motor spinning down. If this is the sound that you think you are hearing, make sure that for whatever reason, your PC isn't powering down the HDD on purpose (it shouldn't be, but it's a possibility) In XP Start Control Panel Power Options Turn Off Hard Disks = Never I would suggest that you start looking for a sale on a hard disk, then use the cloning software (that comes with most retail boxed disks) to make a full backup. It is your choice whether to install the new disk at that time. Continue to back up data files to the external drive until such a time as you are ready to do the drive replacement. Hard drives shouldn't make any audible noise.
Guys , many thanks for the prompt replies. I had seen one recommendation for Macrium - but wasnt sure if it was just a company one, rather than a personal one if you know what I mean ! So does that backup my Windows operating system as well ? I did make a 3 disk backup of the system when I first had the computer. This was an automated backup , which it said you could only do once. Not sure whats on it - but will try and check . Daliun - I have checked the setting you mentioned and its ok. Thanks. I did wonder if Id picked up a virus of some sort , as my daughter had hit some sites she shouldnt have. I have run a couple of virus checkers but nothing serious found. Typical that Ive got to shell out for a hard disk as Ive been unemployed for 2 months - could do without it. I
Depends exactly what the noise is. Some HDDs make a 'clunking' noise when they spin down to save power, and this is normal. Ideally you should try and record the noise and upload it somewhere.
Not heard the noise for a few days ... probably tryign to lull me into a false sense of security ! The clunking was a noise similar to when rebooting the pc , and it powers off / on very quickly. Going to install Macrium today. Thanks for all the advice. Hope I dont have to be back on here for how to build a new disk !
I knew it - a false sense of security. My pc has now rebooted on its own 2 days running. I dont think its overheating as its only been on less than an hour this morning. When it came back up the only error message was that it had created a file : Temp\WERfe82.dir00\Mini091109-01.dmp So whats causing the reboot - is it the power / mother board ? Any help gratefully recieved.
If you go into computer management (right click my computer and go 'Manage') there are some error logs in there in the "Event Viewer" section. Check the 'Application' and 'System' logs for anything - these will be inside the 'Windows Logs' section if using Vista or Win7.
Thanks sammoris - sorry , I meant to post the error messages I found in there - as they dont mean anything to me . Under the System heading there are 3 'errors' just before the reboot The SmartLinkService service has reported an invalid current state 0. The HP CUE DeviceDiscovery Service service hung on starting. "BCCode : 100000d1 BCP1 : 00000000 BCP2 : 00000002 BCP3 : 00000000 BCP4 : 00000000 OSVer : 5_1_2600 SP : 3_0 Product : 768_1 "
