Boot Camp + Vista = HDD thrashing

TriedandTested · 24 Oct 2008 at 14:39

Any ideas if this is normal or not?

Just installed Vista via Boot Camp and the HDD is constantly in action (and odd sounding clicks).

Any tips?

pc-modd · 24 Oct 2008 at 15:02

Vista did the same on mine, So I installed XP and all is well.

Feek · 24 Oct 2008 at 16:06

When you first install Vista it does a lot of indexing, could just be that.

TheVoice · 24 Oct 2008 at 16:26

Search indexing and SuperFetch, presumably. The indexing will stop once it's finished indexing (surprisingly!), while SuperFetch loads frequently-used programs and files into RAM to enhance performance. If you're not going to be using Vista often or for running lots of apps, you could disable the service.

iSam · 24 Oct 2008 at 18:24

Feek said:
When you first install Vista it does a lot of indexing, could just be that.

Exactly, XP did it on my MBP for a while. It soon stopped though. It's Windows getting it's dirty fingers into your beautiful hardware!

TriedandTested · 24 Oct 2008 at 19:40

I'm hoping it's the indexing. I've stopped the relevant services but it was still thrashing about when I shut it down earlier. Will have another peep later and see what's what.

LordSplodge · 24 Oct 2008 at 20:34

Feek said:
When you first install Vista it does a lot of indexing, could just be that.

How come Spotlight in OS X can index the drive without all this undue HDD thrashing?

TheVoice · 25 Oct 2008 at 02:27

LordSplodge said:
How come Spotlight in OS X can index the drive without all this undue HDD thrashing?

I imagine it depends on the HDD as to whether you actually hear what's happening or not.

TriedandTested · 25 Oct 2008 at 09:31

TheVoice said:
I imagine it depends on the HDD as to whether you actually hear what's happening or not.

It's the same HDD, partitioned. Quiet as a mouse when in OSX...Vista: noisy as hell.

Feek · 25 Oct 2008 at 09:39

Because the way OS X formats and uses the partition is more efficient than Windows.

Matthew.M · 25 Oct 2008 at 10:12

LordSplodge said:
How come Spotlight in OS X can index the drive without all this undue HDD thrashing?

It still does it. When I clone a drive and boot from it the hard drive thrashes for ages and you can see a little dot pulsing in the spotlight icon in the top right. Then if you click the icon it gives you a progress bar and tells you the estimated time remaining.

After the initial index it does it on the fly so you never notice it again. I'm sure Vista is the same it will just be the initial indexing your noticing.