Windows 7: Second HDD Freezing

Goksly · 1 Sep 2009 at 23:22

All,
Please see the image above - it shows the resource monitor while my pc is acting strange! Basically I have two hdds (which are healthy according to manufacturer diag software); one with windows and applications and the other with music, pictures and games. Randomly, when accessing anything on the second hdds, the window and what ever I am doing freezes. If I'm looking at something in explorer, the green search bar starts going across the top. The lower red box (on picture: activity % goes to 100).

Anyone have any clue how to fix this? Most annoying!
Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
Clean install
Plenty of HDD space free
Plenty of ram
3ghz C2D

Cheers.

theheyes · 1 Sep 2009 at 23:28

Is the second drive not just spinning down?

Goksly · 2 Sep 2009 at 09:45

I was thinking it might not be spinning up? But never seen this before :S

PiKe · 2 Sep 2009 at 09:46

A HDD shouldn't take 60 seconds to spin up...

Uhtred · 2 Sep 2009 at 12:06

I would test the harddisk with the manufacturer diagnostic tools

Goksly · 2 Sep 2009 at 12:10

I have and it's fine. I've also go a windows xp install on one of the partitions and it runs fine / rapid. I've turned off hdd sleep in windows 7 but still no joy :/

RobH · 2 Sep 2009 at 12:12

Windows 7 (and Vista) always spin down my second hard drive when I don't access it for a certain perioid of time. When I need to access something from it it freezes the computer for about 5 seconds whilst it spins up to full speed. It's completely normal behaviour under the default installation but 61 seconds to access the drive isn't normal, I'd expect 3-6 at most depending on the type of drive.

Fegruson · 2 Sep 2009 at 12:18

You can disable the powering down of an inactive HDD in the Power Options in CPL - have a look at the and see if that reduces the time. Like previous people have said though, 61 seconds is mad.

Terrier_Jimlad · 2 Sep 2009 at 12:23

*wrong thread - mod delete pls*

Goksly · 2 Sep 2009 at 16:33

RobH said:
Windows 7 (and Vista) always spin down my second hard drive when I don't access it for a certain perioid of time. When I need to access something from it it freezes the computer for about 5 seconds whilst it spins up to full speed. It's completely normal behaviour under the default installation but 61 seconds to access the drive isn't normal, I'd expect 3-6 at most depending on the type of drive.

Well the worst thing is, the hdd won't have been inactive enough for it to have spun down / gone to sleep... it happens sometimes mid-mp3. Will have another crack at hdtune / WD diag when I get home.

@Fegruson: yeah I've done this as above - but no effect