HP, XP Pro 3, WE SATA HARD drive
The hard drivemakes an annoying sound, and the light flashes, as if it is activating regularly about once per second.  This will go on for hours and then stop for about 1 to 2 minutes then start again.  This has been happening for about 4 or 5 days.  I have refaged recently, but that was about three weeks before this problem started.  Any ideas?  Thanks.Did this just start happening? Open task manager to the processes tab and sort on the cpu column. Is something using the cycles?

If Hard Disk is Polled constantly, try disabling Auto Play:

start / run / regedit
Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Cdrom
If there is an entry of AutoRun or AutoPlay, double click and set the value to 0 (zero)I tried your suggestion and the problem still exists.  The problem started abou 4 or 5 days ago.I can't see anything using the CPU in Task manager.Is indexing service turned on ? ?
What about your protection apps....are they live ? ?If you disabled autoplay (and rebooted afterward) and if it's not indexing (as Patio asks), then SOMETHING has to be using the cpu in task manager - whether it's your av, some other process in task scheduler, or even if it's malware - something has to be running if the hd is active.I have done everything suggested.  The indexing service is not running and my Norton protection is running.  I have tried turning Norton off to no avail; rebooting after every change.  The only thing that runs in Task Manager is System Idle Process in the upper nineties; eveything else is at zero.  On the Performance tab the CPU SPIKES at 8 to 9 percent every 20 to 30 seconds, but not in sync with the problem.  I have not done anything with the computer except delete a bunch of e-mail about three weeks ago and defraged right afterwards.  This computer has had hard boots several times since we had rolling blackouts here during the cold weather, but the computer is on a working UPS so the blackouts should have no effect.Then you may have a HDD ready to go South and cannot "park" the heads...
DLoad and run the Free diagnostics from the drive manuf. site...

Run the long test.If the cpu spikes every 30 seconds, so does a process. Do as I suggested above - sort the Task Manager Processes tab on the cpu column with highest usage at the top. When the cpu spikes, which process is causing it?The only process that changes is the System Idle Process, but the changes are not in sync with the small spikes.  The reading stays at 99 mostly going as low as 88 on seldom instances.  It could be that I'm about to lose the hard drive as patio suggested.  I'll go to Western's website to download the testing software.  I'll LET you know after I've done it it.  It will not be today since I have to leave soon.If the system idle process goes down, another process HAS to go up.Another thing to try. Go into Disk Maneger and ty to remove that  the drive LETTER. Then reboot.

You would expect that if then drive is not mounted there can be no access to it. But if it keeps doing the same as before, it is a warning sign.
Quote from: Geek-9pm on February 15, 2011, 01:17:41 PM

Another thing to try. Go into Disk Maneger and ty to remove that  the drive letter. Then reboot.

You would expect that if then drive is not mounted there can be no access to it. But if it keeps doing the same as before, it is a warning sign.

please ignore Geek's advice