Hard Disk running even when they are not used

[HibariChrome]

Hi everyone!

I use win7 and i recently bought a brand new internal hard disk (1TB) which i splitted in two partitions and made it as my "main hard disk" on which letting run the o.s.

Together with this new one, i have another 2 internal HDD (one is Maxtor and i can't remember the other's mark) and 3 external ones (whose two are Maxtors and the last is a Treckstor)

Now, u can even "count off" the Treckstor one since it does have a button to turn it on or off when i need it (usually kept it off, cuz i use it only as "storage" every now and then)

Even before having the brand new internal HDD i was having moments in which the two external maxtors were activating themselves alone even while i wasn't using them at all, but this never really bothered me as i, somewhat, thought it was "normal" (i'm definitely not a pc expert)

But now that i have the brand new internal HDD, i started to see this thing as a sort of "problem": because the two external maxtors (especially one of them), together with the one other internal maxtor, are getting to be activated by themselves when i'm not opening/executing/doing anything from their directories nor files.

The problem comes because this *suddenly* activation of one of those HDD while i'm truly not using them has started to temporarily block everything i'm doing on my (new) main HDD: be it surfing the internet or watching a video or writing a text.. anything, it just gets blocked for 10-20 seconds, and then once the *not asked* maxtor has started to run itself, everything gets back to normal on my main hdd and i can use it back again..

But i just don't get why this happens, and if i can do anything to stop it.

ps: yeah i have to say that this happens only with the maxtor ones, as long as i noticed, the other non-maxtor internal hdd never gave me those problems (nor did the treckstor one, who i can keep turned off all the time i do not use it, sadly i dont have the buttons to keep off the other two external maxtor hdd as well)

Thank you for listening in advance, i hope someone knows any solution ;w;

[MANEMAN]

Not uncommon. Usually due to indexing.

Windows Search Service, Pagefile, and more things than you can shake a stick at will also cause this. Hard drives do not activate themselves in the way that you are describing, and you will usually find it is the Windows operating system or a piece of software that you have running in the background.

You can use SysInternals Process Monitor to see the disk access and responsible processes in real-time.

There is no "Quickfix", it's just a matter of the individual diagnosing what is wrong and then putting it right, - or as you have done asking for help to be pointed in the right direction.

Do try "Process Monitor". You will have the answer to your problem within minutes.

[HibariChrome]

First of: thanks a lot for the reply!

Then, i've downloaded the Process Monitor program u've suggested me and did try it out..

Tho it says a huge list of things i've did are all having the directory C:\ or either one i dont really understand which starts with HKCU or HKCR.. there are no directories of the hdd i have like I:\ or E:\ or h:\ not at all.

I tried also to look at Tools > Process Tree, and it tells me that all the used programs do run only on C:\ therefor i dont understand because right when i did open it the internal maxtor and one of the two external maxtors, did start to run themselves once again..

Besides the times who the HDD starts themselves without me doing anything, i did notice one specific program who when i use to open it, looks like activating the internal maxtor: that's is my graphic program.. Now i would understand if i had any relation between graphic program and the internal hdd, like as "last directory on where i save files" the one being to the internal hdd, but that's absolutly not the case, as i always have a directory to save the stuff that on the second partition of my main hd, the one which i run the o.s. on.

So i feel like i'm at a dead point again, i cant seem to be able to recognize why those do get activated by themselves. :/

[MANEMAN]

And there starts the learning curve. :)

No quick fix. More reasons for the problem than you can shake a stick at, and the only way out is learning about the Windows operating system, self diagnosis on your part, or paying for someone to sort it out for you.

For me it's better fun than playing chess.- Not all see it that way I know. :(

You could also download "Process Explorer" or use the diagnostic tools within the Windows operating system.

See this article: http://www.watchingthenet.com/monitor-hard-drive-disk-activity-from-windows-system-tray.html

[MANEMAN]

Dont forget to check out:

Indexing, Windows Search Service, when considering the external disks. - That's why I mentioned them.

You gave up before you had even got started didn't you ?

Just go steady and calm with diagnostics, step-by-step, that's how you will learn.

[HibariChrome]

Woah, thank you once again, especially for that link. I'll give it a look and see if i can understand something more.

As i said i'm totally not a pc expert so i'll probably try to ask for help to a friend who surely understands this stuff a bit more than me.

And nope, i did not give up, i just dont even know from where to start to look at, to understand the problem and have a diagnosis, that's it ^^"

Anyways, one of the biggest fear i have is.. some of the hard disks are relatively old (7 years or so), should i star to "worry" for the files in their inside and maybe moving them into a newer hdd to keep them more safe?

I mean, might this "self-activacting" process be dangerous for 'em the more time it pass like this? :|

[MANEMAN]

some of the hard disks are relatively old (7 years or so), should i start to "worry" for the files in their inside

If you've just gone through 7 years without worrying or having some sort of backup in place for your files, it is now time to make up your mind just how much worry you can personally cope with in the future.

You dont seem to be the stereotypical "worrying kind" of person. - Perhaps time to change tack.

Always backup "everything" for a low stress computing experience. Your call on whether you should start to worry or not. :)