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drainyoo · Jul 27, 2004, 09:02 PM

I have a 17in Powerbook and the computer sometimes hangs and the drive just goes nuts. It use to happen every now and then but now it happens a few times a day. Im wondering if my drive is on its way out. Is there any way to tell? Is there any software that can diagnose this?

Phil Quinney · Jul 28, 2004, 01:16 PM

Hey

(Sorry to bump this thread - but there was no reply and I wanted to try and help)

drainyoo: You can verify the health of your hard disk by opening Disk Utility (in Applications -> Utilities) then clicking on the hard disk on the left hand panel of the Disk utility window. (Click where it says the details of the hard disk - for me it says "55.9 GB TOSHIBA MK6025GAS".) Then look at the bottom of the Disk Utility window and it will say S.M.A.R.T Status: Verified if your hard disk is ok.

Hope this helps,

Phil.

drainyoo · Jul 28, 2004, 01:35 PM

Thanks for you help. Mine reads Verified.

Something must be wrong cause when ever I click on something I heard the drive cranking away. I select a bookmark and it cranks. I open a window in the Finder and it cranks. Does anyone know what is up?

Phil Quinney · Jul 28, 2004, 01:40 PM

Hey,

I know this is a PC type suggestion but how long has it been since you did a format and install? I know it helps my machines speed up a lot - and I try to do it every six months or so to keep things running smoothly.

However, it may not be as easy for you to do if you don't have an external / second hard disk to back up to.

It might be worth a try.

Phil.

MaxPower · Jul 28, 2004, 01:56 PM

I noticed that DiskUtility lists S.M.A.R.T. status on internal but not firewire drives. Is there a way to enable this? Or is it a limitation of the connection? os?

shatten22 · Jul 29, 2004, 12:42 PM

If I were you, I wouldn't pay attention to the S.M.A.R.T. status. My 60gb drive is hobbling on its' last legs and S.M.A.R.T. still says everything is a-ok.

If your drive is making loud clicking noises or clacking sounds and your computer is hanging DURING those sounds, your drive is on it's way out. That's the head out of alignment. You should probably get a disk utility and run a check for bad sectors...

On a side note, my pbook g4 550 has gone through 4 48gb Travelstars and one 60gb drive in it's lifetime. I realize now it's because of heat problems.

BACKUP YOUR DATA NOW.

Good luck with your computer and I hope I'm wrong.

-geoff

drainyoo · Jul 29, 2004, 12:51 PM

Originally posted by shatten22:
If I were you, I wouldn't pay attention to the S.M.A.R.T. status. My 60gb drive is hobbling on its' last legs and S.M.A.R.T. still says everything is a-ok.

If your drive is making loud clicking noises or clacking sounds and your computer is hanging DURING those sounds, your drive is on it's way out. That's the head out of alignment. You should probably get a disk utility and run a check for bad sectors...

On a side note, my pbook g4 550 has gone through 4 48gb Travelstars and one 60gb drive in it's lifetime. I realize now it's because of heat problems.

BACKUP YOUR DATA NOW.

Good luck with your computer and I hope I'm wrong.

-geoff

There are no load cliking or clacking sounds. Its just the normal sounds of the drive working. The thing is when it happens the system freezes up. It also might be that I need more RAM. I dont know.

f1000 · Jul 29, 2004, 01:08 PM

Originally posted by shatten22:
On a side note, my pbook g4 550 has gone through 4 48gb Travelstars and one 60gb drive in it's lifetime. I realize now it's because of heat problems.

Are you sure? Maybe you should put the PowerBook to sleep BEFORE moving it.

shatten22 · Jul 30, 2004, 10:55 PM

Originally posted by f1000:
Are you sure? Maybe you should put the PowerBook to sleep BEFORE moving it.

I'm usually stationary when I'm putting the processor through tough tasks. It's after the machine gets really hot that the trouble with the drives start. It's never a case of me checking my email and then moving the computer across the room when it's still on.

oh...except when I shake it REAL hard during an iTunes playlist (i LOVE dancing with my powerbook, don't you? it's like a giant ipod.)

g

shatten22 · Jul 30, 2004, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by drainyoo:
There are no load cliking or clacking sounds. Its just the normal sounds of the drive working. The thing is when it happens the system freezes up. It also might be that I need more RAM. I dont know.

if you're not hearing clicking or clacking sounds, you are probably ok. de-fragment the drive maybe, or repair some permissions?

more RAM never hurts.

-g