New hard drive making constant sound like it's working extra hard

[jalo2]

not sure how to describe this sound: it's like the sound at the beginning of bootup where it sounds like it's reading/writing. problem is that the sound continues the whole time computer is on. it's kinda like a gurgling sound.

the hard drive is Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM and it came with my new Dell computer. not sure if i should be worried. the sound is starting to get annoying. it's not a clicking or whizzing sound. it just sounds like the HD is reading/writing something all the time. it makes a sound at least once per second.

could this possibly have anything to do with the recovery drive that i see when i click "Computer"? not sure how Dell configures these things.

also i ran Dell Diagnostics and Seagate's Seaview tools (just the short test so far) and all was fine.

 

[jalo2]

hmmm i just noticed that the sound intensifies for a second or two when i do a task, like opening another browser or going to a new page.

 

[MobiusPizza]

Go to Task Manager > Resource Monitor > Hard disk, and sort the view by highest read I/O and write I/O. Check for any suspicious activity, e.g. viruses, etc.
Or use the more advanced tool such as process monitor from sysinternals and within it use filter for the drive path, e.g. D:\* to monitor disk activity

I'd back up important data at this stage to another HDD. Then do virus scans, chkdsk.

Check also the page file activity, i.e. if your RAM is full and it's using the HDD constantly as page file.


It may just be a loud drive?

 

[Zap]

A pre-built computer (complete with crapware) on a fresh install of Windows will always run the HDD near constantly for a while. Does the HDD LED flicker or stay on when you hear it?

 

[corkyg]

By default, new OEM machines have indexing, system restore, shadow copies, etc., all turned on. It takes a while for them to gather all that data. And, if you install software, that adds to the burden. IOW, the HDD is doing exactly what it is supposed to do based on the machine's settings.

 

[jalo2]

A pre-built computer (complete with crapware) on a fresh install of Windows will always run the HDD near constantly for a while. Does the HDD LED flicker or stay on when you hear it?

yes it does.

here is a screenshot of resource monitor. i erased some stuff so you can't see any personal info. i have Steam running and another app, but that's about it other than chrome.

the computer is a Dell but i didn't see any bloatware on there. i uninstalled McAfee and put in Avira instead.

 

[jalo2]

By default, new OEM machines have indexing, system restore, shadow copies, etc., all turned on. It takes a while for them to gather all that data. And, if you install software, that adds to the burden. IOW, the HDD is doing exactly what it is supposed to do based on the machine's settings.

oh ok.

i haven't done a "Set up Backup" yet. just got the computer. maybe if i do that there will be less churning because maybe it's compensating for me not having backed up anything yet? i have no idea. i'm talking out my ass

 

[MobiusPizza]

you have bursts of 1MB/s to your page file, which isn't a lot. But still a HDD activity for quite a duration.

How much RAM do you have?

 

[jalo2]

6 gig ram

i've only had the computer since yesterday, tough i have been on it practically nonstop except for a small sleep break. maybe it will goo away in a few days - if not then i'll panic. doesn't sound like anything alarming from the responses in this thread so far.