[stilz]

Hi guys,
I've recently discovered that WD Caviar SE HDDs have such a thing called acoustic management, which slows performance to reduce noise. Since my fans are already loud, I don't care if my HDD wants to join in; I just want the performance. I'd like to know the method to disable the feature.

BTW, due to weird problems my computer's been having, my computer's restarted in the middle of things at least 40-50 times in the last 3 days. My Caviar SE 120GB is a week new and it seems to be slower after all the reboots. Is it possible that it's damaged or is it due to my messed Windows?

Thank you.

 

[eternal11]

well, a lot of rebooting can damage hd's, and the reboots may be because of high temps possibly? how are your temperatures looking

 

[stilz]

I get about 55'C usually, so I don't think temp. is the problem.

 

[nahteecirp]

For the HD acoustic performance thingermabob check WD's website, I believe there is a utility to download to change that. For the frequent reboots you maybe overloading the virtual memory (ya know where the computer starts storing RAM stuff on your HD since you ran out of RAM), and this would explain the decreased hard drive performance, but ive never heard of someone having a problem with overloading the virtual memory (though you did say windows is messed up). My other guess maybe spyware/viruses, so make sure you use a updated anti-virus and SpyBot/AdAware to ward off spyware. Hope this helps .

 

[stilz]

I set my virtual memory to 2GB and with 512mb of RAM, I don't think memory is the problem. I've scanned my computer thoroughly with udpated Adaware and AVG antivirus, so those aren't it either. Thanks though

 

[Lentoman]

First off, the sudden reboots usually is a bluescreen but microsoft probably got tired of all bluescreen jokes and set default to reboot instead. Besides sudden reboots are only necessary for servers that require alot of uptime:
Go to your system properties (shortcut: windowskey + pause/break). Find startup and recovery (it's on the advanced tab/panel (at least in win2k, probably in xp also?)). Make sure that "automatically reboot" isn't checked. Next time your computer crash you will get a bluescreen instead of a sudden reboot.

If you don't get a blue screen, then it's highly likely that the powersupply or some other hardware is damaged.

Unless you are using them already you might want to try the via hyperion drivers:
http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=2

Also if you ware willing to, try and reinstall windows.

If a reinstall doesn't help or you want to try some other things:
*Remove all usb devices you don't use (I had a usb joypad crash my windows sometimes, a reinstall of windows helped though)
*Lowering the speed your memory is running at one step (bios setting).
*Remove and reinsert your gfx card physically again (may help sometimes)

 

[stilz]

The auto restart has already been disabled. While previously I'd see the BSOD of either IRQL or PAGE FAULT, recently I just get a shutdown (not a reboot), after which I only see a white line across the screen. I think I also hear my HDD powers down, and after reboot I'll hear it spins up. Does this confirm that my PSU is at fault?
Thanks.