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@thebigv wrote:
I just got my new 4600 up and running. I am seeing constant 1 second interval disk activity even when no "programs" running. I have shut off system restore and disk indexing to see if they had anything to do with it. Can anyone help me?? Driving me nuts.

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Seriously, is this normal? I have never seen this on NT, 2000, 2000 Server is this something new with XP?? With Dell??

I have the same issue.  The green drive indicator light on my new Dimension XPS continually blinks all the time.  The rate is about twice per second.  All other functions are completely normal.  My configuration is two identical SATA drives, no RAID, no background processes that I am aware of, system restore is not set to be active, nor is indexing active.  So, why is this happening? 

I know it's not normal for a retail copy of WXP Pro to do this.  There is NO HD activity from my WXP Pro system when the PC is idling.  The only time that I would see regular HD activity is when I download data from the internet. 

It could be the Dell diagnostic partition.  Perhaps another forum member who has formatted the HD and reloaded the WXP disc could share his/her experience.

F.

My Dimention 8250 has same blinking problem showed since I owened about 5 Month and over all functions seems OK..

Yesterday and today I contacted Dell Tech. Support to solve the problem that did not helped at all. and wasted my time. (I was talled that is normal.)

I would like to know that How many other Dell PC owner has this kind problem? or It possble the Dell's PC Design like that.

Please post as many as you can for Blinking Disk Activity Light.

Thanks for reading this post.

Happy Holidays

Thanks Joel - I will listen carefully to see if there is disk activity or just "blinking". I tried before to disconnect the network cable - didn't change anything. Polling does seem to make some sense, whether USB or network etc.  It would be nice if someone would tell us. I would think that a light with a disk icon would in fact be a disk activity light :).

Anyone else find out anything more specific, please post.

Thanks to all.

I wouldn't consider the 8300s as high-end machines.  That said, none of the more expensive machines I've built this year exhibits this behavior.  But they don't not come with DELL MBs.  An easy test is to visit you local PC store and check out the HD activity light of similarly equipped PCs. 

F.

If Indexing Service is enabled for the drive you will see the light blinking while indexing is being performed. If your PC is new or you have just loaded new files and folders, Indexing will run for quite a while until all files are indexed. To turn off indexing, right click the drive, select properties, clear the box for 'Allow Indexing Service'. If you want to allow indexing, but want it to stop running when you're using the computer, leave the box checked, go to administrative tools/computer management. Expand 'Services and Applications', select 'Indexing'. Click Action/All Tasks/Tune Performance, and select 'Used Occasionally'.

Also, the HD light will blink if System Restore is writing to the disk.

Rob

Oops.....I didn't read the original post carefully....sorry. If system restore and indexing are turned off then it can only be due to roaches or aliens from outer space....no need to worry....perfectly normal.

Message Edited by robnalex on 11-30-2003 03:31 PM

Message Edited by robnalex on 11-30-2003 03:32 PM

Went to the store to check out a Sony VAIO desktop, model 430.  No blinking HD activity light when the PC is IDLING.  This system is loaded with WXP using XP's default configurations...Indexing Service, System Restore, etc....  This makes sense, because there is no need to access the HD if the PC is IDLING. 

Sounds like this is a unique issue with some DELL PCs.

F.