Laptop Hangs for 5-10 seconds

[Gio Bacareza]

Recently I've noticed a strange behavior. My laptop hangs for 5-10 seconds.
The mouse moves but the objects do not respond. During this time, the HD LED
is constantly lit (contrary to a blinking LED when HD is being accessed) but
I do hear the HD sound. After 5-10 seconds it goes back to normal.

I've looked at task manager to see if there's a spike CPU or memory graphs
but there's none.

I've checked at performance reports and all I notice is the Average Disk
Write Queue Length spikes when this happens.

Suspecting disk fragmentation I optimized my HD using Norton's Speed Disk.
However, the problem still occurs. In fact I now notice that every 5 seconds
there is HD activity. It doesnt hang like the first case I mentioned above
but it kinda slows the system down. This happens even when there are no
applications running. There's also spikes in the Average Disk Write Queue
Length.

What's causing this and how do I solve this problem?

Thanks.

 

[Keith]

I noticed that once you install Norton antivirus, this annoying problem
keeps occuring.
Slow startup + slow shutdown.......

Therefore I have thrown aways my Norton's.

 

[Kelly]

Hi Gio,

Suggestion:

Run the Task Manager, go to View/Select Columns, and turn on the following
columns: "I/O Read Bytes" and "I/O Write Bytes." This will give you details
as to which process is accessing the disk.

Although many processes will be accessing the disk, look for one with a high
total or a fast rate of increase, especially when you hear the drive being
accessed.

Hard Disk Performance Is Slower Than You Expect
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q308219

 

[Gio Bacareza]

Sorry, my specs:
Processor: GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 8 497 MHz Stepping 1
Math Support: Present
BIOS: TOSHIB - 970814 PORTEGE7140CT v1.90 TOSHIBA,
12/31/99
Memory: 320 MB (52% Utilized)
Floppy Disks: 1.44 MB
Hard Disks: 5.59 GB
Windows XP: 5.1 (Build 2600)

 

[Gio Bacareza]

Thanks. i know about Norton's problem but I have been using Norton for a
long time but this is the first time this happened.

 

[Gio Bacareza]

Thanks. I'll try it.

Also, I noticed that even when I shut down, heartbeat-like HD access
(periodic (every 5 seconds) HD sound and LED) continues even when out of
windows XP when the black screen appears after shutdown and before the
laptop is totally off.

 

[Gio Bacareza]

Thanks for the suggestion. I didnt know I can opt to view more columns.

Strangely, I have not seen the problem since I started monitoring the new
columns that you suggested. The only thing I did was not turn on the
computer for 4 days because I went on vacation. When I came back the problem
has not gone back so far.