On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 14:43:17 -0000, "Noel Paton"
wrote:

I say again - what makes you think the problem is with the HD - It's very
unlikely that it is!(especially since it passes a 3hr+ thorough scan!!)

You can test the HD, using the PowerMax utility at www.maxtor.com - but if
you won't believe advice, you probably won't believe the results of the
test, either so go out and waste your money on an unnecessary HD, and then
find out it's a £5 fan that started sticking which actually caused the
problem.

It IS the HDD. I can hear it drop - sounds like an olde drive head-parking
"clunk" and then I hear it spin up again. On one occasion I was fast enough to
hear the "drop" and get several finger ontgo the underside of the drive, and
felt the effect of reapplication of power to the motor.

The case is open, and I can see the processor fan. Processor temp is reported
at typically 38C - currently days here are in the 20's.

S.M.A.R.T. is enabled and I have run extensive testing with PowerMax. Neither
reports any problem.