"Spikey" <hedge_hogg@NOSPAMbtinternet.com> wrote in message
news:eTy7lEdPHHA.1380@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
>>
>>> He was also getting periods of hard drive activity when things were
>>> freezing momentarily on the screen.
>>

The noise wasnt his hard drive its the fans. His laptop management settings
have an option to have fans on or "on demand". I had wondered why it was
getting very hot (my vaio only gets slightly warm) the last time I used it.
I think what is happening is that the fans cut in on full or extra power and
temporarily are diverting the power. I've put them back to the always on
setting for now.

:o)