What is causing this constant starting and stopping on xfce?
Other distros aren’t doing this.
Here is link to picture since I didn’t know how to copy/paste this output from console screen.
https://postimg.cc/vDTH65dB
@renewed when you say other distributions, this is a multiboot system? I’d be checking cables and power supply connectors.
On a laptop.
Yes, multiboot. Installed 4 distros to compare/test on this laptop (Acer Aspire 5).
Tumbleweed is my daily system, but this problem keeps me booting into something else.
@renewed if it’s UEFI boot, then should be able to select the efi file to boot via the boot menu to boot to another system and check the drive with smartctl. Else boot from a rescue USB device?
Thanks malcolmlewis, will check smartctl. But other systems aren’t doing the constant starting/stopping.
Will check smartctl now since I’m on tumbleweed.
Just ran it under tumbleweed. Health passed, all tests completed with no errors.
Now will boot into something else and run smartctl again.
@renewed also check output with hdparm. Also is this when on battery or power connected, system battery is ok health wise? Are you running the tlp service?
See this thread: Hard drive (HDD) endlessly cycling stopping/starting disk when laptop is on battery - Support - Manjaro Linux Forum
Smartctl again shows passed, all tests completed with no errors.
I just tried something different. I booted to console rather than X/xfce4. Perhaps I didn’t leave system alone long enough, but none of the start/stop activities showed. If so, something in xfce is causing the activity.
The activity is on battery or power connected. Either way.
Reading link now
It so far appears that the link provided contained the answer to my problem.
I edited /etc/tlp.conf as the link says, and so far, the hdd isn’t constantly starting/stopping as it did before.
I’ll monitor the system for a while longer before marking this thread solved.
Thank you malcolmlewis for the link/answer!
Much apppreciated.
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I don’t have the problem any more. The instructions in the provided link took care of the problem.
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