Ok, strange stuff coming along.
Tested 4 dist:s and MS-XP with this laptop, Zepto 4040, which otherwise works ok.

FC4, Ubuntu 5.10 both updated to max and Knoppix 4.02 = no problem but with Mandriva 2006, Free + Powerpacked both updated, with ACPI and ACPID services enabled the HDD goes: WWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOO in a disturbingly high frequency and the only thing helping is to disable both ACPI services... I don't get it... Do you?

Furthermore the HDD is stuck with UDMA2 in Mandriva [can't be changed with hdparm, believe ME I have tried...] while the HDD supports UDMA5 > as all the other dist:s configures it to run! <

Are the two problems connected? I for one would reason they are. Now how can I solve this? I am frustrated about this since I otherwise like Mandriva.

I have also disabled services laptop mode, apmd and both "cpu freq" [since apm and cpu freq stuff aren't supported by MB/BIOS [only ACPI/APIC] and the Celeron CPU, they are disabled after boot anyway], but that didn't do anything "soundwise". Only after disabling ACPI and ACPID did it run without DEAF-ining my a**.

Oh, the sound happens despite which official Mandriva Kernel I run, ACPI does the same thing every time and this was the only log that had recorded my UDMA2 situation, /var/log/kernel/warnings, kernel: ide0: Speed warnings UDMA 3/4/5 is not functional.

Machine specs:
Hardware: Zepto Znote 4040 – Chipset Intel 855 GM
BIOS: 2160 [latest]
CPU: 1.5 GHz Intel Celeron M 1MB Cache
RAM: 1*512MB - PC3200
GPU - MB-Integrated: Intel - Extreme Graphics 2 - 16<64MB Shared with RAM
APU - MB-Integrated: ‎Intel - ICH4 AC97 with Realteks [ALC202 - v2.2] Codec
LAN - MB-Integrated: Realtek - RTL 8101 - 10/100Mbit
MODEM - MB-Integrated: Smart Link - 56K
WLAN - Built in: Intel - PRO/Wireless - 2915ABG - 54Mbit
LCD: 15" XGA+ 1024x768
HDD: Hitachi - 40GB, UDMA/UATA 5, 5400 Rpm, Cache: 8 MB
ODD: Compal TSB24H1, UDMA/UATA 2, Firmware C012 - Combo “DVD-Reader and CD-Writer/Rewriter”

Aha!
Found the problem, it was GRUB!
After switching to LILO all the sounds disappeared, with all mentioned services enabled. :-D

Why? Beats me...

Ok, I think this post, and post lock, by moderator michaelk was a bit grumpy... I wonder if he even took the time to read my posts?

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...39#post2239939

If I don't know where the problem lies, how should I then know where to post?

The problem was originally Mandriva + "Laptop Hardware" + ACPI (+other laptop related services) related. A couple of weeks of trouble shooting went by and as it turns out it was actually "Mandriva 2006:s GRUB" + "Laptop hardware" related.

How was I supposed to know that when I started the thread?

Since nobody took the time to help me with my questions originally I thought I was posting them in the wrong forum and posted a "heads up" thread over at "laptop and handheld" for assistance. All things considered, a "heads up" in another forum asking for aid isn't cross posting, not even in it's broadest definition.

This is very strange indeed. To me it does not make sense.

If I were you and had time, I would look into

-hdparm
-whether laptop-mode service is still enabled in Mandy
-using smartmontools to check your HD is not dying

I'm not kidding you, GRUB means electrical noise, LILO doesn't. I have disabled laptop mode since switching boot loaders as I don't need it, all I ever needed was ACPI and ACPID.

ACPI and GRUB was my problem as ACPI booting with LILO doesn't give me strange sounds. I used the same setup of services in both boot loaders.

I have checked the HDD with the "cd ISO tools" that could be downloaded and they found it to be in good shape.

Yes, since the problem with being stuck at UDMA 2 didn't change with switching boot loader I will have to check this, but the last time I tried, hdparm wouldn't budge the UDMA setting.

tty1
su
hdparm -i /dev/hda > hda = UDMA2

hdparm -X69 /dev/hda > "changing transfer rate" blabla hda to UDMA5

hdparm -i /dev/hda > hda = STILL set at UDMA2 - It won't budge, with or without laptop mode enabled.

>>I'm not kidding you
I know. Just checking other possibilities

Now then, if you use the rescue mode of mandriva
and put grub back, the noise restarts?
if you use the rescue mode of mandriva and put lilo it goes away again...

You've made yourself a name to report a bug in grub, for a given hardware, to
the grub people. That will attract interest.

A bit of a daft idea if you have amdny 2005 LE,
you could try the rescue mode and install grub previous
version and see what happens

You don't want to hear this...

1: In the past: Choosing GRUB as boot loader on install made the HDD making those strange sounds. Disabling ACPI and ACPID made this go away.

2: I then accidently changed boot loader one install [after trying Ubuntu and other distros] and tried LILO and all sounds disappeared with ACPI and ACPID enabled.

3: I then switched back to GRUB, in the Drake CP, before doing anything else and the sounds came back after reboot.

4: Back to LILO, booting up, doing a full system update including kernel and source.

5: Now, after your ideas about trying other GRUB loaders, older and stuff, I switched back to GRUB [text and graphical], using the same services [with and without laptop mode enabled] and NO electrical WEOWEO sounds were made!

When I did full system updates before, loading the system with GRUB, the sounds remained. Since switching to LILO before doing the updates (booting up Mandriva 2006 and from there updating the system) I could now, today, switch back to GRUB with no strange sounds appearing. I DON'T GET THIS ONE!

There are no updates to GRUB or LILO since Mandriva 2006 was released, however ACPI has been updated but how that explains nr 5 I just don't understand!

Ahhh. So it is not grub then.

do install smartmontools

Is this a Mandriva package?

Ok, urpmi found it and installed it, now I just have to figure it out :-D

Ok, it is now running as a system service.
I checked syslog and it said the tool was monitoring /dev/hda but no failures were reported.

Does this tool, or Mandriva, give me a "heads up" or do I have to check this log from time to time?

>>Patience comes to those who ... wait
man smartctl

it can go in the log... do you monitor your log?
anyway the point here is a long test to check your HD is healthy
NB: in rare cases a long test can trigger faults which are on the verge of happening
yoiu have been warned

That's no problem, if the HDD fails I have 1,5 more years of "hardware support" on this laptop. They'll just exchange it.
Sure, I'll check my logs from time to time. I normally only do that when I encounter problems but apparently that's what I'm in for with this HDD.

"smartctl -t long /dev/hda" is now started.
Thanks for all your help, I'll keep you posted!

smartctl -Hc /dev/hda
"The previous self-test routine completed without error"

But i notice that the HDD is still making these strange noises from time to time, I wonder what the problem is... Electrical failure?