Recently, when I try to copy files from a DVD drive onto the disk drive, the disk will click loudly and spin down, only to spin up again, click again and hardlock the system. First I thought that the drive is on its way out, but this happens only when I use the DVD drive.

But then I rememebered that the same thing happened when I tried to burn some files onto the DVD, the disk would spin down and up again. Furthermore, I tried watching movies directly from a DVD and the same thing happened - this rules out hardware conflicts and alike, indeed, the system was running perfectly fine up until a few weeks ago when I discovered this problem. Otherwise, the system works perfectly fine.

My theory is that the ailing power supply cannot provide enough current to power both the DVD and the hard drive at the same time, creating a brownout and causing the hard disk to spin down.

The power supply is roughly 9 years old, one of the first 350W ATX power supplies that hit the market in '99. I'm going to check the low voltage capacitors while I'm in there, because I might breathe life back into this old dog (good thing I'm handy with soldering iron!)

Comments appreciated!

System specs:
Intel celeron 933MhZ@1.1GhZ (with a slotket because it's a SLOT1 board ;) )
120 GB maxtor
NEC DVD-RW

I does sound like one or the other. My vote would be the PSU. It would be worth testing the DVD drive in another system, but on the same token it wouldn't a waste of money to replace a nine year old PSU either. ;)

Those spin up-and-downs can also be indicative of simple difficulty in reading the data on the disk. Sometimes the lens becomes off-center and occasionally it simply gets dirty. You can get lens cleaners (little brush on a CD) but trying the drive in another PC could be the way to get the correct diagnosis.

Those spin up-and-downs can also be indicative of simple difficulty in reading the data on the disk. Sometimes the lens becomes off-center and occasionally it simply gets dirty.

It's the hard disk that spins up and down, not the DVD drive - DVD spins like nuts while the rest of the system becomes hardlocked.

I'll check the power supply when I get home from work. The system needs to be cleaned out of dust bunnies anyway, so why not do it now? ;)

Sorry - took it up wrong. But if a HDD is changing speeds and clicking I wouldn't trust it too long. That could be where the primary problem lies.