HDD Spins down/up

[Rinzler]

A few seconds after launching any intensive 3D app/game (Furmark etc) my primary drives spools down and then back up/re-initializes. This causes the PC to lock up for several seconds, and will sometimes produce a BSOD.

Watching VLC videos, 2D apps, surfing etc the PC runs ok, but on occasion I have noticed the PC freeze up for a few seconds and heard the drive spin back up during light use.

The drive is a WD black edition 640.

Any ideas as to what causes this? Is the drive toast?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Deders]

Back up anything important you have from it, it could be on its way out. Have you checked for bad sectors? They can sometimes cause the system to stop until the disk can get past it.