Link to a manual for the desktop shown below...

[shu-hi]

Hi Paul,¬¬¬
The HP Desktop specifications¬+¬ shown below are those of my 8 year old computer:
OS Version Microsoft Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit
Processor: Intel Core i-5-2400 CPU @ 3.10 GHz, Intel64
Family 6 Model 42 Stepping 7
Processor Count 4
RAM: 8098 Mb
Graphics Card: Intel HD Graphics, -1988 Mb
Motherboard: PEGATRON CORPORATION, 2AC2
Antivirus: Norton Security, Enabled and Updated
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The issue I am having (starting about a week ago) is that the amber hard drive led that indicates the hard drive is working stays lit all the time.
I have never installed any new hardware or software, drivers or anything for years now on this computer. I am NOT getting any error messages or beeps, no boot-up problems¬¬ and it works just like it always did. I do NOT have any programs that start-up when the computer boots-up so nothing should be running in the background other than my antivirus. I have done a full HD antivirus scan and it finds nothing.
I have all my files and images backed-up on the cloud and also on a 256 gig thumb drive as I will probably replace the SATA Hard Drive with an SSD, been wanting to do this anyway. I would NOT be cloning all my stuff over to the new drive. I would do a clean install of Windows 10 using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool and then reinstall the few programs onto the new SSD. I will be removing the old SATA HD from the computer leaving only the SSD drive. As I have everything backed-up I’m not in any really big hurry and will probably not install a new SSD drive until more serious problems arise. Funny thing is, other than the HD activity light staying on constantly everything seems to be working just fine.
Now I realize I am assuming that it is a HD problem but I suppose it could be a RAM, Motherboard or just about anything. As it is affecting the HD activity indicator light I kind of think it’s probably an failing HD and as it’s just about 8 years old it may just be dying.
I can get an SSD 500 Gig for around $70.00 which is pretty cheap if it fixes the problem, if not I can always use it on one of my other computers. The physical installation of the drive doesn’t concern me and is pretty straight-forward. Installing the OS using the Media Creation Tool is something I have done before and again pretty straight-forward. However, I hope I can get your help if I run into any issues, like the computer not recognizing the new drive or something like that. I remember you saying you had installed SSDs on your computers.
Anything that you could think of that could be causing the HD Led light to stay on like? And it blinks once in a while which indicates to me it (the HD) is doing something. Nice to have someone like you that I trust and has helped me before to bounce this off of and I know you would be willing to help if I needed some help with the new installation some day when the old drive fails.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Larry:

I would be happy to help you out.

Have you run the disk cleanup utility>cleanup system files and done a disk defrag lately?

If not, see if that does anything to reduce the light constantly being on.

It could be the hard drive is on its way out.   Unfortunately I wouldn't know what the exact problem could be.

This is the 500 GB SSD I am using in my latest PC.  It is pretty inexpensive and works great.

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-NAND-500GB-Internal/dp/B072R78B6Q/ref=asc_df_B072R78B6Q/?tag=bi...

A SSD should make a big difference in performance.

The only issue you may run into is finding the right 3.5" to 2.5" hard drive adapter to mount the SSD.

I used this one on all of my HP and one Dell desktop.

It worked great but I had to dremel off the thinner crossbar shown at the top of the picture so that I could attach the SATA power and data cables to the SSD.

https://www.newegg.com/rosewill-rdrd-11004-2-x-2-5-drive-to-3-5-bay/p/N82E16817997037?Item=N82E16817...

[shu-hi]

Thanks Paul for responding...

Good suggestions, it's been a long time since I ran the Disk Cleanup so I just did it now, the ones with the X are the ones I marked for cleanup, but wasn't sure about the others so I left them unchecked until I hear from you and then I will run it again. 

Below are the items that can be cleaned up with the Disk Cleanup tool but now sure which ones are safe to mark for cleanup, which ones to you mark for cleanup or feel safe doing?

[  X ]  Downloaded Program Files

[  X ] Temporary Internet Files

[ X  ] Windows error reports and feedback

[   ] Direct X shader cache

[   ] Delivery optimization files

[   ] Downloads

[ X  ] Recycle bin

[ X  ] Temporary Files

[ X ] Thumbnails

Also, I'm not sure I have ever defragmented this computer.  I did an analysis it it showed "Needs Optimization" and that is 12% fragmented so I am doing that now also on the ( C: ) drive. Note: I just have the one hard drive. After everything is cleaned-up and optimized I will reboot the computer and see if it helps. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

You can check all of those boxes except the downloads folder.

If you do not save files in the Downloads folder in your user profile, you can check that box too.

I would hold off on the defrag until you delete all of those files because the old windows update files can take up several GB of space.

[shu-hi]

I had already start the defrag before I had read your message - I really don't care to keep the "Downloads" so I'll go ahead and check them all in the Disk Cleanup and then run the defrag program again - no problem.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Sounds like a plan.

[shu-hi]

Well I ran Disk Cleanup marking everything for cleanup.  I also defraged the hard drive twice and was dissapointed that the defrag program showed that it was still 10% fragmented, thought it would show 0% fragmented.  Anyway I rebooted the computer and have had it on without using it and the led hard drive light is still staying on.  

I suppose some of this is guess work at best, but what do you think the chances are that the issue may be an OS problem?  I could use the Windows 10 Media creation tool and reinstall the OS.  I would lose everything on the drive I realize that but I can always reinstall all my programs i.e., Microsoft Office, Snagit, Google and my AntiVirus.

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This is a separate question:  If I remove the Sata Hard Drive and install an SSD, will I need to format that drive before using the Windows 10 Media Creation tool or will tool format the drive?  My guess I will need to format the drive using "Computer Management" as the computer must first be able to see the new SSD before I can put the OS on it, right?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

It is hard to say. 

I am surprised the disk is still reporting 10% fragmented.

It could be an OS issue.  It's a lot of work to clean install W10 but that's your call.

I would recommend deleting all of the partitions on the hard drive leaving just one partition of unallocated space, and then install W10.

You can do that when you get to the part of the installation process that asks "where do you want to install Windows.'

[shu-hi]

There is only the single partition. 

[shu-hi]

If I make a Windows 10 Media Creation Tool thumb drive I should be able to just put it in a USB port and open it and the computer will remind me that everything on the hard drive will be lost if I install Windows 10 from the thumb drive, right?