My Hard drive keeps shutting off but everything else stays on

[MetalX]

My hard drive sometimes shuts off after the computer has been on for a long time (about 4 hours). Everything else like the fans remains on. Can anyone explain possible causes? Also i need a way to read minidumps because when I open them i get a whole load of wierd symbols... anyone know a program?

 

[Helixeagle]

Sounds to me like your Hard drive is dying, how old is it?

 

[Nodsu]

Spinning down the hard drive is a common power saving feature.
Control Panel -> Power Options

 

[Helixeagle]

Spinning down the hard drive is a common power saving feature.
Control Panel -> Power Options

I thought this may the case for my harddrive, but mine died soon after :dead:
I'm just jumping to conclusions because of what happened to mine, it probably is a power saving feature and nothing more.