read/write access noise from hd

[cpnotebook80]

is it normal for mp hd to have read/write noise even when nothing is running.
i can hear it and not sure what its reading.
any advice on how to check etc
thanks

[akadmon]

is it normal for mp hd to have read/write noise even when nothing is running.
i can hear it and not sure what its reading.
any advice on how to check etc
thanks

Fire up Activity Monitor and click on the disk activity panel to see what processes are currently most active. I suspect it might be Spotlight having gone haywire.