I suddenly suspect it's the S.M.A.R.T. offline scan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.M.A.R.T.

A subsequent version improved failure prediction by adding an automatic 
off-line read scan to monitor additional operations. The latest SMART 
technology not only monitors hard drive activities but adds failure 
prevention by attempting to detect and repair sector errors. Also, whilst 
earlier versions of the technology only monitored hard drive activity for 
data that was retrieved by the operating system, this latest SMART tests all 
data and all sectors of a drive by using "off-line data collection" to 
confirm the drive's health during periods of inactivity."

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   My fortune cookie said, "You will soon be
   unable to read this, even at arm's length."

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