HD Problems?

[DSX]

First off, here's my system specs

AMD XP 3200+ Barton 400FSB

ASUS A7NX8-E Deluxe (NForce 2)

OCZ DDR400 (1GB as 512x2)

SB Audigey 2

ATI x800 AGP

3x Special Edition WD HD's (120, 200, and 250)

LiteOn 32X CD-RW

LiteOn 8X Dual Format Burner

Promise ATA PCI Card

Antec TruePower 550W PSU

So the system was running fine, then I added the x800 card to replace my 9600 Pro and all was good for a week. And then during a round of WoW, one of the 3 HD's spinned up and down and everything froze. So I restarted the PC and now during start up, one or multiple drives spin up and down all the time mostly. Every once and awhile, the system boots into windows without the spinning up and down, but then it clicks again and goes back to spinning up and down. I can hook each HD via a USB to ATA adaptor and everything works fine, but when in the system via striaght IDE, it gets strange. I've tried several different circuits in my residence thinking maybe it's a power issue, but nothing seems to help.

I've also ran the WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostics disk and done the quick and full test on all 3 of the drives, they all came out clean... no errors. Now tonight, the 120 fails a full test with a drive not ready error...

So I'm hoping someone might have another idea or 2... oh, what is the best way to hook such power hungry parts inside the case? Should I have all the HD's off of one molex lead? And what about the x800, since it requires a molex connection?

Thanks in advance

[nateklomp]

Hiya,

Perhaps a MOBO issue (short, bad ide cable, connector) ?

Should I have all the HD's off of one molex lead?

The molex's from the PSU are connected in series, so this doesn't matter.

However, if you're worried about your power, maybe you should check your PSU (use a circuit tester/multimeter, BIOS voltage reporting isn't always accurate).

Good Luck!

[DSX]

I've given thought about the IDE cable being part of the problem, so I replaced it with an brand new one and thus far, no change... although if the mobo failed, wouldn't it be a bigger problem then just as it is? Along the lines of not even getting into Windows what so ever?

Thanks

[nateklomp]

... although if the mobo failed, wouldn't it be a bigger problem then just as it is? Along the lines of not even getting into Windows what so ever?

Not necessarily; I've run into problems with VIA IDE controllers on some SOYO and FIC boards, for instance, that only occur intermittently..some like the aforementioned problem, others like: can't boot from primary IDE although secondary boots OK; secondary IDE not recognized until warm reboot, etc.

I can hook each HD via a USB to ATA adaptor and everything works fine, but when in the system via striaght IDE, it gets strange.

By "straight IDE," do you mean your ATA PCI card or the onboard IDE? If it's happening to drives connected through the PCI card, check for a BIOS update for the card (I've updated the BIOS for my Promise ATA card several times since I got it). Does the problem recur when connected to the onboard IDE, or only from the card?

Of course, this advice given taking for granted that you've already performed basic troubleshooting practice, i.e. removing all parts not affected and working up from there...

[gamehead200]

My money's on the PSU/molex connector... Swap PSUs with another computer and see how it goes...

[DSX]

I can hook each HD via a USB to ATA adaptor and everything works fine, but when in the system via striaght IDE, it gets strange.

By "straight IDE," do you mean your ATA PCI card or the onboard IDE? If it's happening to drives connected through the PCI card, check for a BIOS update for the card (I've updated the BIOS for my Promise ATA card several times since I got it). Does the problem recur when connected to the onboard IDE, or only from the card?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

By 'straight IDE' I am referring to the Motherboard's IDE Channels, and not the Promise ATA PCI Card in the system. I have updated the BIOS on the Promise ATA Card to the newest one listed, so I doubt it's that, since I had the 'ill' 120 on the primary master channel and the 250 on the primary slave channel from the motherboard. Only the 200 is running off of the ATA card...

And I also have tried the system bare bones and I'm still running into the same problems.

Running again off of the USB to IDE adaptor and for the past 13 hours, I've been overwritting the drive (since I've RMA'd it, thank god for warranties), but I just don't understand how it's possible to be bad, but still work fine off of an adaptor...

I'll also make the attempt at swapping PSU's as soon as I get more spare time, although all I have is my older Antec 300Watt PSU, so hopefully that'll work out to at least test that... but I have tried every molex from my current PSU and it doesn't change anything...

[LiquidSage]

Newer mobos like yours usually have a HD spin up / spin down delay option in the bios. I've seen most have 1-2 sec pause. Worth a try for the booting issue.

I have seen similar problems in a client's comp who was frequently swapping HD's. The problem was the HD power connection. It had loosened up (The solder connecting it to the HD chip that is...) due to the constant swapping.

When the comp is on, wiggle the molex connection up and down (don't try to unplug it) and see if starts to complain. If it does, you may be able to fix it with a touch of solder. Also, if you swap hd's frequently, get a molex extension and plug it to the HD and put a bit of hot glue around the connection to secure it. That way the molex power extension cable will take the abuse and not your hd's power connection.

[DSX]

Ok, I couldn't find any spin up delay in the BIOS and I did test the molex and 20pin PSU to mobo connection with 2 different PSU testers. Both say the correct voltages are being sent from the PSU.

I recieved my new RMA drive, hooked it up and then the same thing happened. So I tried that molex 'wiggle' technique and it worked, the drive fully spinned up after I pushed the molex slightly up... no more spinning up and down, at least until I booted into windows and attempted to access one of the other drives...

I'm about ready to switch to a Mac :-P j/k

But I switched to the Antec 300W PSU and only one hard drive connected, no other HD's or CD/DVD drives. Thus far, the 120 is working good, so does that mean I need to RMA the 550W PSU? My question is how it could be doing this? I mean, it's not an old PSU and it's really only like 6-9 months old and been hooked to a surge protector...

[darph]

have you test the mainboard ?

i had the same problem and after i send the mainboard back to asus i get a new one

and now everything works fine

board was a asus a7v8x

so long

darph

[DSX]

darph, what would you suggest in testing the motherboard?

And I really am starting to think it was the PSU, since I just rehooked all the HD and CD/DVD drives up off the 300W PSU and everything it up and running...

But I still would like to know how a protected PSU can screw up like that???

[Xable]

My guess, it`s the PSU.

About a month ago i swapped my XP 2100 for a XP 2800. All was going fine untill last week, the pc kept randomly restarting and the HD kept powering down and back up.

I tried everything, eventualy i underclocked the CPU and the random powering down/up and restarts stopped. So i was thinking, it`s either the PSU not giving enogh juice or a dodgy Motherboard, i had a cheap generic PSU so i ordered a Tagan TG420-U1 which came this morning.

Installed it, set the fsb back to normaly and it`s now been running without HD powering up/down for nearly 5 hours. Fingers Crossed.

My advise would be to get yourself a solid PSU especialy because your running fine with that other one and if you still have problems i would look to the Motherboard.

Hope this helps let us know how your getting on.

[DSX]

LOL, but the problem PSU was an Antec, and last time I checked they made kick a** PSU's... or at least I thought they did... going to RMA the True550 back to them and get it repaired/replaced

Thus far, no spin up/downs with the 300W Antec PSU attached...

[Xable]

ye, maybe you were unlucky and got a faulty one. from what i gathered when i was looking for a new psu antecs seem pretty solid.