Asus motherboard freezing on POST and HDD failure ?

[Synapse Syndrome]

I had a WD Raptor fail that was in RAID 0 a little while ago. The Intel
Matrix software was saying that the array was failing so I backed everything
up, so luckily nothing was lost. I advanced RMA'd the disk, but it is
taking a while for the replacements to arrive.

I have tried restoring my True Image backup to another HDD, but when I turn
on the computer it freezes on POST, just as it is checking the drives.

I used the WD diagnostics on another computer and it showed that nothing was
actually wrong with either of the RAID 0 disks.

Is it possible that it is actually the motherboard that is broken? It is an
Asus P5W DH Deluxe.

ss.

 

[kony]

I had a WD Raptor fail that was in RAID 0 a little while ago. The Intel
Matrix software was saying that the array was failing so I backed everything
up, so luckily nothing was lost. I advanced RMA'd the disk, but it is
taking a while for the replacements to arrive.

An array failing is not necessarily a sign either of the
drives is, though it could be. It could instead be
something like power or cabling/connectors, or a logical
problem with the firmware for the raid... in which case a
motherboard bios update would be in order.

I have tried restoring my True Image backup to another HDD, but when I turn
on the computer it freezes on POST, just as it is checking the drives.

This is with (you had two Raptors?) the Raptors disconnected
from the motherboard controller and power? If not,
disconnect them.

It's not quite clear what you mean, you tried restoring the
backup, but did you restore it? Did the system work up
until then and after only restoring it, it wouldn't post or?

Generally if the suspect device can't be found, it is a
process of unplugging all potentially bad devices and trying
to post in a minimal config, then adding parts back one at a
time. Since it's freezing I would also wonder about the PSU
and motherboard, checking the fans if system wasn't cold at
the time, and voltages with a multimeter, examining
capacitors, etc... checking everything, and if you were
inside the case (which we'd assume?) make sure nothing else
had been dislodged while the drives were being manipulated.

I used the WD diagnostics on another computer and it showed that nothing was
actually wrong with either of the RAID 0 disks.

Is it possible that it is actually the motherboard that is broken? It is an
Asus P5W DH Deluxe.

It's possible, even likely it's the board or power if it
still won't finish posting with the drives remaining
disconnected... though you might also try clearing CMOS.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

An array failing is not necessarily a sign either of the
drives is, though it could be. It could instead be
something like power or cabling/connectors, or a logical
problem with the firmware for the raid... in which case a
motherboard bios update would be in order.

When I disabled RAID mode in the BIOS, I found that only one of the two
drives was giving an error on POST. I tried different cables and SATA
ports. It was always the same one.

This is with (you had two Raptors?) the Raptors disconnected
from the motherboard controller and power? If not,
disconnect them.

Yes, two Raptors in RAID 0, disconnected or connected. I actually just now,
found that a mobile rack which had another disk in it was causing the
freezing, as it was turned off.

It's not quite clear what you mean, you tried restoring the
backup, but did you restore it? Did the system work up
until then and after only restoring it, it wouldn't post or?

I couldn't do anything because of the freezing, but luckily it is okay now.

I really wasn't looking forward to getting a replacement motherboard, so I
am very relieved now. I hope WD get my replacement drives out quickly.

ss.