Hard Drive problem

[Jim]

Ok gurus here a tough one. Put in a new segate 750 GB drive to
replace an smaller 250 (both SATA). After heavy use the drive simply
disappers. I have replace the SATA cable, Power cable and replace the
drive under warranty. Same thing. Plug in the old 250 and the drive
remains for days. I have upgraded the motherboard bios

Thought it might be the power supply but it is 500 watts with three
hard drive. Placce the drive in an Antec cooler and still same
problem.

ANy ideas??

 

[David B.]

Just because the power supply is 500 watts doesn't mean it's not the
problem, it may have a problem and be fluctuating the voltages, only true
test is to try a different one.

 

[Jim]

I agree but i assumed that the 750 did not draws that much more power
(or is more senstive) than the 250 G it replaces. Is there any
software that monitors voltages besides what comes with the Intel
board (which does not alert me to a low votltage state)?

 

[Anna]

Ok gurus here a tough one. Put in a new segate 750 GB drive to
replace an smaller 250 (both SATA). After heavy use the drive simply
disappers. I have replace the SATA cable, Power cable and replace the
drive under warranty. Same thing. Plug in the old 250 and the drive
remains for days. I have upgraded the motherboard bios

Thought it might be the power supply but it is 500 watts with three
hard drive. Placce the drive in an Antec cooler and still same
problem.

ANy ideas??

Jim:
First of all, it's hard to believe it's the PS that's causing this problem.

1. You've really got to explain your problem more clearly. What do you mean
that "After heavy use the drive simply disappears"? What in the world does
that mean?

2. When that HDD "disappears", what precisely happens? It's not recognized
in the BIOS? A black screen? It boots, but the machine shuts down after a
time? What???

3. Are you absolutely sure the XP OS you've installed onto that drive is OK?
No corruption of system files? No malware?

4. Have you checked out the drive with the HDD diagnostic utility from
Seagate?

5. Are you absolutely sure you've properly connected & configured the drive
in your system?

6. I assume this "disappearing" problem you refer to with the 750 GB Seagate
occurs whether the 250 GB HDD is connected as a secondary HDD or the Seagate
is the only HDD connected in the system. Is that right?
Anna

 

[David B.]

It doesn't matter what draws what, a flaky power supply can cause all kinds
of issues that one wouldn't normally associate with a bad power supply.

 

[David B.]

Not hard to believe at all, I've ran into similar situations more than once.

 

[Lil' Dave]

Ok gurus here a tough one. Put in a new segate 750 GB drive to
replace an smaller 250 (both SATA). After heavy use the drive simply
disappers. I have replace the SATA cable, Power cable and replace the
drive under warranty. Same thing. Plug in the old 250 and the drive
remains for days. I have upgraded the motherboard bios

Thought it might be the power supply but it is 500 watts with three
hard drive. Placce the drive in an Antec cooler and still same
problem.

ANy ideas??

Since this is specific to hardware, and appropriate to the newsgroup, I'll
respond.

I would like to know if you're using a molex to SATA power plug adapter.

Overall wattage of power supplies means nothing. For example, you could
have .2 amps delivery on the +5V side, and 50 amps delivery on the +12V
side. Exaggeration, but, I think you see my point.

All power supplies are not created the same as for a stable supply on all
voltage legs.

Something I never see discussed anymore, but also exists per my experiences,
is power usage balance if using molex connectors for ide devices or using
those connected to adapters for other devices. The bigger output power
supplies have at least two molex legs, some more. If you get too one-side
on one leg for usage, can be real flaky. Multiple Y-cable molex connectors
on one leg for example. This can be more critical with higher current usage
devices.

Dave

 

[w_tom]

I agree but i assumed that the 750 did not draws that much more power
(or is more senstive) than the 250 G it replaces. Is there any
software that monitors voltages besides what comes with the Intel
board (which does not alert me to a low votltage state)?

David B is correct. That power supply could have always been
defective - but marginal enough that computer was working. Not
likely that 10 watts from a disk drive would cause significant
problems. However disk drives shut down not because computer shuts
down. Disk drives shut down because the 5 or 12 volts has dropped;
lower voltage indicates to drive that computer is probably turning
off.

There is no way to fix a computer reliably without numbers from a
3.5 digit multimeter. Even numbers from the Intel board are not
reliable until first calibrated by using a meter (just another reason
to get the meter). In your case, the system must be accessing all
peripheral simultaneously (multitasking) when voltages are taken for
any one of orange, red, purple, and yellow wires (from power supply to
motherboard). Those numbers must exceed 3.23, 4.87, or 11.7. And
those numbers may be posted here for further information.

Pictures of where to take measurements:
http://techrepublic.com.com/5102-10586-5566528.html
http://www.helpwithpcs.com/courses/power-supply-basics-inc-pinouts.htm

Lil' Dave also makes comments about y-cables, etc. When the drive
is not seen, then what are 5 and 12 volt on disk drive end of that
cable? (Another reason why information is collected without changing
or breaking any connections.)

Your replies will only be as good as information provided. That
means numbers. Even a supply that claims to be 500 watts could really
only be 350 watts - and the manufacturer would not be lying. There is
no replacement for actual numbers. What it should be is not
necessarily what it is. Get the meter.

First establish integrity of one critical system. It's not just a
power supply. Integrity of the entire power supply 'system' means
taking numbers.

 

[~Mike Hollywood]

To see if it may be a marginal power supply, i'd put the boot drive on the
primary channel as a master, and the one in question on the secondary
channel, also as a master, and see what happens. You know, with only the
two drives installed, no opticals, etc. Just to lighten the load on the ps
you could also remove all but one memory stick, pci cards, etc.

Mike

 

[Anna]

To see if it may be a marginal power supply, i'd put the boot drive on
the primary channel as a master, and the one in question on the secondary
channel, also as a master, and see what happens. You know, with only the
two drives installed, no opticals, etc. Just to lighten the load on the
ps you could also remove all but one memory stick, pci cards, etc.

Mike

Jim:
Since you raised this problem a number of days ago you've received a number
of responses to your query all of which as I recall (excepting mine) pointed
to a defective or inadequate power supply as the cause of the problem you're
experiencing.

Just out of curiosity...

Have you determined the cause of the problem and more importantly, have you
resolved the problem?
Anna

 

[Guest]

Unless your running really high tec video cards, your system will run on 250
Watts just fine. Since your old hard drive works Ok I think you can forget
about power supply problems.

I suggest you try some different drivers for your Segate, may be the one you
are using is good for your old drive, but just not up to the task with the
new drive.

I too will be interested in hearing what your ultimate solution is.

 

[Jim]

Sorry I have been out of town and have not chek this posting. I
decided to replace the cable thatr convert the power connector to the
Sata type connector (i do not know what is is called).and the drive
seems mor stable. So it was probably not the power supply but an
electrical connection at least that what I think for now