Maxtor Diamondmax 10 problem

[Bobby]

I have recently experienced some problems with my hard disk.

It's a Maxtor Diamondmax 10 250Mb ATA 16Mb drive. It was running perfectly
until a few weeks ago when I could not remove Microsoft .Net framework v2
beta without a BSOD. I tried to download and install the official .Net v2
release but Windows Update reported a failed installation every time.

My PC was running fine so I just ignored .Net v2.

Then I noticed that my antispyware program was causing a BSOD whenever I did
a complete system scan (AdAware).

The my anti-virus software caused a BSOD whenever I tried a full system scan
(McAfee).

I was advised to run a scan on my HD - which froze when checking the data
area - even when I ran it from boot.

My PC is otherwise running perfectly I should add. But it appears than
anything that scans the entire HD caused a BSOD or freeze. My defrag program
(DsikKeeper) runs OK.

So I was beginning to think that it was a physical fault on my drive.

I was advised to go my manufacturer's website and download software to check
the drive. I did. I visited Maxtor.com and read lots of conflicting advice
about how to check one of their drives. I downloaded MaxBlast (because it
says that this can check for errors - it can't). I downloaded PowerMax
because one page says that it can't scan ATA drives and another page says
that it can check ATA drives. Although this software identified the ATA
controllers, it did not manage to find my ATA drive. So I could not run this
check on my drive. I would like to state that Maxtor's website is a mess of
hard to follow, difficult to navigate, contradictory information. I only
wanted some advice on how to check one of the products.

So I don't know what to do.

Should I try to re-install Windows (XP Pro SP2)? Or should I simply conclude
the drive is a damaged and return it (it's only 9 months old)?

It's obviously no good that I can't scan my system for viruses or spyware.

Thanks in anticipation.

Cheers.

Bobby

 

[Malke]

I have recently experienced some problems with my hard disk.

It's a Maxtor Diamondmax 10 250Mb ATA 16Mb drive. It was running
perfectly until a few weeks ago when I could not remove Microsoft .Net
framework v2 beta without a BSOD. I tried to download and install the
official .Net v2 release but Windows Update reported a failed
installation every time.

My PC was running fine so I just ignored .Net v2.

Then I noticed that my antispyware program was causing a BSOD whenever
I did a complete system scan (AdAware).

The my anti-virus software caused a BSOD whenever I tried a full
system scan (McAfee).

I was advised to run a scan on my HD - which froze when checking the
data area - even when I ran it from boot.

My PC is otherwise running perfectly I should add. But it appears than
anything that scans the entire HD caused a BSOD or freeze. My defrag
program (DsikKeeper) runs OK.

So I was beginning to think that it was a physical fault on my drive.

I was advised to go my manufacturer's website and download software to
check the drive. I did. I visited Maxtor.com and read lots of
conflicting advice about how to check one of their drives. I
downloaded MaxBlast (because it says that this can check for errors -
it can't). I downloaded PowerMax because one page says that it can't
scan ATA drives and another page says that it can check ATA drives.
Although this software identified the ATA controllers, it did not
manage to find my ATA drive. So I could not run this check on my
drive. I would like to state that Maxtor's website is a mess of hard
to follow, difficult to navigate, contradictory information. I only
wanted some advice on how to check one of the products.

So I don't know what to do.

Should I try to re-install Windows (XP Pro SP2)? Or should I simply
conclude the drive is a damaged and return it (it's only 9 months
old)?

There is no point trying a software solution to a hardware problem. You
have to determine the health of the hard drive. Try SeaTools from
Seagate. It can check the health of other mftrs.' hard drives.

Malke

 

[Shep©]

I downloaded PowerMax
because one page says that it can't scan ATA drives and another page says
that it can check ATA drives

Did you run,"Powermax" from a floppy disk?

 

[Jan Alter]

Running Maxtor's diagnostic tools from a floppy drive should indicate
whether or not the drive is viable.

 

[Bobby]

Yes. It does not even detect my ATA drive (which is there since I am typing
on a PC that uses this drive).

The Maxtor website provides contradictory advice about PowerMax and ATA
drives. One page states that it will not work with ATA drives and another
states that it will.

Bobby

 

[Shep©]

Yes. It does not even detect my ATA drive (which is there since I am typing
on a PC that uses this drive).

The Maxtor website provides contradictory advice about PowerMax and ATA
drives. One page states that it will not work with ATA drives and another
states that it will.

Bobby

I use it on my ATA/IDE drives and those I help all the time.It's a
major part of my,"Toolkit".

 

[kony]

Yes. It does not even detect my ATA drive (which is there since I am typing
on a PC that uses this drive).

The Maxtor website provides contradictory advice about PowerMax and ATA
drives. One page states that it will not work with ATA drives and another
states that it will.

Powermax is the correct tool and is intended to work with
ATA drives.

HOWEVER, the note on their PM download page reads:

"Note: PowerMax v 4.21 will not detect ATA or SATA hard
disks connected to embedded or add in RAID controllers,
NVIDIA Force 3, Force 4, VIA KT 600 and KT800 chipsets. If
the hard disk is connected to an unsupported controller, it
will have to be moved to an alternate system, or controller
for diagnosis. Please check the PowerMax download page
periodically for updates."

You had failed to make mention of the system in question...
at least at the opening of this particular thread, so some
may not know what chipset your motherboard has. Regardless,
it would seem the drive would potentially need connected to
another system for diagnosis.

Does your (windows') Event Viewer show any seemingly related
issues? That would be expected if the drive had stopped
responding during the events you described previously...
though "expected" doesn't necessarily mean guaranteed. Some
people have in the past reported their drives act funny when
the power supply voltage drops too low, have you checked the
power levels?

 

[Bobby]

Thanks Kony but this is bollocks.

I have a Maxtor drive that works in routine use that the Maxtor diagnostic
software does not "see" and the webshite admits that their software might
not see some ATA drives. Bollocks again. Windows "sees" my drive - and so
too should the Maxtor software.

The drive is going back.

 

[kony]

Thanks Kony but this is bollocks.

I have a Maxtor drive that works in routine use that the Maxtor diagnostic
software does not "see" and the webshite admits that their software might
not see some ATA drives. Bollocks again. Windows "sees" my drive - and so
too should the Maxtor software.

The drive is going back.

Ok, but what guarantee do you have that some other drive
manufacturer's software would see that or any other drive?
For quite a while all the manufacturers were using a
derivative of Ontrack's software, relicensed... dont' know
if this is still true but I suspect the issue is with the
chipsets... but it seems odd to me that KT600 isn't
supported but resumably KT400 is... perhaps they only mean
KT600's SATA isn't but in that case PATA is.

Regardless, I agree that if you feel the drive is bad it
should be returned or RMA'd, whichever.

 

[Nik]

You may remember the Powermax utility (even the one edited by Shep) would
not recognise My 200Gb Diamond Max9.

I tried everything, for weeks, and every suggestion posted and it would not
recognise the drive.

Shep put it down to my virtually brand new clean install system having a
"major issue". The only issue seems to be that Maxtor haven't covered all
eventualities.

I'm so glad (in a sick sort of way) that someone else has a similar problem.
Confirms I'm not going mad ;-)

 

[kony]

You may remember the Powermax utility (even the one edited by Shep) would
not recognise My 200Gb Diamond Max9.

I tried everything, for weeks, and every suggestion posted and it would not
recognise the drive.

Shep put it down to my virtually brand new clean install system having a
"major issue". The only issue seems to be that Maxtor haven't covered all
eventualities.

I'm so glad (in a sick sort of way) that someone else has a similar problem.
Confirms I'm not going mad ;-)

I suppose it should be mentioned that to a certain extent we
sometimes incorrectly assume posters are taking some primary
steps to investigate before we hear of the problem, things
like looking toward the software or hardware manufacturer
for a readme/documentation that came with said software or
on their website, or a FAQ section on their 'site.

Often there's nothing available, but sometimes there is.

Your problem seemed rather unique though in that the program
didn't even seem to load, right? If that's the case it
would seem there's a few bugs left, it should instead finish
loading and not find any drives if the controller isn't
supported.