Hard Drive failures

[buzznapper]

I'm having problems with Windows failing or HDDs failing. Been going on for awhile. Started with bsod crashes that ended up screwing up Windows XP. New install wouldn't take. Finally, Windows wouldn't even finish install w/o crashing. Purchased new drive, installed Windows, everything fine until SP2 was installed, then PTTHHT. Ended up killing drive (bios wouldn't even see it). purshased new hdd and sent bad drive back to Seagate (they replaced, giving me 2 drives now). Still had problems, and posting to a different forum said could be psu. Got a better one from newegg), but that didn't help. Still lost windows after updates. so tried Windows 7 (partly in the hopes it was a driver issue, partly because I've been upgrading since Windows 3, and the #$%^#$@#$s want every version verified). Seemed to fix it (I don't know why) for a year now, until we lost power (i do have a surge suppressor), so I dont' think that did it, just improper shut down. Windows came up with it's handy "fix Windows or reboot" screen. It found errors and rand chkdsk, which took all night, but on restart Windows was still gone. Ended up having to clean install (format included) to get Windows back, but lost it again on second restart from updates. Reinstalled, then checked My Computer, which said only one drive was there, even though there were two. Reboot, check bios and saw both, but Windows still didn't see. Reboot again, remove one drive(they were identical, so couldn't be sure which had windows so picked the closest, lol)...no boot disk error. Swapped drives and got Windows couldn't start, try fixing Windows screen, which wouldnt fix
Windows. Sigh....Back to reinstall AGAIN.

So, there's the long story. So, I've checked to make sure all wires and SATA cables are properly seated. I've gotten a new PSU, but still have problems. Can it be the motherboard? Specs are below:

• MSI K9A2 Platinum AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard
• AMD Phenom 9850 BLACK EDITION 2.5GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor HD985ZXAGHBOX
• OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P10664GK
• EVGA 512-P3-N975-AR GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
• OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7
• NZXT Guardian 921 CS-NT-GD921-B Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
• Finally, the hard drives: Seagate® Barracuda® 3.5" SATA/300 Internal Hard Drive
• Windows 7

What options are there???? Can't be hdds, that many bads in a row isn't possible. problem persisted through new power supply. For some odd reason win7 held it off until power outtage.

Hellllllppppp!!!!!

 

[dfuze]

Have you check your memory with Memtest?

Ram can sometimes make computer problems look like its other components that are screwing up.

 

[buzznapper]

I did try memtest before I got the new psu and installed windows 7. I think I tried all the tests, including the long ones and let it cycle through all night, with passing results over and over. I can try it again, though.

 

[jackofalltrades]

It sounds like you have a dirty power issue I had a friend that lost hard drives quite often and when I checked the outlet with a multimeter the power was fluctuating wildly from 120 to 80 volts, I looked and the dish washer was on the same circuit a power drain is worse than a spike it will take the hard drives out 1st. you should check you power supply at your outlet.


You need to buy a Ups device it will protect against all these problems.

 

[buzznapper]

I have a surge suppressor that everything is plugged into. It's not the best, so I guess I should get a better one. I'm wondering if I should get a multimeter and check the outlet. It would suck if the whole house had issues. There are a few lights that seem to go through bulbs.

Not sure if this is related, but I was up late last night trying to get the drivers for the RAID controller working. I'm not using it, but having the yellow exclamation point bugs me. Troubleshooting the device, Windows has the "1,2,3" solution of downloading the driver from Promise, Inc, and unpacking then installing it (sounds easy). When I do it, and navigate to the folder I unpacked the drivers to update the driver, Windows says "Windows could not find a driver". Tried downloading it numerous times and unpacking to different places. I had a similar problem the first go around last year, except then it was the USB drivers, which meant the USB ports on the back of the box wouldn't work. Can't remember exactly how that played out...I guess one of the times I reinstalled Windows and loaded the mb drivers it just finally took.

This is soooooo frustrating.

 

[jackofalltrades]

Surge supressors Do Nothing for low power which in my experience does the most damage it only prevents spikes. Like lightning and such You need a UPS device they can be bought rather cheap. I give you links for 2 different venders for these items Sometimes craigslist can snag you a better deal than this.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tripp-Lite...p-UPS/13213870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16842117003

 

[buzznapper]

thanks for that. I'll pick one up today. bought a multimeter to check to plugs (Sperry HDM350). Totally new to me, and the directions pretty much assume I have more knowledge than I do (like step one is always "Insert black and red test leads into the respective "COM" and "mA" terminals). With a little trial and error I put black test lead into "COM" and red into the "V" which looks like it completes setup for CAT II. That and setting dial to 200 in the V~ gave me a readout of 118 when I put into plug. Reversing probes gave same result of 118-119. Probing the ground and larger slot tested 0, and ground and smaller slot read 118. Turning on vaccuum cleaner in the same room dropped it down to 114.) Does this mean anything? I didn't see much fluctuation other than that, although I didn't test for all that long.

 

[jackofalltrades]

If you have a dishwasher or something appliance wise like that it is possible it's on the same circuit and when the compressor or heating elements turn on the voltage could drop alot. 2-3 VOLTS DROP NO BIG DEAL BUT 10-20+ DROP COULD SPELL HARD DRIVE FAILURE A UPS device would protect you for voltage drop as well as spikes. Even if it's not the cause of the failure it is cheap insurance. But that many failure means something. Also not all surge suppressors are the same either. Some just don't work.

 

[buzznapper]

Picked up one at BestBuy:
CyberPower CP625HG
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/CyberPow...p625&cp=1&lp=1

It can handle 375 watts (quite a bit more than my box, sound and monitor) and can auto-shutdown computer if power goes out for a while, which I like. Is this ok?

Also, ran Memtest for 8 hours with no errors.

I'll test to see if voltage drops with appliances running, too.