Major Unexplained problem

[fsardis]

I dont know how to explain it properly and i have no clue why this is happening nor have i come across anything similar in the years i have been building computers.
apparently what happens is my hdd disappears causing windows to crash. upon restart the bios detects the hdd but it show "disk read error" message. the only way to solve it is to clear cmos or to change the sata slot.
my system is as follows:
athlon 64 4000 @ 2.6
dfi sli-dr
ballistix crucial ddr500 @ 260
TT 680W psu
raptor 74gb on nf4 (boot disk)
2x Maxtor 250gb raid0 on Sil
sapphire x850xt pe

the hdd causing the problem is the raptor. the pc is watercooled and rock stable. there is no specific pattern the error happens. it can happen as frequently as 5 times a day or once a month.
Please help me out here.

 

[maddawg]

Have you tried changing the cable - it may be bad??

 

[fsardis]

yes. i tried changing the sata cable and the psu cable. nothing justifies it. besides if it was the cable then why a clear cmos or another sata slot fixes the problem?
like i said the problem doesnt make sense.
the guys at dfi street are too protective over their mobo and they keep telling me its the hdd at fault. SMART reports the disk is fine. extensive disk checks also report the disk is excellent.
everything points at the mobo but how do i prove it?

 

[montag451]

Try your hdd in another system, and try another sata drive in yours.
That way you may be able to tell if the mobo controller has failed.

 

[wpshooter]

Have you actually went to your hard drive manufacturers site and downloaded and ran the diagnostic software for your drive ?

Have you considered that the CMOS battery may be going bad and/or have you updated your BIOS to the latest version ?

 

[fsardis]

yes i have done all the above steps apart from trying the hdd on another machine as i dont have a spare machine.
the hard disk isnt at fault i am sure. has anyone come across such a problem before?

 

[montag451]

Well, the only way to prove it is the mobo, is to get another hdd to do the same.
Other than that, have you got access to hardware analysers, or tools such as 'fixit' or 'microscope'?
If not, then it will have to be a swap to prove anything.
Even if you do get the yoots, they may show up no results! Nothing is infallible.

 

[fsardis]

hardware analysers cant find anything wrong. infact for a period i believe it was the psu that caused the problem but then i realised that if it was psu then a clear cmos wouldnt fix it nor would swaping the sata slot.

 

[montag451]

Just to check again.
Did you try removing the cables, then replacing them as they were? Instead of changing the drive to another channel?
It might be an earthing issue if you just need to disconnect it then reconnect to get it working.

Another alternative, would be to switch off the psu for a couple of days before trying it again, give it a chance to discharge itself.

 

[fsardis]

yep have done that montag.

 

[Captante]

I had issues like your having with my old Asus NF2 based system which was the first time I used SATA as my primary HD.. they were corrected by a BIOS update & never recurred... if you have the latest BIOS & are certain theres no problem with the HD itself, I'd say there is some issue with the mb SATA controller .. your options are: (1) replace or try to RMA the mb (2) snag a Promise PCI (or better yet PCI-E) SATA controller & use it for your HD.

 

[fsardis]

i was actually thinking on moving all my drives on the Sil controller. that should end my grief

 

[HarvInSTL]

Are you running the latest stable BIOS release?
Does this happen when you system is overclocked?

 

[fsardis]

it happens at stock speeds and at overclocks. i am using the latest bios from the dfi site.

 

[ramks6]

may be it's a sign of harddisk failure. backup all your data before it freeze.

 

[fsardis]

i think its the controller failing most likely. other wise changeing the sata slot or clearing the cmos would fix the problem.
besdies im now building a new pc and i will use the raptor in it so we will know for sure if its my mobo or the hdd.