Maxtor H/D 7200 rpm. Probably bad combo with Asus P3V4X???.

[chillie]

Hello everyone. I hope to get some light on this one from your expertise. I recently bought a Maxtor H/D 15 gb 7200 rpm, 2meg buffer, and when I installed windows 2K, it was ok the first time I logged in, but the next day that I started my computer, right before going into the logging screen(where you put your password)it would freeze, and would stay like that forever, so after a while like 10 minutes, I rebooted. But when I rebooted, it would start a scandisk operation, and after like 35 % it would freeze again, and then I have to reboot. At first I thought it was one of my components, or my windows, so I uninstalled all my components and only left the video card(on my PCI slots)then I started it, but the same thing happen again. Then I thought it was definitly my windows installation, so I decided to do a format and reinstall. Rigth after I reinstalled windows 2K for the second time, it was working fine(the first time I booted), but when I rebooted there it goes again, it frooze at the windows loggin screen. Then I format again. and this time I installed windows 98 second edition, and it was working fine. Until I installed Quake III, and then it would freeze right at the starting screen, the strange thing is that if I let it run like that it would go into the program, but it would take like 15 minutes(no kidding!!!) to go just to the options screen( where you select game type etc.) And then it got worst when I installed Deus ex, it was the same thing it would take like 20 minutes to enter to the options screen(in Deus ex). The strange thing is that in Windows 98 it won't freeze at the start of windows, but rather after I tried to run any game, weird. Any ways, I thought it was the H/D so I did the testing(scan surface) and it would freeze. So I definitly thought it was the H/D, so I returned it, and got another one of the same model. And I installed windows 2000, and it worked fine like for a week, and then it start to give me the same problem. I thougt of return it and get a different brand, but the problem is that now I can not return it.
So I'm stock with it. The strange thing is that in the same rig I have another H/D, a 18 gb IBM 7200 rpm, and it works like a champ, no problems at all. The only reason I bought the Maxtor is because it was dirt cheap for a 7200 rpm($89 for a 15 gb). Any ways if any of you fine people have any advice for me I greatly appreciate it.
Thanks and sorry about the lenght of the post.

Here are my specs:
Asus MB P3V4X
IBM 18 gb 7200 rpm
Maxtor 15 gb 7200 rpm
196 mg ram
Geforce 256 DDR (Detonator 3)
MX300 sound card
Creative Labs DVD dxr2 decoder
Voodoo 2 12 mg (for glide games)
PIII 600 @ 800 (6 x 133)
I think that's all thatn is relevant.
thanks

 

[chillie]

Somebody???

 

[chillie]

anybody???

 

[chillie]

^

 

[snow patrol]

I myself have a Maxtor DiamondMax 20GB 7200RPM drive, and it works fine with my P3V4X, so I don't think it's a compatibility issue between the two components you've mentioned.

If you're worried that the hard-drive is damaged or faulty, may I suggest you try MaxDiag, which is a small program that will test to see if there's something wrong with your Maxtor hard disk. If there is something amiss, you will be given a code - simply write the code down, phone up maxtor and they will RMA the drive for you (I've RMA'd a Maxtor drive in the past, and they have a very good RMA policy).

When you say you tried to return it but couldn't, I'm guessing that you tried to return it to the shop you purchased it from, rather than going to Maxtor directly? Maxtor should definitely send you a new drive if your other one is dead...

Anyway, You can download the diagnostic software here:

http://www.maxtor.com/technology/technotes/20007.html.

Good luck.

 

[T2T III]

Like Snow Patrol, I'm also running the Maxtor DiamondMax 20GB and P3V4X combo. No problems with Win 98 SE nor with Windows 2K. Both have been installed in dual-boot mode for the past two months.

 

[Xanathar]

Mayb eyour ram cant handle the 133mhz bus and or Cas settings? Maybe your 600 needs more voltage? Maybe Its a heat related issue? Maybe your power supply cant handle the load of the Gforice, the 2 Hds, the overlocked Proc, cdroms, and fans? Try pulling out the V2s >as a glide wrapper will destroy their performance anyways<

 

[MacGyver1]

I am using an ASUS P3V4X with a Maxtor 20 Gig 7200. It's on the Secondary IDE. I have an IBM Deskstar GXP 75 30 Gig 7200 for boot drive. I haven't had any trouble. I'm running a P3 FCPGA 600E@800 (6x133), with a Slocket, of course. I have the voltage at 1.75v. That's been the best for me. I'm also using Infineon PC133 SDRAM, with Hyundai chips. This RAM rocks. I had it running at 160MHz on a friend's machine (100% stable).

I would try changing the voltage settings, like others have suggested, and maybe different RAM. See if you can try a friend's RAM.

MacGyver1

 

[chillie]

Thanks to all of you that answered. I really appreciate it.

Snow Patrol, I run the MaxDiag, but it didn't give any error.
Xanathar, I have an Antec 300 watts power supply that is even certified to run with an Athlon system.
The strange thing is that the problem happens only with the Maxtor drive but not with the IBM drive. If it was a problem with the voltage, I think it would happen with both H/D's right? I also underclock my cpu(run it at the 600 setting) just to see if it was the problem with the overclocking, but to the issue remained the same.
I'm going to try it on a M/B with the Intel Chipset 440bx to see if it works with that.
Thanks again guys.

 

[TechKnight]

I use a Maxtor 20GB 7200RPM with my P3V4X. The only occasional problems I experience is freezing during shut down after using the computer for a couple of hours. I don't get much with freezing in Windows. Did you try calling Asus Tech Support? Well, LMK if you want to get rid of that P3V4X board.