Most unusual problem

[MrFlint]

I got probably the most unusual problem ive ever encountered.
simply put, my brand new 500GB sata2 hdd (now a new replacement of it) during data transfers (large ones usually, small ones are not affected) shuts off. IE nothing happens. i cant close or stop the process. any activity in other software opened, will give a similar result. attempts to open task manager, are mostly futile, in the rare cases that it does opens i cant kill the process.
Sometimes similar situation also exhibits symptoms of cpu being heavily used, IE occasionally freezing mouse.
The hdds are not run in RAID.

note i did manage to recover all the data i moved unto it, by copying basically file by file, avoiding lengthy file transfers. (no errors, no damaged files)

note i do not encounter any problems if the new hdd is not used (plugged or unplugged)

previously i had Enermax Liberty 400w (3.3v/26a 5v/28a 12v/20a x2) thinking at first its a power problem, ive got a more powerful PSU (see specs below) problem still here.

the hdd has been replaced with a new, similar model, unit. problem still here.

right now ive rewired (from 2 hdds on one cable, dvd and floppy on another, to old hdd and dvd on one cable and floppy, f.fan and new hdd on the other cable. also changed the new hdd from sata slot 2, to slot 3)everything, and successfully copied 3 partitions unto the new drive.

not sure if thats a real success, during the copying process had a nagging feeling that it was slower than usual.


any suggestions would be appreciated.

Used Acronis Disk Director for all manipulations.

system specs:
MSI K9N Sli Platinum BIOS v1.3
AMD Athlon AM2 64 x2 4200+
x2 XFX Geforce 7600 GT 256mb XXX edition (set but not run in Sli)
2gb OCZ DDR2 PC2-5400 667MHz Gold GX XTC Dual Channel kit
WD WD2500KS 250gb SATA hdd
WD WD5000AAKS 500gb SATA2 hdd.
Enermax Liberty 620W ATX 12V Ver2.2 Power Supply (3.3v/28a 5v/32a 12v/22a x2)
Windows XP Pro sp2

 

[practor]

Run a disk check for errors I would. Maybe running a Raid would fix the problem. Check your device drivers if there is a prob there. By the way, what MoBo you using? could be a BIOS setup maybe? Or it could be a conflict with your partition. Wipe your 500 HDD and start again.

 

[robisbell]

I'd downoad and run http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ and run the appropriate HDD manufacturer diagnostic on the drive. I have a feeling it's just a power issue, but will know more once the diagnostic has been run.

 

[MrFlint]

Originally posted by: practor
Run a disk check for errors I would. Maybe running a Raid would fix the problem. Check your device drivers if there is a prob there. By the way, what MoBo you using? could be a BIOS setup maybe? Or it could be a conflict with your partition. Wipe your 500 HDD and start again.

Quick scan did not show any errors.
Kind of afraid to run a Raid (i dont want to loose all the data, even if i have the most important stuff backuped)
The mobo is listed in my system specs
MSI K9N Sli Platinum BIOS v1.3
not sure what could it be in the bios...
as for partition conflict, i tried deleting then wiping the partitions, prior to getting a replacement hdd. it deleted fine, but froze on wiping. after reboot i created 2 partitions and tried to copy some files over there, then moving them between the partitions, the moving process was 6 times slower than it should be.

Originally posted by: robisbell
I'd downoad and run http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ and run the appropriate HDD manufacturer diagnostic on the drive. I have a feeling it's just a power issue, but will know more once the diagnostic has been run.

Power issue even if i replaced the PSU with a more powerful one?
i ran WD diagnostics, quick scan, showed no problems whatsoever, will try a deep scan tonight.

 

[robisbell]

well, the latest bios for that board is from October of this year and the version is 1.10, I'd suggest you do upgrade the bios 1st.

 

[seemingly random]

Assuming the 250 hd is the system drive: If the 500 is removed are there any problems?

I would try the loading the os on the 500 and try it as the only hd in the pc. You'll probably want the pc configured like this anyway since it's faster than the 250.

If this is successful, then there is either a sata cable or mb connector problem.

That 400w psu was plenty - I'd check if the 620w can be returned.

mb bios current? been reset? do the bios settings for the hd's look appropriate?

overclocking?

Hopefully the raid suggestion was a joke.

 

[MrFlint]

Originally posted by: robisbell
well, the latest bios for that board is from October of this year and the version is 1.10, I'd suggest you do upgrade the bios 1st.

hmm i guess i could try, my bios is from august 2006, the first properly working version of MSI's bios for that board, been running stable since then...
i could try though

Originally posted by: seemingly random
Assuming the 250 hd is the system drive: If the 500 is removed are there any problems?

There are no problems when the 500gb one is removed, or if its plugged but not used.

Originally posted by: seemingly random
I would try the loading the os on the 500 and try it as the only hd in the pc. You'll probably want the pc configured like this anyway since it's faster than the 250.

If this is successful, then there is either a sata cable or mb connector problem.

ill try that

Originally posted by: seemingly random
That 400w psu was plenty - I'd check if the 620w can be returned.

returned the 400w one, dont ask how >.<

Originally posted by: seemingly random
mb bios current? been reset? do the bios settings for the hd's look appropriate?

from last year. been running stable for more than a year, the settings look fine.

Originally posted by: seemingly random
overclocking?

none

Originally posted by: seemingly random
Hopefully the raid suggestion was a joke.

yeah

 

[seemingly random]

As robisbell suggested, the bios should be updated - there might be a sata fix in later versions.

You didn't be chance use the sata drivers from the mb cd install? you shouldn't - nor the nvidia firewall stuff. The ones in xpsp2 are fine.

Is your xp cd really xpsp2 or do you apply sp2 later? and the obligatory question: is the xp installation up to date?

 

[robisbell]

I actually have to disagree, he may not have a updated XP that has SATA drivers included. I also happen to like the nvidia firewall, it's free and give you inbound and outbound control.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: robisbell
I actually have to disagree, he may not have a updated XP that has SATA drivers included.

Hence, the question. If the answer is no sp2, then the slipstream process will be explained.

I also happen to like the nvidia firewall, it's free and give you inbound and outbound control.

You're the first person I've heard who has used it. I never tried it since there has been so much bad press - never wanted to risk losing packets. How does it compare to current firewalls such as comodo?

 

[robisbell]

the early versions were buggy but the last version I tried was quite good and I was able to see some suspicious stuff running and calling out, the people had turned it off and was using the windows one. needless to say they are much more secure now.

 

[MrFlint]

Originally posted by: seemingly random
As robisbell suggested, the bios should be updated - there might be a sata fix in later versions.

You didn't be chance use the sata drivers from the mb cd install? you shouldn't - nor the nvidia firewall stuff. The ones in xpsp2 are fine.

Is your xp cd really xpsp2 or do you apply sp2 later? and the obligatory question: is the xp installation up to date?

id guess... but then why i havve found no mention of similar probs? not that it would hurt to update the bios.

nope i used the sp2 ones.

hmm well, my xp cd, is actually an nLite custom installation cd that ive made, thrown a lot of uselles junk, preinstalled drivers etc.

on technical issues yes it up to date. security issues? not really, i prefer non microsoft means of security for the past year i got only one virus, and that one was a chinese virus that i got from a chinese friend... (proof of my good security means? he infected a lot of people, me included, me? none, the virus never got past my comp, and i quickly eliminated it, with some chinese security blog assistance )

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: MrFlint
id guess... but then why i havve found no mention of similar probs? not that it would hurt to update the bios.

As the title of the thread suggests "Most unusual problem" - we're just covering all bases. Things changed when the second hd was added - this might be revealing a previously unknown problem. It shouldn't be difficult to update the bios with msi update.

I was just asking about the xp technical updates - I assume you've got malware prevention covered. Are there any non-ms sata drivers on the nLite cd? are all of the drivers on it up to date? time to make a new one?

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: robisbell
the last version I tried was quite good

So would you recommend trying it? Is it actively supported by nvidia?

 

[MrFlint]

Originally posted by: seemingly random

I was just asking about the xp technical updates - I assume you've got malware prevention covered. Are there any non-ms sata drivers on the nLite cd? are all of the drivers on it up to date? time to make a new one?

not as i recall, there were nvidia chipset drivers there, but i dont think those include sata drivers.

time make a new one? definately i made and installed, that one, a year ago

 

[MrFlint]

tried to boot from the 500gb hd, it didnt even got to loading window part, but it might be that i didnt clone the boot partition properly. will try again tomorrow.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: MrFlint
tried to boot from the 500gb hd, it didnt even got to loading window part, but it might be that i didnt clone the boot partition properly. will try again tomorrow.

Cloning? Just do a fresh install. There should be nothing on this drive. Start with an empty partition table and create the desired partition(s). At this point, don't do a fast format. You could have a partition size scheme in mind but just create the first one for now.

 

[MrFlint]

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: MrFlint
tried to boot from the 500gb hd, it didnt even got to loading window part, but it might be that i didnt clone the boot partition properly. will try again tomorrow.

Cloning? Just do a fresh install. There should be nothing on this drive. Start with an empty partition table and create the desired partition(s). At this point, don't do a fast format. You could have a partition size scheme in mind but just create the first one for now.

ack... will need to build a new installation build...

anyway i managed to run Crysis for 3 hours on that hd (considering the fact that crysis was the one who shown the problem first, i think its an accomplishment)

 

[MrFlint]

yet it took installing Kane and Lynch like 20 minutes... that doesnt look right imho

 

[MrFlint]

so something still doesnt feels right, copying a 1.5gb VOB file of a dvd took 15 minutes..
almost done with a fresh install of windows, so soon enough ill be able to compare...
while at that i found something, that might be the actual reason for all those probs.

look at the first cable description and compare it with the others... (this cable is not included in the package that came with the PSU)
http://www.enermax.com.tw/engl...M20073910415593285.pdf

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: MrFlint
look at the first cable description and compare it with the others... (this cable is not included in the package that came with the PSU)
[L]http://www.enermax.com.tw/english/upload/document/M20073910415593285.pdf[/L]

So you think the 3.3v support is missing? Contact them and find out and/or get one of these cables. What cable is being used now for sata power?

 

[robisbell]

I'd contact them and have them send you that cable, I'd be very irate about it.