Samsung HD woes

[lorkp]

Hello people

I'm using an SP1614C SATA hard drive (only hard drive in the system) with an Epox 8KDA3J and an Athlon 64 3200+. I think that my computer is having trouble detecting the drive when I boot up. This seems to happen every so often. The computer will POST wait five seconds, recognize my NEC 2510a, and then take minutes to try and find the hard drive. Once it doesn't, I get some kind of boot error. This has happened before, but snapped out of it. I'm not sure why. What do you think is wrong? What should I try?

 

[Abhi]

First thing to try...

Swap the IDE cable...
Secondly, check the Master/Slave configuration
Thirdly, chech the Hard disk using the Manufacturers diagnosis program....

If all else fails, RMA...

 

[oneshot47]

Originally posted by: Abhi
First thing to try...

Swap the IDE cable...
Secondly, check the Master/Slave configuration
Thirdly, chech the Hard disk using the Manufacturers diagnosis program....

If all else fails, RMA...

You realize its sata....no ide cable, no jumpers to set.....

I had a similer problem and it turned out to be my psu. Check the voltages in the bios or with a voltmeter.

 

[Dman877]

Have you checked the drive in another comp? It could be a mobo compatibility issue. My samsung drive wqon't work with my dfi lanparty but runs like a dream on everything else I have...

 

[RaNDoMMAI]

drivers?

I had to install SATA drivers for my abit mobo before it would see the my samsung spinpoint

~RaNDoM

 

[lorkp]

I just don't understand why it's intermittent. How would I install drivers? and what voltages should I look at?

 

[Zepper]

More than likely it is in the cables/connections. Swap out the SATA signal cable (almost all cables these days are made so cheaply it's a wonder they work at all!) and make sure the power connections are proper and tight (particularly if there are any of the 4-pin molex type drive connectors involved - I have had to tighten female molex contacts repeatedly with a jeweler's screwdriver to keep one of my drives running - or replace them with real Molex or Amp brand from digikey.com or mouser.com. If using a SATA to Molex power adapter, tighten or try another one.
. Inspect ALL the connectors with a bright flashlight and magnifier looking for any shards of conductive material lodged therein.
. Could also be defective or cracked solder joints in the connector(s) on the drive's circuit board - --it happens...
.bh.

 

[lorkp]

I checked the SATA connection on the motherboard's side, and I think that was what it was. I guess it comes undone every now and then. Thanks for the replies everyone