Vanishing harddrive

[BaffledByGates]

Hi folks prob wrong place so sorry in advance

ok my problem - My hard drive disappears it is a western digital 500gb sata

1: doesnt matter which port it is plugged into eventually happens
2: replaced hard drive still happens
3: replaced sata cable still happens
4: replaced motherboard still happens
5: happens when computer is running games, programs etc doesnt seem to discriminate
6: happens if it is main drive or if it is just as a backup one of them or both will go
7: if it is main drive computer wil freeze have to hold button down to turn off when it restarts bios sees the hard drive but windows wont load says disk read error alt, ctrl, del to restart does not work
8: only way i have ever got it to restart after this crash is to pull out sata cable and put it back in, different slot/same slot makes no difference out and in and it works again

anything i missed feel free to ask please help me!!

 

[James Colbert]

Have you tried running WD's diagnostic utilities?:

WD Support / Downloads / SATA & SAS

James

Edit: Reading your list a bit more carefully, I still say run WDs utilities, but other ideas that occur:

Given that you've replaced the drive, mainboard, cables, etc and it still happens, and that removing and plugging the sata cable back in allows it to start, have you checked your PSU? If you have an extra, might not be too much trouble to swap it out. Also, although your system specs don't mention an optical drive, if you do have one installed, try unplugging it and any other HDs (that aren't running windows).

 

[BaffledByGates]

Thanks for replying

Yes i did it didnt have any problems i replaced it with a brand new one eventually did same thing if i reinstall windows it will take a couple weeks before it does it

 

[BaffledByGates]

Got a new one coming in a few days just got a gtx460 so upgrading but that doesnt explain why it starts after a few weeks or why taking cable out and putting it back in fixes it or why it does not affect bios only windows as it loads

 

[BaffledByGates]

Yes i got a ide optical only one hard drive had iot unplugged before and it still did it so nothing to do with drive (took cable out of motherboard)

 

[James Colbert]

What HD controller mode are you using (AHCI, RAID x)?

Another simple attempt, assuming your RAM is in 4 sticks, would be to remove 2 of them (taking note of the mainboards RAM placement config).

James

 

[BaffledByGates]

Forgot to mention also replaced ram completely, placement not sure what hard drive controller is but bios says sata ide with choices for raid or ahci

 

[James Colbert]

The replacement HD...did you do a new install or restore an image or clone of the original problem drive?

 

[BaffledByGates]

brand new install

 

[James Colbert]

Did you let windows install the chipset drivers for the mainbord or did you install the 64 bit chipset drivers from the CD or here?:

ASRock > Products > Motherboard > K10N78 > Download

Edit: direct link for chipset and other drivers:

http://www.asrock.com/mb/download.asp?Model=K10N78&o=Win764


You might also check to see if your bios is the latest version (you can get the version# during POST):

ASRock > Products > Motherboard > K10N78 > Download

 

[BaffledByGates]

Did both let windows installed from disk installed from website every which way i could its my millionth installation just switched to ahci reinstalling now

 

[James Colbert]

Did both let windows installed from disk installed from website every which way i could its my millionth installation

It would have to be either a:

1) hardware issue
2) bios and/or post-install driver install issue
3) configuration issue (likely bios)

just switched to ahci reinstalling now

Does this mean that you were set for Raid in the bios? This could be your issue if you weren't running your drives as RAID.

There is a tut that shows one how to change to AHCI mode after installation, but some have reported problems. If, by your above statement you mean that you changed the bios to AHCI mode and are now reinstalling, I think this is your best course of action. Please let us know how it goes.

James

 

[BaffledByGates]

Thanks for your help i had it set to ide now its ahci but i put xp back on was just one problem too many with win 7 will try it again one day maybe windows 8 thanks again fella much appreciated

 

[James Colbert]

Sorry to hear that. Something you might consider is obtaining an imaging program (I use Acronis True Image 2011, but you might prefer the free Macrium Reflect). With that, you can image your XP install and continue to work on your Win 7 install (imaging as you go). That way, you can always restore your machine to a working state (with XP) and pick up your win 7 install whenever you have the time.

Based on the information gathered in this thread, it's almost certainly a driver or config issue. Post back if you decide to continue investigating.

Good Luck,
James