Hard Drive Problems

[nlowery]

Someone recently gave me an older Acer (blechh!), because there were problems with the hard drive. I've tried and tried to fix the problem, but nothing seems to work.

Whenever Windows tries to write to the hard drive, it simply freezes. I've tried running scandisk from both windows and dos and it freezes under both. I tried re-partitioning the drive and re-formatting and re-isntalled windows. Still had the same problems. I tried running the disk diagnoses that came with the computer, and it didn't find any problems. Windows also boots straight into scandisk with a "thurough" test, but if its not cancelled, it will freeze. I tried running Norton Disk Doctor, but it won't read the drive bcause of "driver problems". So, i downloaded the most recent update software from the drive's website(seagate). But it didn't change anything. I'm assuming that writing to the hard drive is the problem. It only freezes when the disk is being scanned and when files are being placed on the drive either through the network or an installation. Anybody have anything else I might try?

[Cricket]

Hi nlowery,

Make sure the jumper is set correctly. You could try replacing the IDE cable. If that is a fairly old computer, the hard drive could just be shot and you need to replace it with a new one.

Cricket

[nlowery]

I think I've discovered that the hard drive isn't the problem. The computer has one PCI slot and when I have a card in the slot, a network card, I have problems with the drive. It works fine with it out, not so fine with it in, I've tested this a few times to be sure. Is this because of some kind of conflict, maybe? If anyone knows why this might be happening...

[Cricket]

Hi nlowery,

What kind of PC is that? Is it in a micro-tower?

Sounds like there's a IRQ conflict between the NIC (Network Interface Card) and the IDE controllers. To find out, go to Start> Programs> Accessories> System Tools> System Information> Hardware Resources> IRQ's and see if the NIC is sharing the same IRQ as the Primary IDE controller. If they are sharing the same IRQ, I'm not sure how you would get them on separate IRQ's (I've never dealt with a micro-ATX motherboard).

Cricket

[Toaster]

Howdy,
A number of the "Acer Aspire" line have problems with the system board chipset that ends up as errors with IDE devices. This seems to be focused around the ALI chipset. The chipset fails to "reset" the IDE channels and release the interupt.
I suggest a BIOS update if possible or an outboard IDE controller if this is the case. This problem seems to be worstened if a K6-II/K6-III CPU is used.

[glc]

I have had major issues with trying to use a PCI 10/100 busmastering NIC in those old Acers. Pull it and toss an ISA 10 megabit NIC in and the problems will go away.

[nlowery]

The copmuter only has one PCI slot. That's the only option for expanding. I don't think the computer was ever meant to be opened. The only PCI slot had a modem in it and the case isn't set up to fit anything else. I had to "modify"(cut a hole in the case) to make a hole for the network card because the jack for the card didn't fit the hole for the modem.