Dead drive

[Steve W]

Problem:
It is possibly a sign of a Dying 20Gb'er
My system, has infrequent "lock-ups" where i can very rarely reproduce - hence they are not regular or due to anything software. main things i get are noticeable when playing music and not at computer, will completely lock up for anywhere from 20secs, up to 5-7 minutes, happens whilst idling at desktop, playing music, middle of a game, wherever.

its important to note that previously the computer would completely lockup altogether before my 45Gb died, although it was not the system drive, i had assumed this was the problem. whilst awaiting a replacement, it continued to happen, so i tried removing and swapping ram throughout my system, given that i have 2x128 and 1x256. no combinations resolved the issue, as its intermittent, you could imagine this is difficult to determine quickly.

now i have replaced my 45Gb with a new 80Gb in my system - as per specs, and still nothings changed, I am left wondering if its the system drive - the 20Gb - dying...

i have formatted and installed afresh and nothings different, i will be trying out a fresh install on a spare 40Gb i have atm, to eliminate the 20Gb as a possibility and will post back after trying that for a week or so...

however i was wondering what suggestions people had other than that which i have tried? coz its really ****ting me, and the people who are listening to the music at the time that it locks up...

[Steve W]

here are the system specs!!

SYSTEM SPECS:
Duron 600 @ 933 (7x133)
Epox 8kta3+pro (onboard HPT370a-disabled)
512Mb SDRAM
20Gb IBM ATA66 7.2k
80Gb Maxtor 7.2k
Ricoh 32x8x4 CDRW
3D Power Geforce 2MX 32Mb
Hercules Game Theatre XP
Intel Pro 100+ NIC
250W DTK PSU Main
235W generic PSU Auxilliary
Cooled with a Mini Copper Orb (31 idle, 38 Full load max'd)
also:
HDs cooled with 2x80mm
1 front intake 80mm (as well as hd fans) and 1x60mm Exhaust fan
all fans are on the Aux. PSU and everything else on the main one.

[morriswindgate]

Go to the drive manufacture's website and download the drive diagnostic tools and run them, this will tell ou the condition of the drive.

[glc]

If the drive checks out good, I'd suspect the overclocking. Clock it back to stock and see if the problems go away. It could possibly be power management issues.

I have the same 20gb drive, that's one of the good IBM's, but it sure wouldn't hurt to run Drive Fitness Test on it - you get that now from hgst.com.

[Steve W]

Cheers guys ill have a look and see what it brings up! Ill report back!

[ssahl]

If he did a clean install of the OS on more then one drive, I would say 99.9% sure that it's the overclocking