Deskstar 80Gb boot failure

[Sethman]

I'm having this extremely annoying problem.

For the fourth time, in a total of three different comptuers; I've had
Deskstar drives (of different sizes) crashing and dying on me.

Some times when I boot the computer (having Deskstars as master drive,
XP Pro Corp SP1 systems)the bios can no longer find the drive. Thought
it was there a few minutes ago or so.
Often I get these strange "searching" or tapping or scratching noices,
when this occures or is soon to happen.
I've tried them out with DFI and (three different kinds of) ASUS
mobo's but with exactly the same resaults.

The weird thing is that after a few weeks of switching parts, cables,
fans, power supplies, praying to all gods I've heard of (with no luck)
I give up and let the non working computer stand in the corner for a
couple of weeks. Then when I start it up again it just works! It will
then run for up to a week or so, then the same thing all over again.

Has anyone had these problems? Know a solution or have a clue?

I'm more then thankfull for all your answers and thoughts, so will my
girlfriend who's Deskstar just died in the usual manner

Best regards and hope of answer
//Seth of Sweden

 

[Rod Speed]

I'm having this extremely annoying problem.

For the fourth time, in a total of three different comptuers; I've
had Deskstar drives (of different sizes) crashing and dying on me.

They aint called Deathstars for nothing.

Some times when I boot the computer (having Deskstars as
master drive, XP Pro Corp SP1 systems)the bios can no longer
find the drive. Thought it was there a few minutes ago or so.

Thats not an uncommon failure mode with a Deathstar.

Often I get these strange "searching" or tapping or
scratching noices, when this occures or is soon to happen.

That noise is the drive recalibrating when
it cant read the data from the platters.

Hitachi's DFT can return those drives from the dead,
but that usually just sees it return again later.

I've tried them out with DFI and (three different kinds of)
ASUS mobo's but with exactly the same resaults.

The weird thing is that after a few weeks of switching parts, cables,
fans, power supplies, praying to all gods I've heard of (with no luck)
I give up and let the non working computer stand in the corner for a
couple of weeks. Then when I start it up again it just works!

Thats because it noticed that its about to be
dumped and that scared it into behaving itself.

You can scare it quicker by hitting it repeatedly
with the largest baseball bat you can find.

It will then run for up to a week or so, then the same thing all over again.

Has anyone had these problems?

Yep, hordes of Deathstar owners.

Know a solution

Toss the Deathstars in the bin and replace them with better drives.

or have a clue?

Fresh out of those except for the baseball bat approach.

I'm more then thankfull for all your answers and thoughts, so
will my girlfriend who's Deskstar just died in the usual manner

You into necrophilia ?

 

[J. Clarke]

I'm having this extremely annoying problem.

For the fourth time, in a total of three different comptuers; I've had
Deskstar drives (of different sizes) crashing and dying on me.

Some times when I boot the computer (having Deskstars as master drive,
XP Pro Corp SP1 systems)the bios can no longer find the drive. Thought
it was there a few minutes ago or so.
Often I get these strange "searching" or tapping or scratching noices,
when this occures or is soon to happen.
I've tried them out with DFI and (three different kinds of) ASUS
mobo's but with exactly the same resaults.

The weird thing is that after a few weeks of switching parts, cables,
fans, power supplies, praying to all gods I've heard of (with no luck)
I give up and let the non working computer stand in the corner for a
couple of weeks. Then when I start it up again it just works! It will
then run for up to a week or so, then the same thing all over again.

Has anyone had these problems? Know a solution or have a clue?

I'm more then thankfull for all your answers and thoughts, so will my
girlfriend who's Deskstar just died in the usual manner

Make sure your power supply is putting out clean, stable power--just the
fact that it's a brand name and has a high enough rating isn't
enough--watch it and see if it shows a drop in voltage when the drives are
misbehaving. I've had that happen several "good" brands of power supply
once they got on in age a bit.

Make sure you've got adequate airflow--if you can't keep your finger on the
drive (and assuming you're not a baker or someone else in an occupation
that results in an unusual degree of heat tolerance) then it's too
hot--it's unscientific I admit but it's a reasonale rule of thumb, so to
speak.