Hard Drive problems

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Guest

I just got a brand new 160GB SATA hard drive. I've formatted it at least 5
times, and after each attempt I was unable to put any files or folders on it
(though it did have a drive letter). When trying to add a new folder, it
would say "cannot find that file" or something like that. chkdsk ran several
times but never worked.

I tried formatting it using the Windows setup disk, and it worked, sort of.
After formatting it, I tried installing Windows XP 64bit on it as a backup in
case my main setup fails. Setup couldn't complete, because after the files
were copied and my computer restarted, it said it couldn't complete
installation because nyoskernel.exe was missing. When I booted my main OS and
browsed the disk, files and folders were there, but when I went to
G:/Windows/system32 to see if the file was there, I got an error message
saying it's not accessible and that it's corrupted.
When I try to defragment, it says chkdsk is scheduled to run, but when it
ran on start up, it said there was an "unspecified error".

How do I get the disk to work?
 
S said:
I just got a brand new 160GB SATA hard drive. I've formatted it at least 5
times, and after each attempt I was unable to put any files or folders on it
(though it did have a drive letter). When trying to add a new folder, it
would say "cannot find that file" or something like that. chkdsk ran several
times but never worked.

I tried formatting it using the Windows setup disk, and it worked, sort of.
After formatting it, I tried installing Windows XP 64bit on it as a backup in
case my main setup fails. Setup couldn't complete, because after the files
were copied and my computer restarted, it said it couldn't complete
installation because nyoskernel.exe was missing. When I booted my main OS and
browsed the disk, files and folders were there, but when I went to
G:/Windows/system32 to see if the file was there, I got an error message
saying it's not accessible and that it's corrupted.
When I try to defragment, it says chkdsk is scheduled to run, but when it
ran on start up, it said there was an "unspecified error".

How do I get the disk to work?
Click to expand...

Is the HD SATA-I or SATA-II? If it is SATA-II, does your MB support SATA-II?
If your MB is a -I and your HD is a -II, you may need to force your HD into
-I mode; check the docs that came with your HD (or look on the HD vendor's
site if you have no docs) to see how to downshift the HD from -II to -I.

Yes, SATA is supposed to be adaptive w.r.t. -I/-II, but some MBs are not.
 
Thanks. It turns out it was a SATA II on a SATA I motherboard. I changed the
jumper setting, and I finally got it working.

I was just wondering, if the jumper setting was wrong and it was set to the
wrong speed, how was the mother board able to access it at all?
 
I tried copying some files to it, but I got an error saying "Delayed Write
Failed", and now the SATA HDD doesn't appear in My Computer or Disk
Management any more.
 
A friend of mine bought a new copmputer with S-ATA hard-disk 200 GB in
December 2004, XP-SP1 or SP2 - I don`t remember, but it needed some special
drivers, or it would recognise the disk as 128 GB.
I decided to optimize the performance a little bit, so I opened:
System properties (WIN_KEY + Pause/Break), Advanced, Performance, settings
button, Advanced

and selected: Memory usage: Adjust for better performance of (System cache).

During the next logon (after reboot), the system started displaying "Delayed
write failed" errors and finaly died. All partitions on the hard-disk were
completely destroyed. He lost about 200 GB of data ;-)

Cheers!


By the way I recently installed 2 new 320 GB IDE-ATA disks on the system.
Guess what will happen if I install XP on my computer ;-) I don`t dare even
to thing of it, the XP recovery console will not recognise the disks
correctly :-(



"S Murder" wrote :
|I tried copying some files to it, but I got an error saying "Delayed Write
| Failed", and now the SATA HDD doesn't appear in My Computer or Disk
| Management any more.
|
| "Bob Willard" wrote:
|
| > S Murder wrote:
| > > I just got a brand new 160GB SATA hard drive. I've formatted it at
least 5
| > > times, and after each attempt I was unable to put any files or folders
on it
| > > (though it did have a drive letter). When trying to add a new folder,
it
| > > would say "cannot find that file" or something like that. chkdsk ran
several
| > > times but never worked.
| > >
| > > I tried formatting it using the Windows setup disk, and it worked,
sort of.
| > > After formatting it, I tried installing Windows XP 64bit on it as a
backup in
| > > case my main setup fails. Setup couldn't complete, because after the
files
| > > were copied and my computer restarted, it said it couldn't complete
| > > installation because nyoskernel.exe was missing. When I booted my main
OS and
| > > browsed the disk, files and folders were there, but when I went to
| > > G:/Windows/system32 to see if the file was there, I got an error
message
| > > saying it's not accessible and that it's corrupted.
| > > When I try to defragment, it says chkdsk is scheduled to run, but when
it
| > > ran on start up, it said there was an "unspecified error".
| > >
| > > How do I get the disk to work?
| >
| > Is the HD SATA-I or SATA-II? If it is SATA-II, does your MB support
SATA-II?
| > If your MB is a -I and your HD is a -II, you may need to force your HD
into
| > -I mode; check the docs that came with your HD (or look on the HD
vendor's
| > site if you have no docs) to see how to downshift the HD from -II to -I.
| >
| > Yes, SATA is supposed to be adaptive w.r.t. -I/-II, but some MBs are
not.
| > --
| > Cheers, Bob
| >
 
I know that by default Windows only lets you use up to 128GB in one
partition, but if that were the problem then it wouldn't let me choose the
max size.
 
No, this is not a partition restriction, this is hard-disk address space
limmitation of LBA32. To access any sector of the hard-disk beyond 128 GB
border, you must use LBA48 addressing (48 bit large block access). Any main
board that supports ATA 133, should support LBA48. There should be also
support in the operating system. XP without service pack does not support
LBA 48. Windows 2003 server supports LBA48.

I created a 596 GB partition sharing the two new disks :-) No restrictions
in the server.


:
|I know that by default Windows only lets you use up to 128GB in one
| partition, but if that were the problem then it wouldn't let me choose the
| max size.
|
|
| "George Valkov" wrote:
|
| > A friend of mine bought a new copmputer with S-ATA hard-disk 200 GB in
| > December 2004, XP-SP1 or SP2 - I don`t remember, but it needed some
special
| > drivers, or it would recognise the disk as 128 GB.
| > I decided to optimize the performance a little bit, so I opened:
| > System properties (WIN_KEY + Pause/Break), Advanced, Performance,
settings
| > button, Advanced
| >
| > and selected: Memory usage: Adjust for better performance of (System
cache).
| >
| > During the next logon (after reboot), the system started displaying
"Delayed
| > write failed" errors and finaly died. All partitions on the hard-disk
were
| > completely destroyed. He lost about 200 GB of data ;-)
| >
| > Cheers!
| >
| >
| > By the way I recently installed 2 new 320 GB IDE-ATA disks on the
system.
| > Guess what will happen if I install XP on my computer ;-) I don`t dare
even
| > to thing of it, the XP recovery console will not recognise the disks
| > correctly :-(
| >
| >
| >
| > "S Murder" wrote :
| > |I tried copying some files to it, but I got an error saying "Delayed
Write
| > | Failed", and now the SATA HDD doesn't appear in My Computer or Disk
| > | Management any more.
| > |
| > | "Bob Willard" wrote:
| > |
| > | > S Murder wrote:
| > | > > I just got a brand new 160GB SATA hard drive. I've formatted it at
| > least 5
| > | > > times, and after each attempt I was unable to put any files or
folders
| > on it
| > | > > (though it did have a drive letter). When trying to add a new
folder,
| > it
| > | > > would say "cannot find that file" or something like that. chkdsk
ran
| > several
| > | > > times but never worked.
| > | > >
| > | > > I tried formatting it using the Windows setup disk, and it worked,
| > sort of.
| > | > > After formatting it, I tried installing Windows XP 64bit on it as
a
| > backup in
| > | > > case my main setup fails. Setup couldn't complete, because after
the
| > files
| > | > > were copied and my computer restarted, it said it couldn't
complete
| > | > > installation because nyoskernel.exe was missing. When I booted my
main
| > OS and
| > | > > browsed the disk, files and folders were there, but when I went to
| > | > > G:/Windows/system32 to see if the file was there, I got an error
| > message
| > | > > saying it's not accessible and that it's corrupted.
| > | > > When I try to defragment, it says chkdsk is scheduled to run, but
when
| > it
| > | > > ran on start up, it said there was an "unspecified error".
| > | > >
| > | > > How do I get the disk to work?
| > | >
| > | > Is the HD SATA-I or SATA-II? If it is SATA-II, does your MB support
| > SATA-II?
| > | > If your MB is a -I and your HD is a -II, you may need to force your
HD
| > into
| > | > -I mode; check the docs that came with your HD (or look on the HD
| > vendor's
| > | > site if you have no docs) to see how to downshift the HD from -II
to -I.
| > | >
| > | > Yes, SATA is supposed to be adaptive w.r.t. -I/-II, but some MBs are
| > not.
| > | > --
| > | > Cheers, Bob
| > | >
| >
| >
| >
 
S Murder said:
I know that by default Windows only lets you use up to 128GB in one
partition, but if that were the problem then it wouldn't let me choose the
max size.
Click to expand...

Only the original version of XP had size limitations. SP1 added bits
that supported larger drives. As long as the system's BIOS supports LBA,
XP SP1 and up will support larger drives and partitions too.
 
; 48bit LBA support for HDD larger than 128GB.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\atapi\Parameters]
"EnableBigLba"=dword:00000001
; end of file -------------------------

Indeed!
And if for some reason this setting is turned off, any sector on the disk,
beyond the 128 GB border will be marked as BAD. I`ve seen it and I know it
hurts!


:
| But you have to manually turn on 48bit addressing.
|
| "Sharon Fink" wrote:
|
| > In article <[email protected]>,
| >
| > > I know that by default Windows only lets you use up to 128GB in one
| > > partition, but if that were the problem then it wouldn't let me choose
the
| > > max size.
| >
| > Only the original version of XP had size limitations. SP1 added bits
| > that supported larger drives. As long as the system's BIOS supports LBA,
| > XP SP1 and up will support larger drives and partitions too.
| >
| > --
| > Sharon F
| > MVP - Windows Shell
| >
 
It won`t harm if you set it. I have tried it. I guess it will be better if
it is set.

Does your XP install CD have integrated service pack?
To integrate the latest service pack:
~ download the service pack redistributable file
~ download nLite from http://www.nliteos.com/download.html
nLite is very intuitive.
If you believe that you need any drivers, you can integrate them in the
install CD with nLite. That way you will not need to use floppy disk and F6
when Text-Mode setup starts.

Finally create ISO image and burn it to CD. Use that CD to install Windows.


:
| If that wasn't set, could it be causing the problem?
|
| "George Valkov" wrote:
|
| > ; 48bit LBA support for HDD larger than 128GB.reg
| > Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
| >
| > [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\atapi\Parameters]
| > "EnableBigLba"=dword:00000001
| > ; end of file -------------------------
| >
| > Indeed!
| > And if for some reason this setting is turned off, any sector on the
disk,
| > beyond the 128 GB border will be marked as BAD. I`ve seen it and I know
it
| > hurts!
| >
| >
| > "S Murder" wrote:
| > | But you have to manually turn on 48bit addressing.
| > |
| > | "Sharon Fink" wrote:
| > |
| > | > In article <[email protected]>,
| > | >
| > | > > I know that by default Windows only lets you use up to 128GB in
one
| > | > > partition, but if that were the problem then it wouldn't let me
choose
| > the
| > | > > max size.
| > | >
| > | > Only the original version of XP had size limitations. SP1 added bits
| > | > that supported larger drives. As long as the system's BIOS supports
LBA,
| > | > XP SP1 and up will support larger drives and partitions too.
| > | >
| > | > --
| > | > Sharon F
| > | > MVP - Windows Shell
| > | >
| >
| >
| >
 
That value doesn't seem to exist in my registry (I have XP 64 bit).

I had to do a repair install for my main Windows installation, and now I
can't format the SATA drive at all in Windows.
 
:
| That value doesn't seem to exist in my registry (I have XP 64 bit).

There are many hidden options in the registry. For this one, the default
value in XP 32 bit (without service pack) is disable 48 bit LBA and use 32
bit. I am not sure about other versions of XP. In 2003 server 48 bit LBA is
enabled by default if supported by hardware. This is a hidden setting that
will not exist on any new installation of windows. It is safe to create it.


| I had to do a repair install for my main Windows installation, and now I
| can't format the SATA drive at all in Windows.

Can you attach the hard-disk to another computer and try if it will work
there? Or can you explain the situation to the company that offers waranty
services and ask them to check the drive.

I once changed 3 different RAM modules, until I found a working one, so that
I do not need to reinstall windows. The company was kind enough to change
the modules, knewing that my computer is pretty much overclocked (40% was a
kind of extreme but still stable ;-). The 3-rd module worked :-) Well at 40%
it is not very stable now, but 35% is.



| "George Valkov" wrote:
|
| > It won`t harm if you set it. I have tried it. I guess it will be better
if
| > it is set.
| >
| > Does your XP install CD have integrated service pack?
| > To integrate the latest service pack:
| > ~ download the service pack redistributable file
| > ~ download nLite from http://www.nliteos.com/download.html
| > nLite is very intuitive.
| > If you believe that you need any drivers, you can integrate them in the
| > install CD with nLite. That way you will not need to use floppy disk and
F6
| > when Text-Mode setup starts.
| >
| > Finally create ISO image and burn it to CD. Use that CD to install
Windows.
| >
| >
| > "S Murder" wrote:
| > | If that wasn't set, could it be causing the problem?
| > |
| > | "George Valkov" wrote:
| > |
| > | > ; 48bit LBA support for HDD larger than 128GB.reg
| > | > Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
| > | >
| > | >
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\atapi\Parameters]
| > | > "EnableBigLba"=dword:00000001
| > | > ; end of file -------------------------
| > | >
| > | > Indeed!
| > | > And if for some reason this setting is turned off, any sector on the
| > disk,
| > | > beyond the 128 GB border will be marked as BAD. I`ve seen it and I
know
| > it
| > | > hurts!
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > "S Murder" wrote:
| > | > | But you have to manually turn on 48bit addressing.
| > | > |
| > | > | "Sharon Fink" wrote:
| > | > |
| > | > | > In article <[email protected]>,
| > | > | >
| > | > | > > I know that by default Windows only lets you use up to 128GB
in
| > one
| > | > | > > partition, but if that were the problem then it wouldn't let
me
| > choose
| > | > the
| > | > | > > max size.
| > | > | >
| > | > | > Only the original version of XP had size limitations. SP1 added
bits
| > | > | > that supported larger drives. As long as the system's BIOS
supports
| > LBA,
| > | > | > XP SP1 and up will support larger drives and partitions too.
| > | > | >
| > | > | > --
| > | > | > Sharon F
| > | > | > MVP - Windows Shell
| > | > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| >
| >
| >
 
Hello,

I suppose using ISO-burner tool. It is extremely easy to use, relaible
and free. It did really never failed me so you might wish to try it out

http://www.ntfs.com/iso-burning.htm
George said:
:
| That value doesn't seem to exist in my registry (I have XP 64 bit).

There are many hidden options in the registry. For this one, the default
value in XP 32 bit (without service pack) is disable 48 bit LBA and use 32
bit. I am not sure about other versions of XP. In 2003 server 48 bit LBA is
enabled by default if supported by hardware. This is a hidden setting that
will not exist on any new installation of windows. It is safe to create it.


| I had to do a repair install for my main Windows installation, and now I
| can't format the SATA drive at all in Windows.

Can you attach the hard-disk to another computer and try if it will work
there? Or can you explain the situation to the company that offers waranty
services and ask them to check the drive.

I once changed 3 different RAM modules, until I found a working one, so that
I do not need to reinstall windows. The company was kind enough to change
the modules, knewing that my computer is pretty much overclocked (40% was a
kind of extreme but still stable ;-). The 3-rd module worked :-) Well at 40%
it is not very stable now, but 35% is.



| "George Valkov" wrote:
|
| > It won`t harm if you set it. I have tried it. I guess it will be better
if
| > it is set.
| >
| > Does your XP install CD have integrated service pack?
| > To integrate the latest service pack:
| > ~ download the service pack redistributable file
| > ~ download nLite from http://www.nliteos.com/download.html
| > nLite is very intuitive.
| > If you believe that you need any drivers, you can integrate them in the
| > install CD with nLite. That way you will not need to use floppy disk and
F6
| > when Text-Mode setup starts.
| >
| > Finally create ISO image and burn it to CD. Use that CD to install
Windows.
| >
| >
| > "S Murder" wrote:
| > | If that wasn't set, could it be causing the problem?
| > |
| > | "George Valkov" wrote:
| > |
| > | > ; 48bit LBA support for HDD larger than 128GB.reg
| > | > Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
| > | >
| > | >
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\atapi\Parameters]
| > | > "EnableBigLba"=dword:00000001
| > | > ; end of file -------------------------
| > | >
| > | > Indeed!
| > | > And if for some reason this setting is turned off, any sector on the
| > disk,
| > | > beyond the 128 GB border will be marked as BAD. I`ve seen it and I
know
| > it
| > | > hurts!
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > "S Murder" wrote:
| > | > | But you have to manually turn on 48bit addressing.
| > | > |
| > | > | "Sharon Fink" wrote:
| > | > |
| > | > | > In article <[email protected]>,
| > | > | >
| > | > | > > I know that by default Windows only lets you use up to 128GB
in
| > one
| > | > | > > partition, but if that were the problem then it wouldn't let
me
| > choose
| > | > the
| > | > | > > max size.
| > | > | >
| > | > | > Only the original version of XP had size limitations. SP1 added
bits
| > | > | > that supported larger drives. As long as the system's BIOS
supports
| > LBA,
| > | > | > XP SP1 and up will support larger drives and partitions too.
| > | > | >
| > | > | > --
| > | > | > Sharon F
| > | > | > MVP - Windows Shell
| > | > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| >
| >
| >
Click to expand...
 
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