Faulty HD ?

[Suchy]

My slave HD (Maxtor - 200Gigs) is acting strange, I often hear clicks from the pc case, and it some times my pc (Win XP Pro SP 2) freezes. Also sometimes I can not browse the HD after my pc is on for couple of minutes and I recieve I/O error message. After this happens few minutes later Windows does not see it anymore (in my comuter and even in Partition Magic 8)

The strange thing is that I tessted it for errors using the Maxtor utility Cd which came with the drive couple of times (with basic, advance and full tests) and the drive passes everyone of them. I also ran couple of online tests from Segates website, and this drive also passed all of them.

What is causing this behavior ? Faulty HD ? Or can it be comething with Windows ?

[mjc]

While it still works, I would back it up...then try a different power connection. It may be OK, but have a power problem or it could in the first stages of quitting.

[Sylvander]

I wonder if it could be a file system or Windows/program problem?
[The HDD passes all tests, but the software is misbehaving within Windows - it freezes]
Is PM8 being run within Windows?

1. You could try scanning the file systems on all partitions [and fixing if neccessary].
Use either chkdsk at a command prompt window within Windows...
Or MS Scandisk after booting the EBCD.

2. You could [from outside Windows] browse the folders/files on the partitions on the HDD using either...
a. The "File Manager" on the EBCD.
b. Knoppix loaded from a "Knoppix Linux Live CD".

If they have no problem seeing the drive contents, then it's a Windows problem.

[Paul Komski]

I agree with mjc. This is very typical of a loose molex connector and its a simple job to swap over to another one. BACKUP NOW REGARDLESS.

[Suchy]

I do have a back-up of everything on that drive, so I am not worried. Between this drive and the power cable is a connector that splitts the power to a case fan. So can that be the problem ? But than again on my secondary slave HD (3rd one - same model) I have the same setup and I am not getting any problems with that.

I am going to try a Y-power cable so that there is nothing between the power cable and thee drive.

Also I ran PM from inside Windows and the Maxtor Utility CD from outside.

PS. When I turn on windows the drive acts perfectly and I have no problems with it for couple of minutes, but then the clicking starts. I hear the "click" like every 2 -3 min

[classicsoftware]

Try a new power connector and then try a new ribbon cable.

Also disconnect the drive and see if the sound stops. If it does and reappears even after replacing the power and ribbon cable it's the drive beginning to go.

[Suchy]

You guys were right it was the cable, I splitted the power via a Y cable, with one end going to the fan and the other to the HD.

So far 6 days and no problem.

Thanks for the tip.