jerkyjerky

Are there known problems with any of the combination of the items I've put together? I have narrowed the problem with my brand new high end system down to a few factors. My Western Digital 1TB MyBook causes EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY slow Windows XP boot ups. If I disconnect the drive from the computer the system boots up about 700 times faster than with it connected. I have a brand new system as I mentioned that supports the eSATA connection which I am trying to use. Is Windows XP capable of dealing with a 1TB drive? Is it too much data for XP? Is XP too old for all this data? Is Windows XP really compatible with eSATA? I have seached the Internet and the WD website for information but I am not having any luck. Thank you for reading this. I would appreciate any insight to this issue.

jerkyjerky

Entered by mistake. I thought I found new info on the problem.

eneles

Welcome to TSF.

See if disabling "Indexing services" helps:

Control panel >> Add or remove programs >> Add/Remove Windows components >> "untick" Indexing service >> click Next.

linderman

are you by any chance using an external sata enclosure ??

many times these enclosures have drive size limits >>>>> I see alot of them that state they are ok with drives up to 750gig, which leads me to believe they are not so "good" with drives above 750 gig ????


will wait to hear more from you


also it would help if you could give us your complete system specs ?


which service pack does your windows xp OS currently using ?????


you "may" want to try adding SP-3 (be warned its still beta, but I have been using it rather frequently and have been happy so far)

always install service packs from safe mode

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/1...setup-package/


win xp does work with 1TB drives

__________________



IF you want or have a high end video card; you should be thinking high end PSU / SEASONIC

jerkyjerky

Thank you so much for looking at my post guys. I really appreciate it... On to what you asked me for...

Computer Specs...

Asus P5KC motherboard (Brand New) (built in Sound, LAN, USB, and eSATA on motherboard)
Intel Core2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.0Ghz
2GB of Kingston RAM
BFG Tech GeForce 8800 GT PCIe video card 512mb ram
Windows XP Pro - Service Pack 2
IDE Plextor DVD Burner (PX-760A)
IDE Plextor CD Burner (CD-R PREMIUM)
SATA WESTERN DIGITAL WD4000KD 400GB hard drive (main system drive)
SATA WESTERN DIGITAL WD5000AACS 500GB hard drive (music storage and game drive) (Brand New)
3.5 Floppy Drive (Not reading at the moment)
Hauppauge TV Tuner / FM Tuner card
Philips 19" CRT Monitor
Microsoft Natural Keyboard
IBM USB Mouse

The External Drive is a Western Digital 1TB MyBook Home Edition. It has mini USB, FireWire (400), and eSATA connectors. I am trying to take advantage of the eSATA connection because I read that it is faster than USB and FireWire. It is a brand new device I just hooked up a few days ago. My intention with this drive is to be the end all be all backup (at least for a year or two, ya know what I mean).

If I try disabling the indexing service can I do that for just the one drive?

As for SP3. I haven't read anything about it yet. Do you guys know about it's
performance and stability personally?

One more tidbit for you guys about this whole thing. I noticed in my BIOS that there are three settings for this internal eSATA connector. The mode options are IDE, RAID, and AHCI. I know I need two drives for RAID so that's out, right? The default is IDE which I have it set to know. When I tried setting it to AHCI the CPU booted up fine, went to Windows. Windows detected hardware changes. The BIOS nor Windows will not read the device at all in that mode. I don't know a lot about that mode. When I switched it back to IDE it boots up quicker the first boot after AHCI but then is slower again after a reboot. I don't know if that give you guys any further insight to the problem.

jerkyjerky

A few more items about my system in case it matters...

Norton 360 for system care / anti-virus
HP MultiFunction Printer, Fax, etc, connected via network

linderman

the mode I would leave as IDE mode


which service pack for windows are you running now


yes I have been using service pack 3 on numerous machines >>>>


I will begin to dig into some info

__________________



IF you want or have a high end video card; you should be thinking high end PSU / SEASONIC

jerkyjerky

Right now I have Windows XP Pro Service Pack 2

linderman

does your motherboard e-sata bracket also have a power connection there ? and is your external drive connected to a power source to run the drive ?



I am thinking two things


bios update ?

Sp-3 install ?




I would clone your current boot drive to a spare hard drive if you have one ? prior to sp-3 install

look at xxclone.com (free version)............can explain in greater depth if this approach sounds good to you ?

__________________



IF you want or have a high end video card; you should be thinking high end PSU / SEASONIC

eneles

Yes - right click the drive in "My computer" >> properties >> uncheck "Allow indexing service to index this disk" >> click Apply, then OK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0_QLvkVSx0

jerkyjerky

Before I started this thread I did update by BIOS even though the ASUS website stated that the only reason for the BIOS release was to support new CPUs. Trying drive as USB instead. Going to reboot. Will post what happens.

jerkyjerky

When hooked up as USB I had no problem at all booting up. Will try the eSATA now but will disable indexing as suggested. Will report back to you guys in a few...

jerkyjerky

Attempted to disable indexing but it is not available on the drive.

Something else I wanted to share. After switching back to eSATA yesterday from USB my system was back to normal boot up times. I rebooted the machine four times and had no problem. I shut the machine down for the night. Then I started it up today and it's back to the very, very, very long boot up again. Any more ideas?

eneles

How many anti-malware programs do you have running?
One or two should be enough - have a look at this guide: PC Safety and Security--What Do I Need?

Remove all startup programs - except your anti-malware and firewall.
To do that:
Click Start > Programs > Startup. Drag the "unwanted" programs out of that folder and drop them another place in the Programs menu.

Disable "System restore" for the ext. drive.

colep2003

How fast is your Hard drive?

How many RPM'S

Windows XP is the best operating system right now so the data isnt in question.

Is the hard drive you connected the Master Hard Drive. Because if it is slow, then of course it will slow your PC down.

if its a slow hard drive I recommend a faster hard drive. Although if it isnt the master hard drive, it will only slow down your system when you access it.

For instance I have a K7 Triton Gygabyte mother board with a 1.5 processor and I use a Segate hardrive that moves at 4300 RPMS. Of course my PC will slow down...

You can find this number on your hard drive.

These days you want them probably at least 5000 RPM's

jerkyjerky

The primary hard drive speed is 7200rpm.
Connected via SATA

From Western Digital...
Data Transfer Rate (maximum)
- Buffer to Host 1.5 Gb/s max2
- Buffer to Disk 65 MB/s (sustained)

All my equipment is either brand new or less than a year old. I don't think that the primary dive is the problem. If I disconnect the external drive my system boots fine and at a reasonable speed.

jerkyjerky

To respond to eneles post...

I tried unchecking all startup items from msconfig...
I've also removed Norton360 from my system which was my only security startup program...
I tried the disabling of System Restore on the drive like you suggested as well...

Still have the slow boot up =(

I may just give up on this eSATA thing man. It seems my whole system in general is slower with it connected that way. Is the faster transfer rate of eSATA worth all this trouble and slow down on my system? I may just settle for the slower USB 2.0 speed over eSATA. I'm very frustrated at this point. I don't know what else to do. Any other thoughts or ideas?

eneles

IMHO - it has to be Windows or a program scanning the drive.

Download and run StartupList.

That program will let you see all programs/processes that starts when Windows loads.

In the program >> click File >> Save as. A text file will be created.
Please include that file as an attachment.

How to post an attachment.