garry05

Hello everyone,
First of all let me say that my computer is completely assembled by me... I don't really know a lot of technical stuff but however my computer tech. friend tought me how to assemble a pc and i've somewhat got some knowledge when doing computer at O level.

So my problem is that i've just bought a graphics card off ebay : an ATI X800XT flashed to a X850XT platinum Edition. ( Its a pretty old card but its quite good) and ever since i've put it in:

1) My computer is not detecting my sata hard drive
2) Its taking really longer to go through the black screen at the start.(when it says detecting ram, ide , etc) . when i didn't have the card, i wouldn't even see what it was writing. Now, not only i see it but it even stays here for atleast 1min if not longer.
3) Every time i start up now, my Motherboard writes the model of my graphics card on the screen

At first i thought it was maybe a lack of power(See my specs below). So, i took the card off and tested it. However, although that the HDD was spinning, it was not being detected in the bios or in my computer... I tried changing my sata data cable but still nothing happened :(...



My computer specs are :
450w PSU
Dual core cpu @ 1.6 ghz
X850XT PE
2GB RAM (2x1GB)
1x IDE HDD 80GB (MY OS is on it ) used for 2 years
1X 250GB SATA HDD used for only 3 months...
1X IDE DVD writer
Mbo: AsRock 4Core1333FullHD


I guess thats it.

I seriously pray that my HDD is not dead ! cause all of my games and music are on there :'(

If that helps : I'm also attaching a detailed analysis of my hardware produced by everest

Thanks in advance.

Attached Files

Report.txt (328.5 KB, 4 views)

grig85

do you hear the drive spin up? any abnormal sounds? check the cables first

garry05

yeah, they do seem to be spinning.I haven't heard any abnormal sound... I've tried to play with the cable earlier but nothing changed. Yeah, i forgot to mention that i'm using a pci e power converter to power my card and the converter looks kinda weird to me cause on one side their are two males... Do i need to connect both of them ? i'm only connecting one of them to my computer and my card is working...

One question... When a drive fails, does it still spin ?

Attached Images

S6003073.JPG (113.4 KB, 5 views)

grig85

there is a few types of failures for the drives other then failed electronics that could stop drive from spinning up. I asked you that just to narrow down the range of potential problems. Symptoms of failure often can tell a lot to someone who deals with promblems of this kind on dayly bases.

However, it is difficult to say at the moment that your problem is drive related at all. Make sure all the connections are correct.

If in fact there is a problem with the drive, then there isn't much you can do with out specialized equipment if the drive is not visible in bios.

garry05

Hi grig85. I took every cable off and put everthing from scratch and now my HDD is detected. I guess you were right, i messed up with the cable.

So, problem is resolved now

Thank you very much for your help grig85

Cheers.

garry05

Heelllppp !! It stopped being detected again ! It actually just detected it for a couple of minutes cause just after posting here, i shut my computer down to screw the case and when i started again. It was not being detected again. I seriously don't know what else to do now. I've tried everything that i could have thought of today:

1) I've almost took out everything and reassemble my pc again (it worked but when i restarted, it was not detected)
2) I've tried each of my 4 sata ports (Nothing happened)
3) I've bought a new cable to check if the cable that i had was faulty (Still nothing changed)

I'm totally desperate now what do you suggest me to do ?

garry05

I believe what may have happen is that i've damaged my sata part of the mobo with static electricity. what do you think ? can i be right?


i've already broken 2 mobo ... I hope that i don't have to buy another one.... Waiting for your advice

Deleted090308

Hi

I'd say your system is underpowered.
What PSU - brand/model - do you have.

Try running with the onboard graphics (remove the x850xt).

garry05

Hiya
The PSU is the only thing i haven't changed since now.... Its 3 years old, getting 4 this year ...Uuh, its an Azido 450W ATX PSU

I've just tried what you told me to do but nothing changed.

Deleted090308

With the x850xt you have to get a new PSU anyway - go for a quality 500W.
The supply you're using isn't very good and may zap your entire computer if/when it's overloaded.

A PSU guide: Power Supply Information and Selection

Also - try another power plug for the HDD.
If that doesn't help >> check the HDD in another computer.

garry05

Today, when i started up my computer the HDD showed up. This shows that the HDD is working, so the problem is somewhere else. The options that i've got left now are : Either there's something wrong with the PSU or the Mobo. By the symptoms ,which one do you think is more likely to be faulty ?

Deleted090308

I think you have a very "fickle" PSU.
It would be best to have it replaced A.S.A.P.

garry05

Roger that ! I'll take your words and buy a new one soon.... I've restarted my machine several times today and mysteriously, there's no problem... . Now, i'll mark it as solved. Thanks for your help Eneless

Deleted090308

You're welcome.