MarcoROB

Hey guys
I built a new PC around a month ago trying SATA for the first time. Last night after a long startup I get the error:

"BOOT DISK FAILURE, PLEASE INSERT A SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER"

The hard drive is a Seagate ST3500320AS 500GB Hard Drive SATA II.

First I checked that the hard drive was properly plugged in. I had a similar issue on an older machine where it was dust in the connectors.
That did not work so I checked the BIOS. Nothing unusual. raid disabled, bootlist seem fine. The machine did work earlier in the day fine so I changed the settings to 'last working'.

When that did not work I decided to change the setting that doesnt just show a logo on startup but get to see the workings.
The slow startup is when the machine is trying to detect SATA ports and takes ages when trying to load the hard drive port. I know its this as I moved the hard drive from port 0 to port 5. Loaded 1-4 fine then hung on 4 before going though 5/6. It does however detect there are two devices before this starts. Says something like 'ports 6, 2 devices detected' but only the dvd burner is loaded.

I took out the hard drive and held it loosly and I did feel the disk spinning on startup. Nothing really noticeably abnormal. No smell, no massive excess heat.

I tried installing windows vista and when it came to choosing what HD to put it on, there were none. Was expecting that really.

I tried xpress recovery to see if I can set the MOBO to factory settings. I noticed that my MOBO's drivers are still the same and have not been updated. I could see this from the start up details.
Xpress recovery 2 didn't load properly. I got to the screen and it says something about no IDE drivers. Makes sense.

I was going to see how the hard drive is in another computer but my older machine doesn't have SATA.

I have got my hands on an old ATA hard drive which was a backup on my work machine. I will see if the new computer reconises that. I am also ordering a new HD and will send this one off as its under garantee. Hopefully it will just be a dead HD and hopefully not the MOBO :S

Please let me know if there is anything that I have missed. I am sure there is not much else to try. I cant run any HD diagnostic software as I cant get into windows. Unless I can boot into the software.

Finally here is my PC stats.

Windows Vista
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz 12M Cache S775 1333MHZ
Gigabyte S775 Intel X48 DDR2 ATX Audio Lan 1600FSB 6xSATAII
Corsair Memory 4GBKIT (2X2GB) 800MHZ NON ECC CL5 Corsair Memory 4GBKIT (2X2GB) 800MHZ NON ECC CL5
Seagate ST3500320AS 500GB Hard Drive SATA II
Force3D HD 4870X2 2GB graphics
OCZ 900W ModXstream Modular Power Supply

You input is greatly appreciated and thanks in advance.

Regards

Marco Roberts

Tumbleweed36

This error: sometimes (not always) is caused by either having the computer search for a raid array which it can not find /or/ defaults have changed in the Bios so that the boot disk is not listed FIRST in the Hard Drive Priority area. You just might double check those two things to make sure the raid is disabled and to make sure the boot disk is listed FIRST.

MarcoROB

Doh I thought I posted something yesterday but I guess I must of messed up.

Thanks Tumbleweed for the quick reply. I did check raid was not on as well as the boot priority.

I had a go at putting the suspect HD into the computer and held it. It span up and made this high pitched noise. I admit I have heard the noise before in my pc but it was breif and I thought it was a variation on the motherboard beep startup. Also after this noise there were no issues. So I just left it.
I did the same thing for the old ATA hard drive. Plugged it in and held it in my hand and it sounded more lively. Span up, loads of clicking. On startup I got a new mesage. Instead of 'BOOT DISK FAILURE' I get a lovely 'ERROR LOADING OS'. Thats because there is none on that HD :)
Installed windows fine and I will get a new SATA hard drive in today and in a few weeks I will probably have the dead SATA replacement as well.

What I wanted to ask before this is classed as SOLVED was regarding ATA.
After a bit of researching I find out that SATA has a supior data transfer rate. But does this effect me a lot of windows is installed on an ATA and all programs and data is saved on SATA? Will I notice much difference if my OS is installed on a SATA drive over an ancient ATA?
I ask this because i have installed my OS and all the drivers and I really dont want to reinstall it onto a new HD unless I really have to.

Many thanks

Marco

dai

have you tried a new data cable on it

MarcoROB

Erm yes? I did try a different cable and different ports but I think the loud high pitched noise is clear that its dead.
I looked into it and Hard drives prior to failing can make really strange weird load noises.
Thanks for your input

dai

run the seatools diognostic on it

MarcoROB

It makes a really loud high pitched noise.......im not plugging it back in.

dai

ask for an rma on it

vaiotech

i have seen this before and if you buy the hard drive new you can ask for replacement if you need a new hard drive and dont have a lot of muney to spend but i warning you that is a very demorate process