Hard drive disappearing in Windows

gateets · 12-20-2008, 07:51 AM

I have a 400GB Western Digital SATA drive which keeps vanishing in Windows; it doesn't show up in Explorer, System Properties, or Disk Management service. After a restart, it shows up normally, for a while. I figure that this is probably due to a failing controller on the drive or a failing SATA controller on the mobo. My problem is that I don't have a spare mobo or SATA drive to swap in and isolate the problem, nor do I wish to purchase another, at this time. Which leads to my question: does anyone know of a way to test for the problem without swapping in new components? Any advice appreciated.

System: Intel Pentium D Proc
Asus P5LD2-X/1333 Mobo
ATI Radeon X1550 Graphics
2 GB RAM

**linderman** · 12-21-2008, 07:25 AM

try another sata cable .............. trying using a different power cable to power the drive ..............

it that doesnt work ............ then buy a cheap sata controller card

gateets · 12-21-2008, 11:30 AM

Tried different cable, power lead, and moved cable to 2nd SATA channel; all no go.

**linderman** · 12-21-2008, 12:58 PM

download the hard drive manufacturers bootable diagnostic utility (free) and check the drive condition with that ............ if the drive checks good with that ....... then its your motherboard thats at fault........... cheap sata controller card time

gateets · 12-22-2008, 01:06 PM

will give it a try

gateets · 01-04-2009, 10:51 AM

OK, new SATA controller didn't fix it. Still having problem with HDD 'disappearing'. I'm starting to think it is due to overheating (from cold start, the drive will work for several minutes before failure; if immediate restart, then immediate or quick failure; if turn off system for several minutes, drive will work for a short while before failure. The longer it is turned off, the longer it lasts. Sounds like overheating, right??) What is going to be the best solution for an overheating drive: an internal heatsink/cooler combo or an external enclosure?

Also, I am having problems with a second sata hdd which I currently have attached to the sata controller card; the problem I am having with it is slow throughput (Explorer initially reported 119 minutes to transfer 6.05 GB files; will probably take close to that to actually complete transfer). Any ideas why it would be so slow?

Update: RE: slow throughput> fixed problem myself; seems I had plugged my external USB 2.0 drive into an older USB 1 port. That explains the slow transfer.

**linderman** · 01-04-2009, 03:36 PM

try the hard drive manufacturer's bootable DOS diagnostic utility (free) from their website ........... make sure to run the "extended or full test; not just the quickies)

**linderman** · 01-04-2009, 03:37 PM

you can also download the 30 day trial version of Sensorsview Pro ........... this will report the temp of your drives !

gateets · 01-05-2009, 05:05 AM

Already tried the disk diagnostic;only get an unspecified (unknown) error.

Will give sensorview a try and let you know what happens.

**linderman** · 01-05-2009, 05:51 AM

sounds like you have a bum drive to me ????? have you tried wiping the drive with a free program like Killdisk; then use the hard drive manufacturers drive set-up utility to partiton and format the drive .............. I dont like using windows tool for partitiong and formatting for numerous reasons ............ they are "easy to use" but you pay a trade off

12-20-2008, 07:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
gateets Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 OS: WinXP	Hard drive disappearing in Windows I have a 400GB Western Digital SATA drive which keeps vanishing in Windows; it doesn't show up in Explorer, System Properties, or Disk Management service. After a restart, it shows up normally, for a while. I figure that this is probably due to a failing controller on the drive or a failing SATA controller on the mobo. My problem is that I don't have a spare mobo or SATA drive to swap in and isolate the problem, nor do I wish to purchase another, at this time. Which leads to my question: does anyone know of a way to test for the problem without swapping in new components? Any advice appreciated. System: Intel Pentium D Proc Asus P5LD2-X/1333 Mobo ATI Radeon X1550 Graphics 2 GB RAM

12-21-2008, 07:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 19,383 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Hard drive disappearing in Windows try another sata cable .............. trying using a different power cable to power the drive .............. it that doesnt work ............ then buy a cheap sata controller card __________________ Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day ! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

12-21-2008, 11:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
gateets Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 OS: WinXP	Re: Hard drive disappearing in Windows Tried different cable, power lead, and moved cable to 2nd SATA channel; all no go.

12-21-2008, 12:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 19,383 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Hard drive disappearing in Windows download the hard drive manufacturers bootable diagnostic utility (free) and check the drive condition with that ............ if the drive checks good with that ....... then its your motherboard thats at fault........... cheap sata controller card time __________________ Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day ! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

12-22-2008, 01:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
gateets Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 OS: WinXP	Re: Hard drive disappearing in Windows will give it a try

01-04-2009, 10:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
gateets Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 OS: WinXP	Re: Hard drive disappearing in Windows OK, new SATA controller didn't fix it. Still having problem with HDD 'disappearing'. I'm starting to think it is due to overheating (from cold start, the drive will work for several minutes before failure; if immediate restart, then immediate or quick failure; if turn off system for several minutes, drive will work for a short while before failure. The longer it is turned off, the longer it lasts. Sounds like overheating, right??) What is going to be the best solution for an overheating drive: an internal heatsink/cooler combo or an external enclosure? Also, I am having problems with a second sata hdd which I currently have attached to the sata controller card; the problem I am having with it is slow throughput (Explorer initially reported 119 minutes to transfer 6.05 GB files; will probably take close to that to actually complete transfer). Any ideas why it would be so slow? Update: RE: slow throughput> fixed problem myself; seems I had plugged my external USB 2.0 drive into an older USB 1 port. That explains the slow transfer. Last edited by gateets; 01-04-2009 at 11:11 AM. Reason: Update

01-04-2009, 03:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 19,383 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Hard drive disappearing in Windows try the hard drive manufacturer's bootable DOS diagnostic utility (free) from their website ........... make sure to run the "extended or full test; not just the quickies) __________________ Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day ! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

01-04-2009, 03:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 19,383 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Hard drive disappearing in Windows you can also download the 30 day trial version of Sensorsview Pro ........... this will report the temp of your drives ! __________________ Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day ! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

01-05-2009, 05:05 AM	#9 (permalink)
gateets Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 OS: WinXP	Re: Hard drive disappearing in Windows Already tried the disk diagnostic;only get an unspecified (unknown) error. Will give sensorview a try and let you know what happens.

01-05-2009, 05:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 19,383 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Hard drive disappearing in Windows sounds like you have a bum drive to me ????? have you tried wiping the drive with a free program like Killdisk; then use the hard drive manufacturers drive set-up utility to partiton and format the drive .............. I dont like using windows tool for partitiong and formatting for numerous reasons ............ they are "easy to use" but you pay a trade off __________________ Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day ! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial