Any help appreciated, getting aggrivated

Notoriousdav · 07-01-2009, 02:27 PM

Okay, I'll try to keep it short, and I'm sorry if I've posted this in the wrong place. I've put it in HD support, since that's the main crux of my problems right now.

I built my own desktop machine some years ago, just to prove to myself I could. For the most part, it's been fantastic, with a few issues that I've fixed, etc. We have a local computer store with a few stores that has helped me a few times in the past, good prices, great service.

So, about 2 months ago, I decided it was time to upgrade my box, but don't have the time or motivation to do it myself. So, I take it to them, and let them go to town.

However, at this moment, it is now back with them a second time since receiving the upgraded box with now, a total of THREE dead hard drives. Since they have the box right now, I'll be a bit hard pressed to get all the specs, but I'll do my best, and outline the issues that have me on the verge of going off on the owner.

New Asus MB. I believe it's a ASUS M4A78 PRO AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD

New AMD CPU, do not remember specs.
4GB RAM (Corsair, I believe)
New ATI SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4870
New 750W PS

Stuff from original box:
2 74 GB 10K RPM WD Raptor Hard Drives
1 120GB 7.2K RPM WD Drive (not sure on any other specs)

The issue(s).

When I took them the box, I mentioned that one of the raptor drives might be dead. They tested, everything checked out, so they proceeded to RAID Stripe the two Raptors together. About 2-3 weeks after getting the completed machine back, had a severe lockup, no reboot, bad, bad news. Took it back, one Raptor, dead.

Purchased a new Raptor, had them install, RAID the drives. Got machine back, super-happy-terrific.

About 2-3 weeks later (last week, specifically) logged off for the evening, and let a Windows update run. When attempting to startup the next morning, I get the windows load bar, but it does not proceed to the windows logo, and hangs at a black screen. Can't boot in safe mode, no nothing. Take machine back to the shop. They get back to me that the other 74GB Raptor has died. Seems suprising to me, but, so be it. I tell them to forget the RAID, and just reinstall the OS to the single operating Raptor drive. They say, "Okay, so we'll install the OS to that, and you have the other unformatted 120GB drive....." I say, "Uh, what? That 120GB drive is completely formatted, and is my DATA drive. Where is my data?"

They are now running some sort of data retreival app, that's been running for over 24 hours, and has retrieved less than 2GB of 77GB on the drive.

My main questions at this point are:

How in the heck have I lost three drives in a month and a half, this seems beyond coincidental.

How in the heck did a drive that was simply a data drive, worked fine on one evening, suddenly become unformatted at the same time as another disk died?

Is there any hope for my data at this point?

Should I take my business elsewhere?

I have found that since this data drive failure, the guys at the shop have gotten very defensive, and much less helpful then they had been in the past.

I'm super frustrated (as you can imagine) since I spent $1,100 upgrading my box, and we bought my GF a freakin' HP Pavillion for under $600, my computer is dead, again, and hers is running just fine.

Any help would be so amazingly appreciated, I cannot express it.

Thank you,
Dave

**raptor_pa** · 07-01-2009, 04:03 PM

What brand power supply. What happened to the drive - dead isn't a definitive dignosis, thinking it could be power/heat related. If the data drive had write cacheing enabled and the machine crashed, yeah it could hose the drive - 24 hours on a 120GB drive is a bit long, any idea what Recovery app they are running? 24 hrs on that drive and I would be looking at a physical problem with the drive.

Notoriousdav · 07-01-2009, 04:47 PM

Not sure on the PS make/model. I'll look into it.

I apologize for not being clearer on the drive issue.

What they said was "Windows does not recognize this as a formatted drive."

They showed no sector errors, or any other health issues on a test, but rather, an unformattted drive.

Don't know about the write cacheing or what app they are running.

Thanks,
Dave

**raptor_pa** · 07-01-2009, 05:20 PM

Still an incredibly long run time on a drive that size...

07-01-2009, 02:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Notoriousdav Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Vista 64 bit	Any help appreciated, getting aggrivated Okay, I'll try to keep it short, and I'm sorry if I've posted this in the wrong place. I've put it in HD support, since that's the main crux of my problems right now. I built my own desktop machine some years ago, just to prove to myself I could. For the most part, it's been fantastic, with a few issues that I've fixed, etc. We have a local computer store with a few stores that has helped me a few times in the past, good prices, great service. So, about 2 months ago, I decided it was time to upgrade my box, but don't have the time or motivation to do it myself. So, I take it to them, and let them go to town. However, at this moment, it is now back with them a second time since receiving the upgraded box with now, a total of THREE dead hard drives. Since they have the box right now, I'll be a bit hard pressed to get all the specs, but I'll do my best, and outline the issues that have me on the verge of going off on the owner. New Asus MB. I believe it's a ASUS M4A78 PRO AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD New AMD CPU, do not remember specs. 4GB RAM (Corsair, I believe) New ATI SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4870 New 750W PS Stuff from original box: 2 74 GB 10K RPM WD Raptor Hard Drives 1 120GB 7.2K RPM WD Drive (not sure on any other specs) The issue(s). When I took them the box, I mentioned that one of the raptor drives might be dead. They tested, everything checked out, so they proceeded to RAID Stripe the two Raptors together. About 2-3 weeks after getting the completed machine back, had a severe lockup, no reboot, bad, bad news. Took it back, one Raptor, dead. Purchased a new Raptor, had them install, RAID the drives. Got machine back, super-happy-terrific. About 2-3 weeks later (last week, specifically) logged off for the evening, and let a Windows update run. When attempting to startup the next morning, I get the windows load bar, but it does not proceed to the windows logo, and hangs at a black screen. Can't boot in safe mode, no nothing. Take machine back to the shop. They get back to me that the other 74GB Raptor has died. Seems suprising to me, but, so be it. I tell them to forget the RAID, and just reinstall the OS to the single operating Raptor drive. They say, "Okay, so we'll install the OS to that, and you have the other unformatted 120GB drive....." I say, "Uh, what? That 120GB drive is completely formatted, and is my DATA drive. Where is my data?" They are now running some sort of data retreival app, that's been running for over 24 hours, and has retrieved less than 2GB of 77GB on the drive. My main questions at this point are: How in the heck have I lost three drives in a month and a half, this seems beyond coincidental. How in the heck did a drive that was simply a data drive, worked fine on one evening, suddenly become unformatted at the same time as another disk died? Is there any hope for my data at this point? Should I take my business elsewhere? I have found that since this data drive failure, the guys at the shop have gotten very defensive, and much less helpful then they had been in the past. I'm super frustrated (as you can imagine) since I spent $1,100 upgrading my box, and we bought my GF a freakin' HP Pavillion for under $600, my computer is dead, again, and hers is running just fine. Any help would be so amazingly appreciated, I cannot express it. Thank you, Dave

07-01-2009, 04:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,821 OS: XP	Re: Any help appreciated, getting aggrivated What brand power supply. What happened to the drive - dead isn't a definitive dignosis, thinking it could be power/heat related. If the data drive had write cacheing enabled and the machine crashed, yeah it could hose the drive - 24 hours on a 120GB drive is a bit long, any idea what Recovery app they are running? 24 hrs on that drive and I would be looking at a physical problem with the drive. __________________ Last edited by raptor_pa; 07-01-2009 at 04:05 PM.

07-01-2009, 04:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Notoriousdav Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Vista 64 bit	Re: Any help appreciated, getting aggrivated Not sure on the PS make/model. I'll look into it. I apologize for not being clearer on the drive issue. What they said was "Windows does not recognize this as a formatted drive." They showed no sector errors, or any other health issues on a test, but rather, an unformattted drive. Don't know about the write cacheing or what app they are running. Thanks, Dave

07-01-2009, 05:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,821 OS: XP	Re: Any help appreciated, getting aggrivated Still an incredibly long run time on a drive that size... __________________