dogleg

Hello everyone, this is my first post in this forum =)

I wonder if you guys could help me with a little problem.

I bought my computer 8 months ago and it worked with no problem, but suddenly without any changes in the hardware the computer started to hang.

I get a strange sound from my Maxtor 6Y160P0 harddrive. It sounds like a metal object is hitting the harddrive. A couple of seconds later the system hangs. This happens mostly during loading time in games. In the beginning it just happend once in a while but now I can even start to play games.

When I do the diagnostic test from maxtor I get an error code, but I only get this the first time I run the test. If I do the test again directly after failing the test it will pass. I have turned in the disc to the retailer two times before for this problem. My first replacement disc did work for a week or so, my second gave me problem just after the os install.

Any ideas? Is it possible to get 2 defect replacement drives. I've contacted Maxtor, but they're only saying if you get a error code send us the harddrive.
I've tried play around with the jumpersettings and disabling/enabling SMART but nothing has worked...

Anyone had similar problems?

asrock p4s61
2.67 GHz celeron d
Maxtor 6Y160P0 160 GB
leadtek 6800LE
soundblaster 16
NEC-3500 DVD

linderman

I am not a believer in knocking products / but sounds like its time to send in Western Digital / what do you think coach ???????

Volt-Schwibe

yes, there is currently another thread about a clicking hard disk...

not only that, but i myself have a maxtor in my machine as a second disk, and it does exactly what you mention.

i mean, sometimes while the machine is booting, it hangs for about 10 seconds longer than usual, and then i hear a loud Cla-click and it starts booting windows.

sometimes when it's reading or writing it does the exact same thing, but without the 10 second pause. more like 1 second pauses.

now, everyone tells me it's a dying drive, and so i figured i'd just use it to install my games to and then wait for it to die...

well, it's been more than a year, and it hasn't gotten any worse, or any better.

normally i would be super concerned, but it isn't losing any data, ever, in that entire year of heavy use and daily clicking.

this drive i have came from a batch of six 40-gig maxtor drives, and the rest have all failed, without making the clicking noise first, just died.

personally, i think maxtor is junk, so what i suggest, is if you can, get them to replace it, and sell it for 75% the cost it would be if it was new...

then get a real drive.

(although, others will disagree with me, and come in here, and protect maxtor's reputation. makes me wonder if they own stock in the company.)

dogleg

thanks for you answers, maybe it's a good idea to change drive. But before I buy another one I want to be sure that it is maxtor that can't build drives and not something wrong with my computer. Spend money on another drive just to see the same thing happen again aint so funny.

linderman

dogleg:

I couldnt agree with you more !!!!!


run the maxtor diagnostic ulitlity on the drive / if I remember correctly they run in dos so you can eliminate the windows environment as a variable

dogleg

As I wrote, the diagnostic tool in dos gives me an error code, but only the first time I run the test. If I run the test again directly after an failure without a reboot it will pass. With the error code I have no problem get a new drive from warrenty but dont know if a new one will help...

whodat

greetings

just a few obvious things
did you try a different power leed from your psu?
did you try a different wall outlet?

and i might have missed this point, but tell us about your power supply - age/size
i dont like maxtor
get a westy next time

chow

dogleg

My power supply is an ColorsIT 330U-SNE 400W 8 months old

If it is the power supply that causes problem then that would explain why it happens mostly in games, when both the cpu and graphic card has to work alot. It never hangs when I push the harddrive in windows (for example unpacking big files etc.)

I will try experiment with the cables a bit and see what happens...hope that works

Sarkast

Because the PSU was mentioned - try a program like speedfan or MBM5 (in my signature) and take a look at your voltages. If they are (way) out of specs the HDD might not be able to deal with it.

Volt-Schwibe

i'd suggest speedfan, because you can set it to log your voltage and temp values.

and in this instance, logging your voltages could pinpoint a problem, since you probably won't be able to look at the voltage output while you are in a fullscreen game.

dogleg

hey, finally got it to work. It was the power supply that didn't work properly. Both the graphicscard and harddrive were connected to the same cable from the psu. I put the harddrive alone on one cable and that did the trick. It hasn't hanged yet (couple of hours playing), just hope it stays that way.

thanks alot for your advices

linderman

Thanks a heap for sharing the solution


regards;

joe

linderman

Sarkast hits the 10 ring ! (bullseye)

Waltside hits the nine ring.

Well done fellas.

ebackhus

I still lub my WDs. Never had a good experience with Maxtor.

whodat

greetings again
glad we pinned it
i believe in the summer we do see more psu failure due to drops and spikes in our electric service, zapping the psu's.
when you see your lights dim at peak times, it naturally can mean your computer voltage rails are unstable.
its very important for people to shut down their systems during any electric service problems, and or electric storms.
dont depend on a $10 surge protector.
mets and yanks won
have a good night

linderman

OMG big jim:

Yankees ????????

what a collection of overpaid bums!

Nobody teams rostered by no name players pound them dizzy!