Solve : Weird SATA Drive?

1.	Solve : Weird SATA Drive?
Answer» My drive setup consists as follows: Floppy A HD Master C HD Slave D CD Master E CD Slave F SATA Drive G. Ever so often when booting up for the day, or perhaps rebooting for some reason or another, the viewed booting process (Black/White DOS Screen) rolls by quite slow, giving the effect that the computer might have locked up BUT it does eventually continue on. Windows loads (XP) and all is well EXCEPTING that the SATA "G" drive does not exist. That is it does not show up in Device Manager, Disk Management, Windows Explorer, etc. I've tried various things such as uninstalling drives, thinking that the SATA would be installed along with the others when rebooting but to no avail. The only way to have the "G" SATA drive back in action so to speak is to unplug it from the motherboard for a few seconds, then plug it back in, start the computer up and all is well again........ until next time. Either I'm unknowingly doing something wrong or possibly I have a intermitent drive? Connection at drive end or motherboard end is just a bit loose and not making full contact. Tighten it up with a small piece of plastic or paper.Or, generally there are at least 2 MoBo SATA connection tabs --try another one.truenorthI'll check the tightness factor but have no idea how to tighten the connection with paper or plastic. I'll also connect with another connection at the motherboard. Will let you know what happens.Did the OP try another Drive? Did he try that drive in another PC? And does the BIOS always find the SATA drive?the drive is probably failing, since it's not responding to the ATA ID command in a timely fashion. (your BIOS is waiting for it to respond, that's why it takes longer to boot). This is usually because the drive takes to long to spin up, which is nowadays not a very common "by-design" behaviour as it used to be; a slower spin-up time then normal for a drive generally means impending mechanical failure of the drive motor. but you should have a backup anyway.Before you throw out any hard drive you should: 1. Get all the data off it, of course. 2. Run the manufactures diagnostics on it. Availabel on their web site. One last thing. Stick the drive in you freezer overnight. Next day let it thaw out. Just maybe it might work better. This is a urban legend that keeps popping up. But if the drive is useless - Why Not? Right now, the drive is functioning normally. I haven't tried another drive, nor tried it in another computer. When the drive wanders off, it does not show up in CMOS, but as soon as I unplug it from the motherboard and immediately plug it back in, it is then RECOGNIZED and functions properly. Next time it wanders, I'll simply apply pressure to the plug without pulling it out first just to see what happens. Quote from: OMC_Joe on January 25, 2010, 05:23:11 PM Right now, the drive is functioning normally....When the drive wanders off, it does not show up in CMOS, but as soon as I unplug it from the motherboard and immediately plug it back in, it is then recognized and functions properly. Next time it wanders, I'll simply apply pressure to the plug without pulling it out first just to see what happens. I have one that does the same thing. I did the same test as you plan & it showed the cable/contacts at the drive seemed just a bit loose. If you look inside the connector, you'll see plastic tabs that press the connector tightly towards the contact fingers. They were a bit worn so I put a thin piece of plastic inside to hold it tightly. Quote from: Geek-9pm on January 25, 2010, 02:14:56 PM One last thing. Stick the drive in you freezer overnight. Next day let it thaw out. Just maybe it might work better. This is a urban legend that keeps popping up. But if the drive is useless - Why Not? If you do this make sure it not only thaws out completely but also dries out completely, like maybe 24 hours is a warm environment. Otherwise ice crystals that can form in a freezer will make toast out of the drive.I'll try that connector tightening bit, thanks for the explanation. I have noticed that the two plugs touch each other right where they plug into the drive. This touching does present somewhat of a problem getting the plugs into the drive........ BUT I have not had to touch those two plugs at the drive to get it back working. Curious as to why this SATA thing came about when the IDE drives have always worked so SMOOTHLY. I'm not impressed with those small weird looking CONNECTORS. Since I loosened and then plugged the connector back into the motherboard this morning, all has been well in SATA world. Next time this wandering takes place, I'll remove the drive and really take a close look at the connectors/connections. I'm going to pass on the freezer test. This is a relatively new drive with warranty should the problem be within it.The freezer method only worked about 5 to 10% of the time for me anyways... Quote from: OMC_Joe on January 25, 2010, 05:48:20 PM ...Curious as to why this SATA thing came about when the IDE drives have always worked so smoothly. I'm not impressed with those small weird looking connectors... IDE (now know as PATA) was as it's speed limit, see this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA BTW, I find the "extra thin" SATA cables put much less strain on the connectors. The ones with locking tabs help, too. Quote Curious as to why this SATA thing came about when the IDE drives have always worked so smoothly. I'm not impressed with those small weird looking connectors. Why did IDE come about, ESDI and MFM were working fine before them Personally I don't think this has anything to do with the connector. You could try another SATA cable to make sure, though.Thin SATA cables & locking tabs........... I'm not too far from COMPUSA. I'll see if they might have those in STOCK.

Answer»

My drive setup consists as follows:

Floppy A
HD Master C
HD Slave D
CD Master E
CD Slave F
SATA Drive G.

Ever so often when booting up for the day, or perhaps rebooting for some reason or another, the viewed booting process (Black/White DOS Screen) rolls by quite slow, giving the effect that the computer might have locked up BUT it does eventually continue on. Windows loads (XP) and all is well EXCEPTING that the SATA "G" drive does not exist.

That is it does not show up in Device Manager, Disk Management, Windows Explorer, etc.

I've tried various things such as uninstalling drives, thinking that the SATA would be installed along with the others when rebooting but to no avail.

The only way to have the "G" SATA drive back in action so to speak is to unplug it from the motherboard for a few seconds, then plug it back in, start the computer up and all is well again........ until next time.

Either I'm unknowingly doing something wrong or possibly I have a intermitent drive?
Connection at drive end or motherboard end is just a bit loose and not making full contact. Tighten it up with a small piece of plastic or paper.Or, generally there are at least 2 MoBo SATA connection tabs --try another one.truenorthI'll check the tightness factor but have no idea how to tighten the connection with paper or plastic.

I'll also connect with another connection at the motherboard. Will let you know what happens.Did the OP try another Drive?
Did he try that drive in another PC?
And does the BIOS always find the SATA drive?the drive is probably failing, since it's not responding to the ATA ID command in a timely fashion. (your BIOS is waiting for it to respond, that's why it takes longer to boot). This is usually because the drive takes to long to spin up, which is nowadays not a very common "by-design" behaviour as it used to be; a slower spin-up time then normal for a drive generally means impending mechanical failure of the drive motor.

but you should have a backup anyway.Before you throw out any hard drive you should:
1. Get all the data off it, of course.
2. Run the manufactures diagnostics on it. Availabel on their web site.

One last thing. Stick the drive in you freezer overnight. Next day let it thaw out. Just maybe it might work better. This is a urban legend that keeps popping up. But if the drive is useless - Why Not?

Right now, the drive is functioning normally.

I haven't tried another drive, nor tried it in another computer.

When the drive wanders off, it does not show up in CMOS, but as soon as I unplug it from the motherboard and immediately plug it back in, it is then RECOGNIZED and functions properly.

Next time it wanders, I'll simply apply pressure to the plug without pulling it out first just to see what happens. Quote from: OMC_Joe on January 25, 2010, 05:23:11 PM

Right now, the drive is functioning normally....When the drive wanders off, it does not show up in CMOS, but as soon as I unplug it from the motherboard and immediately plug it back in, it is then recognized and functions properly. Next time it wanders, I'll simply apply pressure to the plug without pulling it out first just to see what happens.

I have one that does the same thing. I did the same test as you plan & it showed the cable/contacts at the drive seemed just a bit loose. If you look inside the connector, you'll see plastic tabs that press the connector tightly towards the contact fingers. They were a bit worn so I put a thin piece of plastic inside to hold it tightly. Quote from: Geek-9pm on January 25, 2010, 02:14:56 PM

One last thing. Stick the drive in you freezer overnight. Next day let it thaw out. Just maybe it might work better. This is a urban legend that keeps popping up. But if the drive is useless - Why Not?

If you do this make sure it not only thaws out completely but also dries out completely, like maybe 24 hours is a warm environment. Otherwise ice crystals that can form in a freezer will make toast out of the drive.I'll try that connector tightening bit, thanks for the explanation.

I have noticed that the two plugs touch each other right where they plug into the drive. This touching does present somewhat of a problem getting the plugs into the drive........ BUT I have not had to touch those two plugs at the drive to get it back working.

Curious as to why this SATA thing came about when the IDE drives have always worked so SMOOTHLY. I'm not impressed with those small weird looking CONNECTORS.

Since I loosened and then plugged the connector back into the motherboard this morning, all has been well in SATA world. Next time this wandering takes place, I'll remove the drive and really take a close look at the connectors/connections.

I'm going to pass on the freezer test. This is a relatively new drive with warranty should the problem be within it.The freezer method only worked about 5 to 10% of the time for me anyways... Quote from: OMC_Joe on January 25, 2010, 05:48:20 PM

...Curious as to why this SATA thing came about when the IDE drives have always worked so smoothly. I'm not impressed with those small weird looking connectors...

IDE (now know as PATA) was as it's speed limit, see this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA
BTW, I find the "extra thin" SATA cables put much less strain on the connectors. The ones with locking tabs help, too. Quote

Curious as to why this SATA thing came about when the IDE drives have always worked so smoothly. I'm not impressed with those small weird looking connectors.

Why did IDE come about, ESDI and MFM were working fine before them

Personally I don't think this has anything to do with the connector. You could try another SATA cable to make sure, though.Thin SATA cables & locking tabs...........

I'm not too far from COMPUSA. I'll see if they might have those in STOCK.

Solve : Weird SATA Drive?

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