[Ham-Computers] Apparent Hard Drive Failures - A Fix?

[Jim Hill]

Well, I hope I found the problem.  The drive stopped booting again, 
and while connecting the second drive noticed the power cable 
connector could be removed with minimal force.  I decided I had an 
intermittent connector and used the other connector, which was 
tighter.  So far, the drive works fine.  I'll purchase a new power 
"Y" connector, so I'll have a better connection.

I've noticed new ribbon cables provide a firm connection for maybe 5 
connections. Afterwards intermittents can occur.  Older cables were 
good for maybe 50-100 connections.  I went to Fry's, looked for 
ribbon cables that appeared to have been there for years, and 
purchased a few.  So, keep your old ribbon cables (or sell them to 
me).  I guess power cables have the same problem - but they are 
cheaper, fortunately.

At Aaron's suggestion, I ran the Western Digital DOS data diagnostics 
and the drive no problems were found.  I made a bootable CD, since 
new computers are not offering floppies as standard equipment and 
maybe not as an option.  The CD worked fine, except the application 
was set up to write the error file to a floppy, which it couldn't do 
with a CD-R.  I should have put a floppy in the drive and seen what happened.

73's Jim


At 11:53 PM 4/15/2007, you wrote:
>I'm having serious problems with something that simulates a hard 
>drive failure on my Dell OptiPlex Pentium 3 running Windows XP Pro. 
>I'm using Eudora for emails.
>
>When the problem occurs, the initial Dell screen appears, bios is 
>loaded, then two beeps are heard and a DOS screen appears with 
>wording similar to: hard drive not found, press F1 to continue and 
>F2 to run the setup utility. Sorry I don't remember the exact 
>wording, it's tough getting old!
>
>While experimenting with dual-boot Windows/Linux setups, I set up a 
>second drive essentially identical to the one normally used, and I 
>connected this drive as the master and the problem drive as the 
>slave.  I accessed the problem drive and obtained all personal data 
>not previously backed up, then used Casper XP to "copy" the C drive 
>from the good to the bad drive. I removed the "good" drive, 
>reconnected the "bad" drive, and the system booted and worked fine.
>
>The same problem occurred a few weeks later, I realized the drive 
>was probably ok, and used Norton Ghost to return to an earlier 
>image.  This fix worked - sort of. I had problems with freezes, 
>etc., so went through the two-drive drill again and the computer 
>works fine again.  I made a new Ghost image, which I hope will allow 
>recovery in the future.
>
>This situation is annoying, but I'm leaving on an extended trip and 
>won't be around to keep the computer operational.
>
>Malware is a likely cause, but think I'm adequately protected:
>I have a hardware firewall and am running Norton Internet Security, 
>and make a special effort to keep updates current. I scan 
>periodically, but have not found a virus in years. Windows update is 
>set up to run automatically, notifying me when updates are ready to 
>be installed. I also run Webroot Spy Sweeper, and sweep regularly, 
>but never find anything above the most mild spyware, where 
>presumably where someone keeps track of my surfing habits. We stay 
>away from dubious web sites. The computer is used to play
>kid's games. Checking emails, I get few spam type emails, except one 
>type that usually has nonsensical subject lines. The email always 
>has suggestions on penny stooocks, and the stooock tips always have 
>a multi-colored background. I think I read somewhere that there is 
>malware that involves this type email. I have seven email addresses 
>to aid in determining the source of spam, and all but one receive 
>this type email, probably a total of 3 to 6 emails a day. The 
>address still ok is the master or dominant email address which is 
>difficult or maybe impossible to change. I check it periodically but 
>avoid using it or giving it to others.
>
>Any suggestions?
>Jim
>
>Note: the stooock misspellings are intentional to avoid spam filter 
>rejects.  I guess that explains the multi-colored background in the 
>spam stooock "suggestions" I receive each day.
>
>qth.net has a test reflector, which I used to debug my listing. 
>After using it, I log in through qth.net and cancel email deliveries.
>
>Delete my previous post; I neglected to delete "test..." from the title.
>
>
>
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