Vanishing Drive

malcolm the piano man · 15th August 2010, 18:43

I have 3 HDD's in my computer. C with OS only (XP Pro), F with programs, and G with 'My Documents' and other items downloaded. C and F are IDE, G is SATA. I have the problem where Drive G disappears after the computer has been running for about 20 mins or so. It is especially annoying if I am downloading, when I get a popup telling me 'path cannot be found'. I go into 'my computer' for a look and hey presto, drive G has vanished. Any ideas anyone?

radi8or · 16th August 2010, 06:22

Hi Malcolm,

What make, size, age is the drive ?

How do you get it back, reboot ?

Is it visible in Device Manager when it goes ?

Is it visible in Disk Management when it goes ?

Can you check/change the data cable ?

What size is your power supply ?

Most disc makers have diagnostic software on their sites you can download.

malcolm the piano man · 16th August 2010, 08:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by radi8or

Hi Malcolm,

What make, size, age is the drive ?

How do you get it back, reboot ?

Is it visible in Device Manager when it goes ?

Is it visible in Disk Management when it goes ?

Can you check/change the data cable ?

What size is your power supply ?

Most disc makers have diagnostic software on their sites you can download.

Its a 250GB SATA about 18 months old. Rebooting 'discovers' it. It disappears in disc management. Will check the data cable. MObo and processor are getting quite old and are slowing down. Socket 754 AMD Sempron 2600+ ECS motherboard.

radi8or · 16th August 2010, 08:42

Try the makers diagnostics, it will show if there are any problems with the disk.

Is the inside of your computer clean, dust and fluff can cause overheating, three hard drives close together creates a lot of heat.

Could try updating mobo chipset drivers, although if it has been working ok probably not the cause.

Have got my MoT this morning, so have to go out, but will check back later.

2Diesels · 16th August 2010, 08:56

I thought you were suffering susidence

radi8or · 16th August 2010, 09:32

susidence ?
I,m feeling a bit down but not exactly sunk yet, why ?

malcolm the piano man · 16th August 2010, 11:32

Well for the sakes of something simple to do I have just unplugged the SATA cable from the Mobo and plugged into the unused connection. BIOS auto detects all 3 drives OK but now Windoze does not. So replugged the SATA cable into its original place, BIOS auto detects all drives again, Windoze now finds 3 drives but drive G disappears again after about 15 mins or so. I am tempted to think that it is my ancient Mobo and processor that are the culprits.

radi8or · 16th August 2010, 14:19

Two other things to try,

Run CHKDISK.

Open My Computer, right click the drive to be checked, click Properties, click Tools, click Check Now, Tick both option boxes, click Start, click yes in the popup and then reboot.

The drive to be checked must be active to run the check, ie visible.
Then sit back, get a cuppa and read War & Peace.

Only other thing I can suggest is maybe get a SATA external caddy.

Sorry couldn't be more positive but intermittent shut downs are a pig to diagnose.

PS car passed MoT no advisories...............Yessssssssssss

2Diesels · 16th August 2010, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by radi8or

susidence ?
I,m feeling a bit down but not exactly sunk yet, why ?

Oops missed the B out should be subsidence

malcolm the piano man · 16th August 2010, 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by radi8or

Two other things to try,

Run CHKDISK.

Open My Computer, right click the drive to be checked, click Properties, click Tools, click Check Now, Tick both option boxes, click Start, click yes in the popup and then reboot.

The drive to be checked must be active to run the check, ie visible.
Then sit back, get a cuppa and read War & Peace.

Only other thing I can suggest is maybe get a SATA external caddy.

Sorry couldn't be more positive but intermittent shut downs are a pig to diagnose.

PS car passed MoT no advisories...............Yessssssssssss

Well. I had a look again and noted that the offending HD was sandwiched between the other two, so I have taken it out, reconnected the leads and sat it on a piece of card on the bottom of the computer case. It has now been downloading for the last hour and half with no problems. So perhaps it was just getting hot?

Hard drive caddy? Would this do the job? http://www.web-systems.co.uk/?page=Products&pid=4781

15th August 2010, 18:43	#1
malcolm the piano man Avid contributor 75 Tourer 2.5 Connoisseur SE Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 209 Thanks: 7 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Vanishing Drive I have 3 HDD's in my computer. C with OS only (XP Pro), F with programs, and G with 'My Documents' and other items downloaded. C and F are IDE, G is SATA. I have the problem where Drive G disappears after the computer has been running for about 20 mins or so. It is especially annoying if I am downloading, when I get a popup telling me 'path cannot be found'. I go into 'my computer' for a look and hey presto, drive G has vanished. Any ideas anyone? __________________ Malcolm

16th August 2010, 06:22	#2
radi8or Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dagenham Posts: 760 Thanks: 11 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts	Hi Malcolm, What make, size, age is the drive ? How do you get it back, reboot ? Is it visible in Device Manager when it goes ? Is it visible in Disk Management when it goes ? Can you check/change the data cable ? What size is your power supply ? Most disc makers have diagnostic software on their sites you can download. __________________ Regards. Bob Member # 45

16th August 2010, 08:42	#4
radi8or Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dagenham Posts: 760 Thanks: 11 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts	Try the makers diagnostics, it will show if there are any problems with the disk. Is the inside of your computer clean, dust and fluff can cause overheating, three hard drives close together creates a lot of heat. Could try updating mobo chipset drivers, although if it has been working ok probably not the cause. Have got my MoT this morning, so have to go out, but will check back later. __________________ Regards. Bob Member # 45

16th August 2010, 09:32	#6
radi8or Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dagenham Posts: 760 Thanks: 11 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts	susidence ? I,m feeling a bit down but not exactly sunk yet, why ? __________________ Regards. Bob Member # 45 Last edited by radi8or; 16th August 2010 at 09:35..

16th August 2010, 11:32	#7
malcolm the piano man Avid contributor 75 Tourer 2.5 Connoisseur SE Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 209 Thanks: 7 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Well for the sakes of something simple to do I have just unplugged the SATA cable from the Mobo and plugged into the unused connection. BIOS auto detects all 3 drives OK but now Windoze does not. So replugged the SATA cable into its original place, BIOS auto detects all drives again, Windoze now finds 3 drives but drive G disappears again after about 15 mins or so. I am tempted to think that it is my ancient Mobo and processor that are the culprits. __________________ Malcolm

16th August 2010, 08:56	#5
2Diesels Trader ZT 260SE, Connoisseur CDT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Ancient Shire Of Bedlington Posts: 12,597 Thanks: 68 Thanked 506 Times in 305 Posts	I thought you were suffering susidence

16th August 2010, 14:19	#8
radi8or Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dagenham Posts: 760 Thanks: 11 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts	Two other things to try, Run CHKDISK. Open My Computer, right click the drive to be checked, click Properties, click Tools, click Check Now, Tick both option boxes, click Start, click yes in the popup and then reboot. The drive to be checked must be active to run the check, ie visible. Then sit back, get a cuppa and read War & Peace. Only other thing I can suggest is maybe get a SATA external caddy. Sorry couldn't be more positive but intermittent shut downs are a pig to diagnose. PS car passed MoT no advisories...............Yessssssssssss __________________ Regards. Bob Member # 45