HD crashing, maybe power shortage.. idk help

[glarior]

My problem,

The HD seems to crash when I do certain things. One time it would seem to lock up for a few seconds while I was on instant messenger and you hear the HD going 'click, click, click' and then it starts to run fine and resumes where I left off. Same with playing music but everything will lock up. Funny thing is I can play video games with out error (knock on wood).

What ideas do you have to help fix this problem?

Thanks

Charles

 

[rvnguy]

glarior,

Normally, this is indicative of a drive on it's way to failure.

Possible reasons that you can check:

* Faulty data cable
* Incorrect BIOS settings (EIDE or Serial ATA drives in PC systems)
* Data corruption or the drive may be defective
* The power supply in the computer may not be able to power all the devices in your computer

If you do not currently have a routine for backup, start one immediately or risk losing your data.

Once you are backed up. Review what you have for HD diagnostics. If you do not currently have any, determine what you might entertain purchasing, or with your HD mfg, go to their site and download their utilities. Run a "full" diagnostics on this drive. It may or may not pass all tests as you have stated that this is intermmitent at this time.

If you can, procure another drive, and relagate the glitchy drive to second drive status.

Hope this helps

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[garebo]

You could also give us specs on your cpu\motherboard and the age and make and model of your power supply. As rvnguy stated it could be your power supply.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[glarior]

hmmm I typed a message but must of forgot to post... lol

Yeah what yall have said is the problems I am thinking about. I ordered a external HD from newegg so I can back everything up and then I will run those diagnostics test rvnguy was talking about. If you have any more ideas let me know.

Here are the specs:

MB-K8NSPRO
AMD 64 3200 2.0ghz
2x512mb kingston DDR400
ATI 9600XT 256MB graphics card
2x 160gb 7200rpm western digital
1x 120gb 7200rpm maxtor
dvd burner and dvd rom
Had a 300w PSU before I added the extra HD.. the new PSU is 650w non name brand.

BTW I built this computer about a year and half ago

Charles

 

[garebo]

If its a year and a half no-name power supply, i would seriously look at that as your problem. Never mind the so-called 650 watts. The cheap power supply mfgrs come up with their improper way to label the wattage and it means very little. You can expect half of that or less to be the true wattage. Its similar in marketing to those 600 watts speakers for $11.99 that are actually 30 watts, they use those 3 little letters to cheat.
Anyway, I would certainly try another power supply and almost bet the problem would go away. Never sure, of course, i cant even see the pc from here. But it sure sounds like a power issue.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[rvnguy]

glarior,

On a temp basis, you might check sys&PSU capacity empirically by, reducing your system to just the boot drive only(if this is the drive in question) if not add the questionable drive. Do this by just removing the power connection from the HD's & DVD. See if this reduction in power required helps remove the clicking sounds. If so, bite the bullet & get a especially good quality PSU. Look at specifications & look for watts Rms (continous) and not peak output. This will be $ well spent as a poor quality PSU can at somtime spike and take out your mobo, HD's & Vid card one or all, no telling. I actually have a couple of Quality PSU's that are on 4 years old & run 24/7.

It might seem like a lot of $ when there are much cheaper PSU's available just realize that you take you chances and much of the other items, like a vid card cost more than a good PSU.

I consider it cheap insurance.

It still might be a failing HD.

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[garebo]

I agree with rvguy 100%.
Any chance you can get hold of another power supply to test on your pc?
But what rvguy says about reducing the demand on your power supply makes a lot of sense. That would be one way to see if the problem is the power supply. But its not a fail-proof way as even if you strip the pc down the power supply may still be faulty enough so the pc wont work right and it may still crash.
If you do find out you need a new power supply, i believe that directron.com has a tutorial on what to look for in a good power supply. If not you can google a tutorial.
Here is a place with a list of good and bad power supplies.

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=98650

Its not a perfect list, though.
If you do decide to get a power supply you have a list now of good brand names and bad ones to stay away from. I have seen decent power supplies go for low $30 range at directron.com, newegg.com, fry's.com, and other net retailers.
People will say you have to have 450 watts these days. But i am running an enermax, believe its 300 watts, and its loaded with goodies. The brand name is more important sometimes. And if you are able to get the specs on the power supply you can tell the good ones from the bad ones.

But thats only if you find you need one. We still need to find that out.





Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[glarior]

Thanks for the responses

The PSU I have now is only two months old and if that is what is wrong with it I have the warranty and could try another one or buy a new one like yall said.

At this moment I am leaning towards the HD cause it makes weird noises that I have not herd before until the computer started acting up. The temp of everything is fine the processor when I checked, was at 17c.

Yeah I agree on having to bite the bullet and get a good PSU but I don’t want to do anything till I get that new HD in the mail so I can back everything up lol. Thanks for the PSU link I will check that out when I determine if it’s the HD or PSU.

Thanks again for your help

Charles

 

[garebo]

Sorry, i read where you said the pc was built 1.5 yrs ago. I forgot you put in a new power supply. What about the old one, if its still around and if its a decent make and still working, try that out? Or did the old one die on you?



Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[glarior]

No need to be sorry

Yeah the old one was a 300w Antec (sp?) and it had a short in some of the power wires. Thinking about I should check that just to see if for some reason that has happened again.

Thanks for the idea & your help

charles