Performance Issue, (RAM ISSUE?) 3

[KbrooksATC]

Hi,

I would like to get some opinions on an issue I am having with my PC.

(Sys. Specs and HijackThis log at bottom of post)

I have just recently (right around Jan, 2nd or so) started having some issues with my PC that I have been unable to sort out.

My PC will run fine for a while, about 8 hours this time under a heavy load pretty much the entire time. I was alternating between 3dsMax, Photoshop, Illustrator, NWN2 Toolkit and NWN2 pretty much the entire time, it finally froze while I had NWN 2 running (I had been playing it about 2 hours)

After that happens I will have peformance problems,the PC will become very un-responsive.

For example, task manager takes a long time to open, sometimes more than 30secs. Most other programs take allot longer than normal to open as well. And shutting down the PC in this state takes forever or I have to force it by holding in the power button for 4secs.

I have not really found any errors in Event Manager and usually the programs only freeze and I have to manually kill the app. Although Desktop Manager (dmw.exe) has been crashing occasionally since this started.

At first I suspected, Virus/spyware or software conflicts.

I checked my system with AVG, Bit Defender, Spybot, Super Anti Spyware and Hijack This. I found only a few tracking cookies but the scans did not detect any viruses or spyware. From what I could tell HJT looked okay.

I had installed Cubase 4, some drivers for a few usb recording/mixing devices and some new sound card drivers right before this started, but have since removed all of that for now and reverted back to an older sound card driver I was using before this problem. (I use Revo-Uninstaller to remove programs and their registry entries as well as Driver Sweeper)

So now I’m thinking Hardware, maybe RAM?

I have run a Mem Tester from a bootable CD but it reported no errors on the first test, going to run it again here in a few mins. Only did a short run for a few hours the first time,

I have noticed a crazy amount of Hard Faults, like just now when I opened Firefox, one of the AVG services spiked to over 1200 Hard Faults, also Explorer.exe hit about 400 I think. But it goes back down after the App loads. I’m show 2 right now in WINWORD.exe (I’m using MS Word to type this) and 0 all other apps/services others, This is happening while I have like 70% free memory left.

I have 4gb of ram and don’t really ever remember seeing many (or even any really) Hard Faults at all on this system, but I don’t check it all the time either.

I would really appreciate any advice, right now I'm going to run the mem-tester again and after that try swapping out memory sticks, I have 4x 1gb sticks installed.

Just let me know if more info is needed I'll try to get it up here as soon as I can.

PS:
I'm going to start swapping out the RAM and trying to trigger the problem but the problem is so intermittent it will probably take me a while to find the bad module if it is the RAM that is the culprit.

I guess it could be the HDD or maybe even something wrong with my Vista install.

Thanks for reading, sorry about the length..

SYSTEM INFO:
Windows Vista HP 32 bit SP1
Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0-stepping @Stock speed
Asus Striker Extreme 680i BIOS 1603
4x 1gb Modules Patriot Extreme EPP DDR2 6400
eVGA Geforce 280 GTX drv.180.48
SB Audigy 2 ZS
PC-P&C Silencer QUAD 750watt

Hijack This Log (Posted this since I may have missed something)

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 8:30:46 PM, on 1/8/2009
Platform: Windows Vista SP1 (WinNT 6.00.1905)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6001.18000)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
C:\Program Files\Razer\Lachesis\razerhid.exe
C:\Program Files\Razer\Lachesis\OSD.exe
C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe
C:\Windows\System32\CTHELPER.EXE
C:\Windows\ehome\ehtray.exe
C:\Windows\ehome\ehmsas.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnscfg.exe
C:\Windows\system32\wbem\unsecapp.exe
C:\Program Files\Razer\Lachesis\razerofa.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = [URL unfurl="true"]http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896[/URL]
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = [URL unfurl="true"]http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157[/URL]
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = [URL unfurl="true"]http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896[/URL]
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = [URL unfurl="true"]http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896[/URL]
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = [URL unfurl="true"]http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157[/URL]
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: AVG Security Toolbar - {A057A204-BACC-4D26-9990-79A187E2698E} - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\AVGTOO~1.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: AVG Security Toolbar - {A057A204-BACC-4D26-9990-79A187E2698E} - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\AVGTOO~1.DLL
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG8_TRAY] C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Launch LGDCore] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\G-series Software\LGDCore.exe" /SHOWHIDE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Launch LCDMon] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\LCD Manager\lcdmon.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Lachesis] C:\Program Files\Razer\Lachesis\razerhid.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Lib\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NBKeyScan] "C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero8\Nero BackItUp\NBKeyScan.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EVGAPrecision] "C:\Program Files\EVGA Precision\EVGAPrecisionWrapper.exe" /s
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvSvc] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\Windows\system32\nvsvc.dll,nvsvcStart
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\Windows\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\Windows\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTHelper] CTHELPER.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTxfiHlp] CTXFIHLP.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ehTray.exe] C:\Windows\ehome\ehTray.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [NVIDIA nTune] "E:\Vista Gaming Program Files\nTune\nTuneCmd.exe" clear
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [igndlm.exe] C:\Program Files\Download Manager\dlm.exe /windowsstart /startifwork
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [WMPNSCFG] C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\WMPNSCFG.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [DevconDefaultDB] C:\Windows\system32\READREG /SILENT /FAIL=1 (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [DevconDefaultDB] C:\Windows\system32\READREG /SILENT /FAIL=1 (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: OneNote 2007 Screen Clipper and Launcher.lnk = D:\Microsoft\MS Office 2007\Office12\ONENOTEM.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: &ieSpell Options - res://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll/SPELLOPTION.HTM
O8 - Extra context menu item: Check &Spelling - res://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll/SPELLCHECK.HTM
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://D:\MICROS~1\MSOFFI~1\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Lookup on Merriam Webster - file://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\Merriam Webster.HTM
O8 - Extra context menu item: Lookup on Wikipedia - file://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\wikipedia.HTM
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: ieSpell - {0E17D5B7-9F5D-4fee-9DF6-CA6EE38B68A8} - C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ieSpell - {0E17D5B7-9F5D-4fee-9DF6-CA6EE38B68A8} - C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {1606D6F9-9D3B-4aea-A025-ED5B2FD488E7} - C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ieSpell Options - {1606D6F9-9D3B-4aea-A025-ED5B2FD488E7} - C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll
O9 - Extra button: Blog This - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &Blog This in Windows Live Writer - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - D:\MICROS~1\MSOFFI~1\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O16 - DPF: {48DD0448-9209-4F81-9F6D-D83562940134} - 
O16 - DPF: {67A5F8DC-1A4B-4D66-9F24-A704AD929EEE} - 
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgpp.dll
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: avgrsstx.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.dll
O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Autodesk Licensing Service - Autodesk - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Service\AdskScSrv.exe
O23 - Service: AVG8 WatchDog (avg8wd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: ##Id_String1.6844F930_1628_4223_B5CC_5BB94B879762## (Bonjour Service) - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Macrovision Europe Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: mental ray 3.6 Satellite for Autodesk 3ds Max 2008 32-bit 32-bit (mi-raysat_3dsMax2008_32) - Unknown owner - E:\Vista Gaming Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2008\mentalray\satellite\raysat_3dsMax2008_32server.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Nero BackItUp Scheduler 3 - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero8\Nero BackItUp\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: NMIndexingService - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Lib\NMIndexingService.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (nvsvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\Windows\system32\nvvsvc.exe
O23 - Service: PnkBstrA - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\PnkBstrA.exe
O23 - Service: PnkBstrB - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\PnkBstrB.exe
O23 - Service: Rsv2gput - QLogic Corporation - C:\Windows\system32\drivers\ql40xx.sys
O23 - Service: SBSD Security Center Service (SBSDWSCService) - Safer Networking Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDWinSec.exe
O23 - Service: Steam Client Service - Valve Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Steam\SteamService.exe

--
End of file - 8140 bytes

 

[wahnula]

First place I would look would be the temperature. After a hang, reboot and check Hardware Monitor in BIOS, see what the CPU temp is. It may be general system temp too, so make sure you have positive case airflow. Re-seating the CPU with a fresh dab of AS5 and upgrading the HSF could help. Zalman, Thermaltake and Thermalright all make good coolers.

Other than that, RAM is always a suspect, as well as PSU, but your PSU should be fine. Could be your Northbridge is overheating too.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[cdogg]

The fact that it runs for hours at a time with no issues makes it hard to diagnose. I too would lean on overheating as a possible cause. Clean out the case with a can of compressed air getting all the fans really good. Like Tony said, make sure you have positive air flow (one intake fan for evey exhaust fan).

You never can rule out software as a possibility, however. If it were me, I would load a fresh install of Windows on a spare drive to diagnose. I would load only the apps I needed the most (3dsMax, Photoshop, Illustrator, NWN2 Toolkit and NWN2) and leave all the other 3rd-party junk like registry cleaners and spyware scanners out of the picture for now. If the system still can't handle the load after the fresh install, then it would be good idea to start reseating components like the CPU, possibly replacing the RAM, etc. You can always throw the original drive back in if you determine it's not a software issue.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[KbrooksATC]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Your definitely right about it being hard to pin down, I tried to force it to happen today, opened like 50 separate instances of Firefox, while I had WoW Alt-Tabbed and it would not happen lol.

Sorry, I meant to put my temps and voltages in the original post.

I have a Lian Li A70B case, the thing is huge and has 6 120mm fans, 2 in the front for intake, 2 in the center of the case pushing the airflow towards the back two exhaust fans.
Also I have a Zalman 120mm HSF and fan on the CPU.

Case is nice and clean inside (actually stays pretty clean, have to blow it out every few months and clean the filters once or twice a week)

CPU runs at about 36oC idle and 42-48oC at full load
MB runs at about 28oC idle and 38oC full
Ambient temp is 78oF

Voltages:

12v= 11.96v
5v= 4.92v
3.3v= 3.34v
CPU= 1.28v
NB= 1.25v

-----------------------------------------------------------

I have 2 internal drives.
WD Raptor 74gb 16mb cache
WD Caviar SE 320gb 16mb cache

The Raptor has the OS on it and a few system tools.
Caviar SE has games and graphics software things like that.

I ran memtester again, did 3 extended test cycles with no errors, took about 12 hours or so I think.

And I ran WD LifeGuard Diagnostics for Vista.
Raptor was fine.
Caviar SE gives an error right when I start the test.

Error Code 11-Cable Test::Read diagnostics sector error!

I Changed out the Sata Cable on the drive but still get the error.

It seems like it is pointing to the Caviar SE HDD. Just seems strange to me how the PC goes into this really slow state and affects everything even Task Manager and things I know are running from the Raptor. Seems like just the programs on the failing drive would be affected. Anyone have any ideas why it would act like that?

Also what do you guys think about the Hard Faults, 1200 is way to many for any program right? Especially when over 70% of the ram is not in use.

Going to Re-install Vista on the raptor, and get a new storage drive, I can always use more space so buying a new drive is not to bad. Not going to be using DDR2 too much longer so I hate to buy any now unless I have to.

Thanks again for your help, going to get started on the re-install.

 

[KbrooksATC]

Update:

I have noticed something else...

I was running the Western Digital HDD Diagnostics tool and when I ran a test on the Raptor the test started instantly and ran and passed.

I was doing this after my PC had entered the bugged state, after a game had frozen.

Anyway when I run the same test on the Caviar SE I'd get the same error as I in the stated above post but it would take forever for the test to load. (Normally it would load and give the error instantly, by normally I mean right after a restart when the PC was running good).

Also before even in the bugged state I could access most files and folders on the Caviar SE but I noticed this time that there are 3 folders I cannot access and it always gives an error/explorer.exe hangs when I try to access them.

Seems like I have some bad sectors on this drive.

 

[cdogg]

Are you running the diagnostics tool from inside Windows or from a boot disk? Whenever possible, it would be best to test the hardware outside of Windows, since the OS hasn't yet been ruled out as the culprit.

I'm beginning to think that if a fresh install of Windows doesn't solve it, then perhaps the power supply might be to blame. Random lockups, problems accessing the secondary hard drive, other apps slowing to a crawl, etc., could all be due to a failing power supply since there is no obvious pattern that links the events together. This is even more prevalent in the fact that it has been hard for you to recreate it at will.

You should start by removing all non-essential components (or just unplugging them) to reduce the load on the PSU. I would replace the power supply before any of the other hardware. You could always recoup most of the cost reselling it on eBay if it doesn't fix it.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[KbrooksATC]

I think your right....

I just put my HDD's in another PC that has XP on it.

Both passed the tests.

I was using the diagnostics tool from inside windows.

Also I noticed on my Vista box, it says S.M.A.R.T. not available.

But it was available on my XP box, and both drives passed all the S.M.A.R.T. checks.

Well hopefully it's windows.

All this really started after installing Cubase 4 (Multi-Track mixing software) along with special drivers for one of my sound cards, and drivers for a couple of audio editing and mixing devices.

Going to try uninstalling / reinstalling chipset drivers and sata controller drivers before I reinstall.

Thanks again.

 

[KbrooksATC]

Sorry forgot to add something else.

I can pretty much make the problem happen at anytime now.

I just have to go to my second drive and open close a few folders or try to copy a big file. Been able to do it every time I tried and it comes up really quick even right after a reboot.

 

[BadBigBen]

Yep, sounds like the drive is going going gone...

try what CDogg said, run the diag from CD first, look at the SMART status... try another SATA port, port could be damaged, though this is unlikely... place the drive in direct airflow, sometimes overheating can cause similar symptoms...

Image the drive if possible, before replacing...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[KbrooksATC]

Hey,

Actually I think (hope) it's my Vista install, drivers, IRQ's something got messed up from installing Cubase 4 and all those ASIO, midi and usb mixing and sound devices.

It just started acting strange after that, especially when I unplugged the mixing board or a recording device, I ran WD Diagnostics from DOS and both drives checked out and passed S.M.A.R.T. tests. But in windows I can't even run the test on one of the drives, gives a cable error and says check cables.

My harddrive cage sits between 4 120mm fans, 2 intake fans on the front of case and 2 in the middle of the case attached to the back of the HDD cage.

I tried a few of the other sata ports with no luck.

So going to re-install Vista now, I'll post back with results.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

[KbrooksATC]

Decided to wait on a reinstall.

Last night I re-installed Sata controller drivers and Sata Raid controller drivers, but never really tested it out, and today when I was getting ready to do the re-install I noticed it was running a whole lot better. I also updated the BIOS, I thought I had the latest 1205, but I had a much older BIOS installed.

I'm not able to make the drive freeze up anymore and Ive played a few different games for most of the day, and did some work in photoshop and illustrator. It not only didnt crash or freeze up, the performance is up by allot. Seems that there are some problems with WD diagnostics running under Vista, but the diagnostics I ran under DOS were good.

I still think Cubase and all the drivers I installed right after X-Mas caused my issues. It was allot of trouble to get it all working under Vista to start with and it never worked right. I backed up all my info and so if it dies I'll only lose a few emails but that's about it.

I just need it to last a few more months/paychecks and I'm upgrading to an I7 setup and getting a couple of WD RE3's.

Guess I should of started with the chipset drivers, would of saved me a little headache, wasn't too bad though.

Thanks again for all the help.

"Assume the party escort submission position"

~GLaDOS~

 

[BadBigBen]

Glad to hear that it is running good now...

Driver & software issues are a pain to diagnose, especially when all the info is not available...

keep the fingers crossed that it was that....

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[KbrooksATC]

Yea they really are a pain to diagnose, especially when it seemed like only one drive was affected like that.

But I think both drives were affected because the system is way more responsive now, (not that it was slow before, except when it bugged out) but it is noticeably faster in opening software and virus scans ECT. since re-installing the drivers.

It seems like that was the problem I have been putting a heck of a load on it since with no issues so far.

But I just need it to make it a few more months then it's on to new problems with I7, DDR3 and I want to switch to 64bit OS then too, that should be fun getting all my work stuff running on that lol.

Take care...

"Assume the party escort submission position"

~GLaDOS~

 

[KbrooksATC]

I just wanted to update this problem.

To sum it up:

I had a problem with random crashes, degraded performance and a few other issues. At first it seemed a lot like problems I have had with bad PSU's and heat issues on other PC's in the past. Even seen similar stuff with bad RAM.

Like cdog suggested I was thinking I should replace the PSU, but I use pretty expensive PSU's and was dreading it, so I tried everything I could to keep from spending money on this one. (trying to save for a new system)

More trouble shooting showed the problem really only showed up when using App's on a certain local HDD.

Running Western Digital Lifeguard tools diagnostics on this drive came back with ERROR CODE: 11 "Failed Cable Test" after changing cables and SATA ports I still got error 11 on the drive.

I was able to make the crashing and performance issues go away, by re-installing my raid/sata drivers. But I also did a defrag on the drive at the same time so it was probably the defrag that helped more than the driver re-install.

Even though my computer was running fine again, I still got the Error Code 11 when ever I ran WD Diagnostics under VISTA. When I ran it under DOS the drive checked out.

I had everything backed up and just figured I would use this drive until it failed or I got my new one in.

I did keep researching the Failed cable test error and most people suggested replacing the cable or trying it in different SATA slots which I did. Western Digital decided it was a bad drive and offered to RMA it. No one had seemed to run into "Failed Cable Test" that changing a cable or Sata ports didnt fix. (By this time I was starting to worry it was my motherboard but I still had other HDD's and DVD-R drive running on other Sata ports and they worked fine)

I decided just to buy a new HDD instead (WD Black 1 TB). After getting the new drive and getting all my data onto it I started playing around with my bad drive, I did a Low Level Format (wrote zero's to the entire drive) then reformatted it.

That ending up fixing the problem, it passes all the WD Lifeguard diagnostics now in Vista and in DOS.

In the end it was not too bad, I spent $130 that I did not really need to spend since the other HDD was okay, but the WD Black is a good HDD with 32mb cache and I can use it in my I7 system when I finish building it.

Thanks everyone.


"Assume the party escort submission position"

~GLaDOS~