Random reboot + "PRIMARY MASTER DRIVE FAILED"

[cheerioboy]

I’m posting here as a last resort to find out what is going on this computer. My friend’s computer has started to shut itself off on some occasions, roughly once a day or once every 2 days. The computer is always running. When the computer randomly reboots, there's an error in the boot saying "PRIMARY MASTER DRIVE FAILED." Now, when we reboot the computer again it boots up fine. Any ideas on what’s going on?

Computer Specs: Athlon 2100, 120 gig Western Digital, Asus VIA KT333, ATI ALL IN WONDER RADEON 8500DV, Samsung Original DDR333 PC-2700 512mb RAM

 

[cheerioboy]

Its been commented on now that it might be that there arn't enough fans and the hard-drive is overheating. This computer has one rear fan, the cpu fan, and a fan in the powers supply (above the cpu)

it seems very likely since the hard-drive is mounted in the front.

anyone think this might be the problem?

 

[Grenage]

I would find it very unlikely to be honest, I've never seen a hard drive fail due to overheating in my life.

More likely your CPU is overheating, you have a bad IDE controller on your MB or a bad PSU. Have you swapped out the PSU for another to see ?

 

[Grenage]

Ah yes and of course the more obvious one, your Hard Drive could be a bit flakey.

 

[cheerioboy]

good points, i'll look into them when i get available parts to swap with. Right now i have the side of the case open and a fan blowing on it as a temporary way of cooling the case. It seems to running fine now, but i'll give it a few more days to see what happens.