Can a HDD cause lockups?

[Defcon5]

Im having a bit of a stability/booting problem, basically, sometimes windows wont boot - it either hangs at the scroll bar or at the welcome screen, and occasionally just as it hits the desktop.

Im pretty certain the rest of the system is fine, I can run orthos for hours etc. Ive reset everything back to stock to be sure though.

I have to keep resetting the PC and eventually it will boot properly, and it will run perfectly.

Any ideas? Im sure its either the HDD or something to do with the SATA on the mobo


EDIT// I can hear it chogging and whirring, and all im using is IE, Is that normal?

 

[ByteJuggler]

Run the manufacturers hdd diagnostic to be sure. Sounds like your drive might be on the way out, maybe.

 

[Defcon5]

Well iv run some HDD tests in windows, and the performance seems to be fine, the SMART data is all ok too.

Its a 160GB Samsung Spinpiont btw

Ive reinstalled windows, the problem is still there. Sometimes after it fails to boot, I reset and the drive is not detected, and doesnt come up in BIOS either. Reset again and it comes back

 

[ByteJuggler]

You need to run the lowlevel manufacturer diagnostics IMHO, Windows performance tests is not really good as a low level diagnostic. Also, have you checked all the cables are properly connected?

 

[Defcon5]

You need to run the lowlevel manufacturer diagnostics IMHO, Windows performance tests is not really good as a low level diagnostic. Also, have you checked all the cables are properly connected?

Yeah, and tried it in all 4 SATA ports. Is it possible to get SATA -> IDE adaptors so I can be sure its not a SATA problem?

 

[helmutcheese]

Yes.