SATA help needed

RichieUK · 9 Feb 2006 at 18:15

Hi there. My Maxtor 250gb SATA HDD has just been delivered but i can't seem to install it properly :rolleyes:

I have a Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9 motherboard (Nforce4). I have connected the power cable to it, and the SATA cable connected to SATA port 0 on the motherboard. When i booted into Windows it said it had found new hardware and said it couldn't find the file SRCDATA with file nvraid.sys. I downloaded the newest Nforce drivers and found the file and it installed, Windows said the hardware is installed and ready to use - but it isn't in 'My Computer'.

I restarted and booted from the MaxBlast CD i have to try and set-up/format the drive, but it couldn't see it. Although another Maxtor program included in MaxBlast called 'PowerMax' could see the disk. One of the options for the HD in PowerMax was a low-level format. Is this what i'm supposed to do now? And do i have it connected to the right SATA port on my motherboard (there was 4 of them)

Hope you can help

smids · 9 Feb 2006 at 18:42

Make sure RAID is disabled in BIOS for that port and then boot windows (unless you are running a RAID?)

RichieUK · 9 Feb 2006 at 19:51

Thanx for the reply. I got a bit further, but it turns out i'm going to have to RMA it, and i've only just got it!! :mad:

I ran the PowerMax software and it tested the drive and gave me an 8 digit code, which according to the maxtor website -

"Replace the drive. An eight digit diagnostic code indicates that the drive is failing and should be replaced as soon as possible."

This sucks. Should i go straight to RMA it with Maxtor or try and return it to OCUK for a replacement?

smids · 9 Feb 2006 at 20:02

OcUK would be quicker I think and you would be guaranteed to get a new drive and not necessarily a refurbished one.

RichieUK · 9 Feb 2006 at 20:04

Ah ok, thanx. Ill send them a webnote now.

RichieUK · 9 Feb 2006 at 21:56

Hmmmm....

Just after i posted my last reply i was going to shut-down the computer, take out the drive and get it packed up...but just on the off-chance i tried to format the drive again through Windows...and it worked :confused:

I restarted the computer and tried the PowerMax disk again and it ran the whole disk scanning utility (over 1 hour) and then informed me the drive is error free and ready to use. I've just tried copying some large files to and from the disk and it seems fine :confused:

What do you think i should do? Return it (is that possible since it seems to be working Ok now?) or keep it?

*confused*

Richie

smids · 9 Feb 2006 at 22:15

Well, the power max utility said it had bad sectors. A format usually wipes out any bad sectors on the drive. However, sometimes the bad sectors are caused by the head crashing against the platter, in which case the problem could resurface.

I wouldn't put any important data on it, mind you.
Yuo could just explain the situation. If SMART is ok, then it's 50/50 whether the drive is good/bad. In that case, do an advanced RMA with Maxtor and get a replacement that way.

RichieUK · 9 Feb 2006 at 23:19

Thanx for the reply.

I'm not going to put anything important on it for the time being, going to see how it goes.

Is it possible for HDD to suddenly 'warm-up'

It seemed strange that nothing on it would work properly, then all of a sudden it's absulutely fine :confused:

Anyway, like i said, ill see how it goes.

Thanx for everyone's help

Richie