Weird hard drive problem

Sp00n · 7 May 2010 at 13:17

Very recently one of my disks has started to drop off and then comes back with the message "you need to format the disk in drive E: before you can use it" and its logging "The device, \Device\Harddisk0\DR12, is not ready for access yet." in the event log.

Now i thought this was the drive failing so I took it out, brought it to work and did a full backup and then restored to a different drive.

Now I've put the new drive back in and its doing exactly the same thing.

The disk setup/partition isn't the same as I just restored the folders rather than the partition structure so its not related to that.

I will be changing the sata cable when I get home to see if that makes any difference but I'm beginning to wonder if its a problem with the port on th motherboard, I've done all the usual reconnecting cables etc... but to no avail.

I'm just wondering has anyone encountered this before?

Could my PSU be on its way out? I sort of ruled this out because its only the one disk/cable/port thats dropping. I do have another spare which I will be trying over the weekend as well.

Might be a good excuse to upgrade if it is the motherboard/psu

System:

AMD 7750 @ 2.7
4gb PC6400
2 x 160gb WD
2 x 500gb WD
1 x 1tb WD
8800GT
Thermaltake 470watt TR2

adrichardson81 · 7 May 2010 at 13:27

It's unlikely you'd notice hdd errors with a PSU on the way out (unless you've had other symptoms). Most likely culprit is a bad SATA cable if you restored to a new HDD.

Sp00n · 7 May 2010 at 13:38

Weird, never had a sata cable "die" before :/

Sp00n · 9 May 2010 at 16:29

Well I thought I would update for those that may encounter something like this in the future, it "appears" to be a lose connection from a sata splitter cable that I had to use due to the lack of sata power connectors from the PSU.

I've re-seated all the connectors on the cable and haven't had a problem since so fingers crossed!