Pressario intermittent hardware failures

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.compaq (More info?)

Presario 8000 (8LSXE1) Win XP, 256MB RAM

The computer is clean: no virus, worm, spyware, malware, etc. The
primary HD has 42GB of defragmented space.

The problem started a few months ago, when, occasionally, upon being
powered on, the computer would not detect the external Iomega HDD.

The problem worsened a few weeks after I installed a second hard
drive, a Western digital 120GB, the maximum recommended by Compaq.

The computer freezes, or reboots itself unexpectedly. Upon
restarting, it finds only the CD-ROM drives and "No IDE fixed disk
present", or detects everything. I also get: "Non system disk or disk
error" without diskette in the A: drive.

I have changed the power source to make sure the computer receives
adequate power.

I have disabled Windows Automatic Restart

Clue: often, before the computer crashes, I hear repeated "clunky"
noise. The closest I can relate it to is an old fashion hardware
relay.

As I unplugged the second hard drive, the computer is more stable.

The computer is still under warranty and, if Compaq ever follows
through, I should get a new motherboard. But I am not sure this will
fix my problem.

Any suggestions are welcome! Can someone recommend software to
diagnostic my problem?

Thanks!

 

[hh]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.compaq (More info?)

Are the original IDE cables being used? If so is the new internal HD
jumpered CS for Cable Select?
HH

"Franou" <verdonmescla@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:fa994a70.0410110852.28a3c895@posting.google.com...
> Presario 8000 (8LSXE1) Win XP, 256MB RAM
>
> The computer is clean: no virus, worm, spyware, malware, etc. The
> primary HD has 42GB of defragmented space.
>
> The problem started a few months ago, when, occasionally, upon being
> powered on, the computer would not detect the external Iomega HDD.
>
> The problem worsened a few weeks after I installed a second hard
> drive, a Western digital 120GB, the maximum recommended by Compaq.
>
> The computer freezes, or reboots itself unexpectedly. Upon
> restarting, it finds only the CD-ROM drives and "No IDE fixed disk
> present", or detects everything. I also get: "Non system disk or disk
> error" without diskette in the A: drive.
>
> I have changed the power source to make sure the computer receives
> adequate power.
>
> I have disabled Windows Automatic Restart
>
> Clue: often, before the computer crashes, I hear repeated "clunky"
> noise. The closest I can relate it to is an old fashion hardware
> relay.
>
> As I unplugged the second hard drive, the computer is more stable.
>
> The computer is still under warranty and, if Compaq ever follows
> through, I should get a new motherboard. But I am not sure this will
> fix my problem.
>
> Any suggestions are welcome! Can someone recommend software to
> diagnostic my problem?
>
> Thanks!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.compaq (More info?)

> Are the original IDE cables being used?

Yes.

>If so is the new internal HD
> jumpered CS for Cable Select?

Not Cable Select, but dual/slave as it is on the same cable as the master.

The problem worsens with the second HD, but also occurs without it.

Thanks,

VM

 

[hh]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.compaq (More info?)

Compaqs ship with Cable Select IDE cables and drives attached should be
jumpered CS. With such an arrangement the end connector is the master and
the niddle is slave. Make sure the drive(s) are jumpered CS.
HH

"Franou" <verdonmescla@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:fa994a70.0410112308.da9cf6f@posting.google.com...
>> Are the original IDE cables being used?
>
> Yes.
>
>>If so is the new internal HD
>> jumpered CS for Cable Select?
>
> Not Cable Select, but dual/slave as it is on the same cable as the master.
>
> The problem worsens with the second HD, but also occurs without it.
>
> Thanks,
>
> VM

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.compaq (More info?)

Or change the data cables to the new IDE cables that were likely to have been
included in the box with the new HDD, and continue to use master/slave
jumpering....

Dale

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.compaq (More info?)

HH wrote:
> Compaqs ship with Cable Select IDE cables and drives attached should be
> jumpered CS. With such an arrangement the end connector is the master and
> the niddle is slave. Make sure the drive(s) are jumpered CS.

I switched the jumper to Cable Select. So far so good... time will
tell if the wrong jumper setting was compounding the problem...
whatever the problem still is...

I did not buy the HD from Compaq. Why pay $260 + tax + shipping when
I can get it from a reputable company for $86!

Thanks Dale too for your suggestions.

VM

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.compaq (More info?)

"Clue: often, before the computer crashes, I hear repeated "clunky"
noise. The closest I can relate it to is an old fashion hardware
relay."

This is almost certainly a broken hard disk.

--

Regards,

Stuart

PS remove the obvious to e-mail me.


"Franou" <verdonmescla@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:fa994a70.0410110852.28a3c895@posting.google.com...
> Presario 8000 (8LSXE1) Win XP, 256MB RAM
>
> The computer is clean: no virus, worm, spyware, malware, etc. The
> primary HD has 42GB of defragmented space.
>
> The problem started a few months ago, when, occasionally, upon being
> powered on, the computer would not detect the external Iomega HDD.
>
> The problem worsened a few weeks after I installed a second hard
> drive, a Western digital 120GB, the maximum recommended by Compaq.
>
> The computer freezes, or reboots itself unexpectedly. Upon
> restarting, it finds only the CD-ROM drives and "No IDE fixed disk
> present", or detects everything. I also get: "Non system disk or disk
> error" without diskette in the A: drive.
>
> I have changed the power source to make sure the computer receives
> adequate power.
>
> I have disabled Windows Automatic Restart
>
> Clue: often, before the computer crashes, I hear repeated "clunky"
> noise. The closest I can relate it to is an old fashion hardware
> relay.
>
> As I unplugged the second hard drive, the computer is more stable.
>
> The computer is still under warranty and, if Compaq ever follows
> through, I should get a new motherboard. But I am not sure this will
> fix my problem.
>
> Any suggestions are welcome! Can someone recommend software to
> diagnostic my problem?
>
> Thanks!