Hard Drives Mysteriously Dissappeared...

my fiancee got this weird error and then 2 of her hard drives completly disappeared...I tried to figure out the problem and thought that they completly failed somehow, but I want to try to get a second opinion..

Here is the errors...

error 1: The device 'ST3160023A' (IDE\DiskST3160023A______________________________3.06____\4a3332534536444a202020202020202020202020) disappeared from the system without first being prepared for removal.

error 2: The device 'ST3120026A' (IDE\DiskST3120026A______________________________3.06____\4a3333544e304d4d202020202020202020202020) disappeared from the system without first being prepared for removal.

there were also multiple information and warning logs along with it I will post them too when I get them all together...

Thanx 4 the help

#213404

It's possible a cable got disconnected, so the hard drive isn't being picked up.

You might try taking the case off, and just making sure the cables are secure.

I'm not much on hardware, though, so, I can't be of much more help. Sorry...

-nightcrawler1089

#213408

Originally posted by nightcrawler1089@Sep 12 2004, 08:19 PM

It's possible a cable got disconnected, so the hard drive isn't being picked up.

You might try taking the case off, and just making sure the cables are secure.

I'm not much on hardware, though, so, I can't be of much more help. Sorry...

-nightcrawler1089

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

if that could be the issue, how can a cable come loose on it's own? I'll give it qa shot tho

#213419

Are the partitions gone or the drives? If the partitions are dissappearing it might be a messed MFT (Master File Table)

#213436

If the cables were poped out then it wouldnt boot

#213486

Same as above but let me add the following:

IDE drives aren't supposed to be hot-pluggable and the system mourns their sudden death.

1. Power Supply Unit. Recent drives with adaequate power management can interpret power dropouts as the system entering standy-mode and turn themselves off - check if your PSU output isn't underweight for your system hardware (recent graphics card upgrade?).

2. Motherboard capacitor leak. Check for any exploded capacitors on your mobo. Simply check all parts on your mobo that aren't chips for leaks (dribbly fluids), smears(coal dust), cracks. Should be near the IDE connector or power sockets. The industry supplies us with parts which aren't supposed to live longer than 2 years.

#213495

well both the hard drive are just used for extra storage,and are about a few months hold and the motherboard is about 6-8 months old i think. the drive that she uses for booting windows is fine.

converse- the drives are completly gone, they don't show up at all in my computer

#213567

here is another very weird thing that happened yesterday involving the missing hard drives, my fiancee was doing something in paint shop pro and was browsing for something and the "F" Drive was there and all the contents were intact...now explain that one....

#215271