do i need a new harddrive?
 

i got it to install, but it freezes after a few minutes, usually, if i
havent used it for a few hours it'll work for a while, but ultimatly
it always freezes.

this is the second hard drive in under 3 years, are durons that
unstable that they systematically destroy hard drives?

Hi,
Sorry to give you the news, but your drive is probably crouptt and you
might want to reformat it on another system and chkdsk it and fix all
the problems, if unfixable then toss it.
roar
Anthony Brohan

On 14 Oct 2003 23:21:02 -0700,
(drummer) wrote in
posted to comp.hardwa

i got it to install, but it freezes after a few minutes, usually, if i
havent used it for a few hours it'll work for a while, but ultimatly
it always freezes.

this is the second hard drive in under 3 years, are durons that
unstable that they systematically destroy hard drives?

The CPU proper won't destroy your hard drive.
You may have a problem with the motherboard, overheating of the drive
(not enough ventilation), or you may just be purchasing drives from
bad manufacturing lots.
It's possible, but in my opinion not highly likely, that your power
supply might also be failing.

If the drives are under warranty check the manufacturer's website for
warranty replacement information.
Western Digital, for one, will let you search by model and serial
number for the drive's warranty status.

Ron n1zhi

i ran a memory tester for 12 hours, so how can it be the power suplly?

On 17 Oct 2003 13:21:31 -0700,
(drummer) wrote in
posted to comp.hardwa

i ran a memory tester for 12 hours, so how can it be the power suplly?

Note that I stated:
"It's possible, but in my opinion not highly likely, that your power
supply might also be failing."

Hard drives depend on two voltage sources: twelve volts and five
volts. If any part of the system which supplies power to the hard
drive(s) has failed, is failing, or has otherwise been compromised
through some means, your drives can and will fail prematurely.

The hard drive motor typically requires the twelve-volt supply; five
volt source is used for the drive's electronics.
Based on some of your other comments it's possible that the five-volt
regulator in the power supply is failing or has become marginal in its
operation.

A well-designed power supply should not allow load-damaging
overvoltage or overcurrent to be applied to the load (motherboard and
hardware). Also, it should be able to withstand two sequences of
power loss and power restoration.

Lower-cost supplies typically found in mass-market systems generally
are not designed and built to industry specifications.

Ron n1zhi

i've always had problems with this computer, could it be possible that
the power supply was overcharging it the whole time?

On 20 Oct 2003 04:43:05 -0700,
(drummer) wrote in
posted to comp.hardwa

i've always had problems with this computer, could it be possible that
the power supply was overcharging it the whole time?

Welllll.. it's _possible_, but highly unlikely.
Power supplies are supposed to pass some level of quality control /
quality assurance testing during and after manufacturing.

They have to provide voltages within specific tolerances and within
specific load ratings (current [or amperage] requirements).

If a power supply goes too far overvoltage either its internal safety
or regulation circuitry will [should] shut it down.

The circuitry on the motherboard may be able to provide a similar
service.


Ron n1zhi