SATA issue?

[speedlever]

I'm not sure if this is a HD problem or not. But thought this was as good a place to start as any.

I built a new C2D system earlier this year and put Vista/64 on it. I have been living with an intermittent problem since day 1 and wonder if there is an easy fix. The problem also occurred with Vista/32 as well, so I went back to Vista/64.

The problem is that randomly.. and intermittently.. the PC will stop responding for up to 45 seconds at a time. I can move the mouse around and whatever I click on last will come to the forefront when the computer resumes operation, but otherwise, the PC will not respond. Even the second hand on the clock in the sidebar stops.

I have noticed that when this problem occurs, the HD access light is on... solid for the whole time until control is returned to me.

Has anyone seen this before? Is there an easy fix?

System specs:
Antec Solo, rear Tri-Cool at mid setting and dual 92mm Nexus up front.
Corsair HX520W psu
Asus P5B-E rev 1.01g flashed to 1202
Intel E6600, more or less stock at the moment, no overclock (not stable past 350 FSB)
Noctua NH-U12F with ULNA HSF
2Gb Corsair DDR2-800 (PC2-6400-C4) Ram at 4-4-4-12
Gigabyte 7600GT Silent Pipe II (Rev 1)
Forceware 162.22 drivers
Dual Samsung SATA DVD burners
WD 740ADFD 74 Gb for OS and programs (SATA)
Samsung HD321KJ 320 Gb for data (SATA)
Seagate 7200.7 300 Gb drive for backup (IDE)
Advanced performance enabled on all 3 drives
Atech internal card reader
Vista 64 bit Ultimate

 

[gigabyte1024]

Does it do it in safe mode?
(I ask this not knowing for sure if Vista even has a safe mode, it does right?)

 

[Old Hippie]

Anything in the Event Viewer?

 

[speedlever]

Does it do it in safe mode?
(I ask this not knowing for sure if Vista even has a safe mode, it does right?)

Hmm. I've never had to try Vista in safe mode. Good question.

But since the problem is random and only occurs sporadically, it would be tough to just run all the time in safe mode just to see if the problem is going to occur today.. tomorrow.. next week, etc.

 

[speedlever]

Anything in the Event Viewer?

You know, I can't remember if I've checked that or not after such an event. I'll try to remember than next time it happens.

 

[Old Hippie]

You know, I can't remember if I've checked that or not after such an event. I'll try to remember than next time it happens.

Unless you clean it out, that stuff stays for a long time.