Finding the problem, decoupling the HDD

[Trepidati0n]

Recently my machine has started going goofy. I'm getting bad DVD burns, rar files are corrupted, processes and programs randomly crashing. Therefore, I got an ugly monster to figure out.

I currently don't have another desktop PC to pull the HDD out and run diagnostics on it (just 2 laptops). Anybody know of a free program that will do HDD diagnostics on a 7200.8 via an external USB connection?

 

[Farva]

Seagate Tools doesn't work?

 

[Trepidati0n]

Problem solved but totally boggling. Figured out last night it was a RAM problem. After 2.5 years of operation my PC started acting wonky. What was amusing is that the only change in the past 30 days was adding one of those "read everything drives" for flash devices. I pulled the RAM, cleaned both it and the connectors...reseated and it passed mem test. Guess some got jogged loose or a bit of dust built up.

However, I'm just suprised that XP booted so well and so cleanly with how bad the RAM errors were when I ram memtest (have a DFI board, love that feature in the BIOS).

As a precaution, stepped up the voltage a 1/10th. Ran orthos blend, 5 torrents, and let a dvd loop all night with pure video running and not one error or crash. Life is good again...but this also makes me lose my exucse for July 22nd Damn you AMD...damn you DFI, damn you crucial....stop making shit that works.

Maybe I'll finally OC my machine...been sitting at stock WAY to long.