Finicky HD

[Slartibartfast]

I have this somewhat old western digital ata/100 drive that has a bizzarre behavioral quirk. Periodically when I start my windows box, where it's the slave, the bios will get stuck detecting ide devices. If I pull out this HD it works fine. However, the only way to get the windows box to boot with this HD is to put it in an old linux box and actually access the disk. Like I have to at least read from it a bit, not just boot with it in (in both comps it's set as the slave drive). After that it usually loads up fine in the windows box. However, it's done this on two different mobo's, but it always works on the linux box. Is my drive just dying or is there some way to fix this? Thanks in advance...

 

[defakto]

I'd check jumpers to make sure nothing is on cable select. I'd also check to see if the PSU can keep up with the load.

 

[Slartibartfast]

I'm pretty certain the jumpers are set because I use it as the slave in both comps, but I will double check when I get home. As far as the load is concerned I think that's ok too. The windows box is:

Athlon 64 3000+ Venice
EVGA 6600gt
Primary IDE: 2 HD's, seagate and the western digital
Secondary IDE 2 optical drives
Floppy drive
six 80mm case fans
Antec True Power 430 watt

(it was doing the same thing before with a socket A athlon XP and a 9600xt)

The linux box:

300 watt ps
abit BP6 mobo
2x Celeron 366
GeForce 3 TI 200
boots fine with 2 hd's and 2 optical drives
2 case fans

Should I get a larger powersupply for the windows box?