Hard drive issues. Please help.

[icxnamjah]

Hi guys, not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I need some help if anyone out there can.

For the past few months, sometimes after I turn on my computer, it would lock up at post right after it detects my SATA drive and I am forced to shut it off then once I turn it back on everything is smooth sailing after that.

However, more recently after the lock up, the system post would detect no drive until I swap the SATA port that my hard drive is using and it would boot into windows again.

I don't really have the funds to replace or even have anybody who can lend me a SATA drive to see if it is my hard drive or if it is my motherboard; or even possibly my SATA cable.

My question is, are there any programs I can run to see if my hard drive is failing?

Other issues are : if I am alt tabbing out of a program and ventrillo is running, the last person talking would become a broken record until the program is fully tabbed out (which never happened before). Games and programs seem to run fine on a good day. Random moments of my computer completely locking up and I would have to shut it off and swap the SATA cable into a different slot on my motherboard again.

Most of the time I can boot into windows just fine, I would have to do this maybe once every 2 weeks or so oddly enough. I have reformatted numerous times and still having the same problems.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[MagicMan84]

You mentioned you reformatted the drive.

Are you loading the appropriate SATA driver for your motherboard after you reformat?

Other than that, it sounds like your SATA cable is faulty since the problem is temporarily fixed when you swap ports.

 

[icxnamjah]

Hi, thank you for responding.

Yes, I am certain all the drivers are installed.

I actually just went out and bought a new cable and am still having the same issues unfortunately.

I guess I have to get a new hard drive, but what worries me is if it's my motherboard's SATA ports :T

 

[Syntax Error]

Run the disk drive manufacturer's diagnostic utility, it may reveal problems if there are any with the disk.

Are there weird noises associated with the drive?

You can always RMA the drive (assuming this is an OEM or retail drive not bundled with a pre-made OEM system); many manufacturers offer the option for advanced replacement where they send you the replacement first.