Disc Drives keeps disappearing Vista Bugs and Problems Discuss Disc Drives keeps disappearing in the Windows Vista forums; Here Here!...

[JoshW02@hotmail.co.uk]

Here Here!

[madwin]

Originally Posted by felix8406

Do you have SP1 installed? Most issues of this nature are software related and that's a good thing for the most part because they can be corrected. The first thing I suggest is to try to search for new drivers and/or firm-ware upgrades for your disks. If that doesn't work, uninstall the hardware through device manager and restart the PC.

I also think it's software related, according to S.M.A.R.T. my drive's are ok. I've checked if there's an update for my HD-controller available, but there isn't. I could try to remove and then add the harddisk, but I think I'll do a clean Vista installation and no SP1 upgrade 'till there's a new build. SP1 definitely improved performance for me, but reliability..... not so much. My system freezes too much, and now with the sudden loss of HD I think I'll go back to RTM with the latest reliability & performance updates. See if that works better for me.

[felix8406]

SP1 works well, specially eliminating that constant trashing of the hard drive, but it still needs work. Waiting for the bugs to be fixed sounds good. Hopefully that should take care of your issue. Let us know how it goes.

[Snuffy]

Originally Posted by madwin

I also think it's software related, according to S.M.A.R.T. my drive's are ok. I've checked if there's an update for my HD-controller available, but there isn't. I could try to remove and then add the harddisk, but I think I'll do a clean Vista installation and no SP1 upgrade 'till there's a new build. SP1 definitely improved performance for me, but reliability..... not so much. My system freezes too much, and now with the sudden loss of HD I think I'll go back to RTM with the latest reliability & performance updates. See if that works better for me.

First please do all the following:
1. make sure all cables are seated tightly. swap cables to check.
2. FLASH your bios again... with the current version.(insures not corruption).
3. insure that all setting on
a. boot to sequence is 100% correct. 1.
1. floppy
2. CD/DVD drive - optical drive
3. HDD
b. read sequence is 100% correct in BIOS.
4. Disable SMART in the BIOS since there has been several mentions of SMART not working correctly...

REmove your Disk controllers and let Vista install the ones it want to use... sometimes mobo man offer Beta drivers and they are just that Beta...
always best to insure all DRIVERS are (WDDM). if your having any problems.

I ask this due to SP1 corrected many items, and many new mobos have RAID/SATA combined or separate on Boot... they also install preference to boot sequence.

If this still does not FIX... then REMOVE SP1, since it can be removed/uninstalled.. (The legal version can be).
If your version can not be removed then please advise how your version was installed... Several systems might still have the ability to RESTORE back prior to SP1 installation.

[felix8406]

If the issue began as soon as SP1 was installed, then I can see how the BIOS, boot sequence or SMART was the issue. But since the PC worked fine for a while, it would be fair to suspect an update or an application. I still believe that drivers are the primary suspects, as they tell the OS how to execute hardware commands.

[Snuffy]

I also understand your point. But the question remains, after SP1 was installed, how many times was the PC reboot? Since that is the main reason for me asking my questions.
One of the worse things on a BIG MAJOR update, is the size of SP1, how many parts were honestly downloaded, how many times was reboot honestly required to how many times was it rebooted....
Different systems, different devices, different bios are required a different download and different amounts of reboots.
sample: final SP1 size was 61.5MB. installation then reboot, several things did not work, (sound required a reboot), time & date (required a reboot), my HDs were not in correct order. (HD sequence needed a reboot).
sound on boot was cracked, (needed a reboot). so my system alone needed 5 additional reboots after the original final reboot.... Unless you were involved in the SP1 forum, (there are more than 1), and noted that many ppls SP1 download was in different sizes compared to what was needed....
If some one simply reboot 5 or 6 times, JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT. and it corrected the problem...( and we do knot know what other programs are installed on this unit, which might also conflict with SP1. We also do know know nor should we ask, Is this a legit SP1 download or a Pirate Download,
how many of the original Vista Automatic downloads were installed prior to the SP1 being installed...How many drivers are NOT (WDDM).
If you have a BETA driver of any nature remove and set to (WDDM)
How many times did he reboot or click I'll reboot later....
The average number of REBOOTS required after the installation of SP1 is 6.

Humor an old man... download "Belarc"... run the scan, post the finding here for me, after you edit via notepad and remove your KEY's.
Thanks
PS: Small town but all 9 SP1 installs here were fixed with minor changes so as to be working correctly.

[madwin]

First of all, thanx for thinking along with me. I'll look into it again next weekend, as for now I don't have (enough) time.
Here's a link for my Belarc report: http://h1.ripway.com/geheim/(Pc_van_madwin).html
What do you exactly mean with WDDM drivers, I thought they had to do with display drivers?
Finally, pardon my 'bad' english

[Snuffy]

It will take me a bit to runn completely thru the post. but I saw a couple of items which are know to cause problems. some minor and others possible. I'll post here then edit to add additional items if/when I find.
Snuffy.

1. SP1 has known problems with : SCSI/RAID Host Controller
2. Realtek RTL8168/8111 Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0) - Virtual Machine aspect part... suggest no less than 6.197.917.2007 driver.
3. isatap.{2991FCFE-EE71-4222-A164-B6297BDCDB01} check under devices and insure there are NO YELLOW CAUTION MARKERS..
4. Kaspersky Internet Security Version 7.0.0.125 - (SHOULD) had to be disabled or removed prior to installation of SP1..
5. Maxtor SATA II - and Yes, Maxtor is know for having the worse reputation for accurate S.M.A.R.T. due to a hidden program any/every Maxtor HD installs with which it moves (unknow to you) how/were it moved noted bad spots. The only TRUE is to TEST MAXTOR/SEAGATE HDDs, by using Manufactures Testing Program.
6. SAMSUNG HD501LJ Sata II
7. CyberLink Corp. - PowerDVD Version 7.03 It has been found that P-DVD7.3and all below is not exactly 100% with Vista. It was/is recommended uninstall P DVD7.x repair Vista and then Reinstall P DVD 7.3 or your version then If it is not 7.3 get the proper patches from P DVD and install...

AsusTek answer to some SATA problems..

There could be various possible causes to result into issues as described. These include:
- Dirty SATA connectors:
o Cause: Dirty substances such as dust, dirt, rust, or oxidized surface on SATA connectors may result in improper contact with its peer, which degrades the signal quality, hence causes SATA communication problems.
o Suggestion: Please kindly try the following cleaning procedures and see if this helps to improve the current condition:

1) Prepare the following (can be found from your local chemist):

· Some alcohol (ethanol (C2H5OH))

· A packet of cotton stick

2) Shut down the system, and remove power cord.

3) Remove all devices connecting to SATA ports.

4) Flatten the cotton stick, and moist both ends with ethanol.

5) Dip the cotton stick into SATA port (the side with golden finger), and move the cotton stick sideways a few times to clean the SATA port.

6) Move on to the next SATA ports until the completion of this task. Note: Do not reuse the used end, and only use one end with each port.

7) Now do the same for SATA cable and SATA connector on SATA devices.

- Incorrect settings:

o Cause: Under many cases, the default settings for additional onboard SATA/RAID controller could have been set to [Disabled] when delivered. This will cause the controller to stop its function completely.

o Suggestion: Please refer to your user’s manual for detailed description on how to enable onboard SATA/RAID controller via adjusting jumper or BIOS settings.

- Controller limitations:

o Cause: There could have been a known limitation with the existing SATA/RAID controller, such as limited support to particular SATA standards or specifications.

o Suggestions: Try adjusting the SATA operation mode of the HDD via HDD jumper or specific tools provided by HDD vendors (Please consult your HDD vendor for further assistance.)

- Driver or HDD firmware issue:

o Cause: SATA/RAID Driver loaded may need to be matched with specific versions of SATA/RAID BOOTROM, or the controller’s behavior under AHCI mode, in order to allow the controller and device to function correctly. System may result in fail to install operating system, performance drop, or even not detecting HDD during OS installation process if the drivers are not matched. (Note: Some versions of Windows may have been bundled with a previously existed version of driver for a particular controller.) Only when this driver also matches with SATA/RAID BOOTROM or controller behavior under AHCI mode, would the controller be able to function without fail. The same could also happen if the HDD firmware is not fully compatible with such SATA/RAID controller.

o Suggestion: Always use the latest version of BIOS and drivers available from ASUS download page at: http://support.asus.com.tw unless specially mentioned on either the download page or FAQ page to avoid this kind of troubles. For HDD firmware issues, please kindly consult HDD vendor for further assistance.

- Broken SATA port, controller, cable or devices:

o Cause: Broken connector, controller, cable, or devices may also be the major causes of this kind of issue.

o Suggestion: Please try moving or replacing components in the order of:

§ Replacing SATA cable

§ Move among different SATA ports from the same controller

§ Move to SATA ports from a different controller (if available)

§ Replacing SATA devices

This is a direct copy from the AsusKet Web site.

Latest driver recommended :

V1.17.15.0 2007/07/13 update

OS Win2K / WinXP / Win2003 / WinXP 64bit / Win2003 64bit / Vista 32bit / Vista 64bit

Description JMicron JMB36X RAID Controller Driver V1.17.15.0 for Windows 2000 / XP (32bit/64bit) / 2003 (32bit/64bit) / Vista (32bit/64bit).(WHQL)

Now the reference to (WDDM) drivers is drivers installed verified to be signed/approved by Micrososft.
the majority of video drivers are BETA, them majority of all drivers are Beta.
to be obtain (WDDM) drivers. is open system, find the driver (any/all) delete them. when you reboot, and you might have to do more than once.. the Found/installed drivers will be approved/signed (WDDM) drivers...

Originally Posted by Snuffy

Not all SATA cables are of hi quality..infact I have found so many marginally that I have added a small set of dentist retractors to my kit, every set of SATA cables I removed, brush with a soft bristle tooth brush, after spraying with a mixture of 50/50 water denatured alcohol, then gently squeezing the (both) ends with the retractors..insuring a tight/firm fit.
THIS IS WHERE CHEAP DOES NOT WORK.... BUY THE BEST... .

[madwin]

It seems next week Vista SP1 RC will be released, so I wait 'till then and do a clean install. I'll keep in mind the tips you guys gave me, especially Snuffy's last post (thanx for looking at my system )