HDD Problem: disk write failed

[Cypher720]

I have an external HDD hooked up that has been running fine for almost a year. just recently (i got a new computer and a clean install of windows) i am having major issues with it. I am unable to write to the HDD for a long period of time. If i am downloading a large file (game demos, live music shows, etc...) the HDD will become disconnected and will say "delayed disk write failed." it used to be that when this happened i jsut had to unplug the power and reboot the computer and it worked fine again, but now nothing works. If i unplug the power and hook it up again, the computer recognizes it, allows me to read off it, but when i go to write i constantly get the same error.

any ideas as to why this is happening? I am unable to run a defrag on it since it gets disconnected.

the next step i will take is to hook it up via IDE and see if it works fine...but anyone have any suggestions?

[mort]

No idea, maybe in an interface problem, make sure all parameters in the bios are set correctly. Another thing might be the cable, switch the cables and maybe it's ok again.

[Cypher720]

its an external hdd.

now its starting to randomly disconnect...with no windows errors at all. anyone else have any ideas?

[dark_15]

The drive or the exernal drive controller is failing. Open the external case, then remove the hard drive from the case. Connect the drive to your machine and run the drive manufacturer diagnostics on it. If it passes, try booting into windows and copy large files on it. If it fails, then you know it's the drive. If it doesn't, then the external drive is at fault. RMA it or buy a new one.

Hope that helps! :)

[Cypher720]

i now have a new problem.

when i connected it with an IDE cable, it stays connected and everything is working fine. but, if i start downloading something, after a while teh computer will flash a BSOD and then reboot....i assume this means a bad drive?

[ropey]

Yes, you need to RMA this drive if it still falls under warranty.

R

[shellshock]

i now have a new problem.

when i connected it with an IDE cable, it stays connected and everything is working fine. but, if i start downloading something, after a while teh computer will flash a BSOD and then reboot....i assume this means a bad drive?

Windows is trying to write on it, and since you hooked it up via ide cable, windows does a bsod

you defnally know now thats it the hard drive thats failing. Time to RMA:(

[Cypher720]

RMA means time to copy 140 GB of files from one disk to another:( boo hoo!

thanks a bunch, ill be sending it back tomorrow:(:(

[Cypher720]

hey guys - so i RMA'd the drive and now i still have problems....the SAME EXACT ONES. Is it possible that the HDD is not compatable with my computer or something? I am going to try RMA'ing the enclosure, but i dont know if that will fix it. any ideas?

[Cypher720]

can anyone please help me out? I cannot write to the drive at all. and now it is starting to disconnect when i am reading fro it (i was playing music in itunes and it gave me the message)

[apu318]

Try it on a different IDE connector and channel. Change cables.

[maxxoverclocker]

yeah it sounds like the mobo has a bad controller try another channel like stated and see if that works

[catsbuddy]

I've got a similar problem. I often find a blue screen stating I've had a disk write failure to drive C: when I get to my computer in the morning. Drive C: is only a boot drive, Windows 98SE is on drive D:, and my swap file is on a seperate physical drive. The condition is not recoverable. :bang head A reboot is necessary.
I've changed motherboards, cables, and installed a new drive. The problem continues. I'll be interested in following this thread to see if anyone has any other ideas.

[4GHZ_or_bust]

Write delay error is an old problem and it even shows up on internal drives. Basically the drive takes longer than expected to flush its cache and Window timed out. But even Microsoft doesn't know why it happens, only that it seems to happen on high speed conenction (ATA 133 or USB2) Basically write delayed error is MS' way of saying "I don't know"

I've gotten them but only when I used IDE PCI card, never onboard IDE. Most of the time I can still use the affected drive after the error but it runs like it's constipated and reboot's usually the only way out. If the error occurs when you're moving files (not copying but cut and paste) then some of those files often end up corrupted or missing and you can't undo the move to get original back on the original drive.

[catsbuddy]

Thanks 4GHZ_or_bust. That gives me an idea. Maybe if I set the drive to not power down after inactivity I can get around the problem. It sounds like it's worth a try. If that's the problem, it's not the same thing Cypher720 was having. If that doesn't work, maybe it's time for XP. Grrr, I'm trying not to feed the M$ machine.

[4GHZ_or_bust]

The write delay issue is present in Windows XP. Just had an attack when I tried to copy some files off a 512MB thumb drive. Had to reboot to get both the thumb drive working and XP running at normal speed. :mad: :mad: :mad: