Ok so I reinstalled Windows XP Pro SP2 about a week ago & after a few days the computer started crashing. I immediatly knew that it was my secondary drive becuase this would happen, at first, when I tried to access that drive. Pretty soon thereafter Windows would even be able to totally boot before it would crash. When I was able to use windows I changed the memory dump settings & then the BSOD would be on long enough for me to be able to see the error, "machine_check_exception". Now my computer runs just find if the HD in question isn't connected. So after using knoppix to copy everything off of the HD I reformatted it. That didn't work so today I did a low level format followed by a regular format & windows still crashes when that HD is connected. Please help because I am all out of ideas. Is it that HD in particular or is it something else?

"MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION"

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=329284

Do you know the manufacturer of your hard drive?

You will find the major brand diagnostics listed here:

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

With a few others listed here:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/


If the Hard Drive passes diagnostics you might try a new IDE cable.



.

Originally Posted by jephree

"MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION"

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=329284

Do you know the manufacturer of your hard drive?

You will find the major brand diagnostics listed here:

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

With a few others listed here:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/


If the Hard Drive passes diagnostics you might try a new IDE cable.



.

I'll look into the links & the diagnostic tools however I don't think that the probelm is in the cable. I have a Knoppix disk & I have no problems using this drive when using knoppix. In fact I was able to use Knoppix to recover most of the data on that drive so I don't think that it is the cable but I do have others so I can try a replacement. As for the drive it is a Seagate Ultra ATA/100 120 GB 7200 RPM with 8 MB cache. Again I'll try the tools but I just hope that those diagnostic tools don't require windows because IF it boots up succeessfully it will crash when ever something tries to use the drive. Also this computer doesn't have an internet connection right now & won't for several months.

Seagate has a bootable floppy diagnostic:

Floppy Diskette Creator

http://www.seagate.com/support/seato...toold_reg.html

This can be created on any computer then booted on the one in question.

In the case of no floppy drive an ISO CD can be created.

Originally Posted by jephree

Seagate has a bootable floppy diagnostic:

Floppy Diskette Creator

http://www.seagate.com/support/seato...toold_reg.html

This can be created on any computer then booted on the one in question.

In the case of no floppy drive an ISO CD can be created.

Ok I ran the diagnostic tests & the HD passed all of them EXCEPT the file sturcture test. It said that it failed that with critical errors. Now, as I said before, I have performed both a low level & a regular format since I started having this problem without any change in condition. Since I used the windows disk to do the regular format I don't see how that could be the problem especially after totally wiping off everything. The report suggested that I use windows to test it however that is not possible. So I'm not sure were that leaves me. So is the HD going bad?

How is the drive configured? Is it on the Primary channel as slave?

Are you sure that all jumpers are correct?

As another test: try putting the drive as Secondary Master (temporarily replacing your DVD/CD drive). Don't forget to set the jumpers to Master or all to Cable Select.

Originally Posted by jephree

How is the drive configured? Is it on the Primary channel as slave?

Are you sure that all jumpers are correct?

As another test: try putting the drive as Secondary Master (temporarily replacing your DVD/CD drive). Don't forget to set the jumpers to Master or all to Cable Select.

This drive is currently set as the primary master since it is the onle IDE drive (the main one is a sata drive). I have it configured by jumbers & it shows up in POST as the primary master.

What should I do once I set it up as the secondary master...try to boot into windows or run the diagnostics again? What would this prove?

I was thinking along the lines of conflict between two ATA drives. So the SATA sorta eliminates that thought.

You say this setup worked briefly? Is that correct?

Do you have another ATA drive that you could test in this configuration? Or do you have another computer that you could test this ATA drive on?

Also: what did you use to format this drive?

Originally Posted by jephree

I was thinking along the lines of conflict between two ATA drives. So the SATA sorta eliminates that thought.

You say this setup worked briefly? Is that correct?

Do you have another ATA drive that you could test in this configuration? Or do you have another computer that you could test this ATA drive on?

Also: what did you use to format this drive?

Yes my drive configuration has worked since I built this computer last January until just recently.

I don't currently have access to another computer with a system on it in which to test this drive nor do I have access to another working ATA drive to test in my computer but I could probably borrow one. I don't see what testing another drive in my computer could show. The diagnostic tools showed that the drive controllers were working. I could see trying it in another system however if it worked in that system that still leaves me not being able to use it in mine. I'll go ahead & see what I can do to test this.

I used a manufacturer's disk (not the one from Seagate) to do low lever format & I used the windows disk to do the regular format. Should I try using the Seagate disk to do the low level format? Might that make a difference? Again this setup worked for about half a year.

I would suggest running the Seagate tool:

http://www.seagate.com/support/disc/...s/discwiz.html