Windows just crashed just now and recovered using Windows Recovery .

Beside Windows's ScanDisk and also HDTune, is there any other application to check on the error of the harddisk?

Then, should I go for AHCI? That would require me to reinstall Windows. That's ok for me since I just did a Windows Recovery as my Windows crashed of all sudden . Still diagnosing the HDD... hopefully that is not the culprit *pray*.

If I wanted to use AHCI mode, I will need to install the SATA driver before proceeding with Windows installation. My floppy disk drive kaputed, any cure or other solution?

Yeah, I found that SeaTools as well and just installed the "SeaTools for Windows" version. Will be trying to scan the HDD now .

Mine is ICH9R. Anyway, I don't think I can avoid that SATA driver installation if I ever wanted to change SATA mode to ACHI. Anyway, really benefiting if I switched from SATA mode IDE to ACHI?

I read from the net that it could use the Native Command Queuing (NQC), true ah? As I heard only expensive RAID card capable of utilizing NCQ .

I boot in SATA Mode IDE, switching to SATA Mode ACHI now requires a new installation of OS and also loading up SATA driver before the installation of the OS. If there isn't much different in term of performance and features, might as well I just save my hassle from getting it running in ACHI mode .

But, ACHI support NCQ?

OMG! Just noticed all the while I have typed the wrong way for AHCI which I keep on typing ACHI

That is something isn't wise to do since most of the cases will fail except I follows the following:
http://www.sharkyforums.com/showthread.php...Storage+Manager

Maybe I'll give that a try before doing a full reinstallation of the Windows since my Windows just crashed yesterday .

My sister just called and she said my Windows or HDD crashed again with BSOD... Disk Read Error ... bad luck for me getting that faulty HDD?

It would be most probably the Seagate 500GB HDD since I only use my Samsung 120GB for FULL STORING and BACKUP purpose.

I used SeaTools for Windows to test my Seagate 500GB HDD this morning and it passed both the Short and Long Drive Self-Test (DST). Would that still be my HDD causing the problem?

Anyway, most probably I'll be preparing for a full format to switch to AHCI mode.

Yeah, I did read your post in that thread which started by me regarding AHCI vs IDE. Finally, someone with real experience stood up and help me out with it .

Actually personally, I might not bother switching into AHCI mode till my system crashed twice (yesterday and just now). The first time it happened, I was rebooting my system and then suddenly the system indicating a missing system file at location "C://Windows/Config/" or similar... I couldn't remember as I didn't jot it down. Then I forced RESET and the 4th or 5th time I managed to load Windows. I run a ScanDisk check on D: and it took too long till I do another RESET *I just couldn't cancel it *. The system then went to the same state and I did a Windows Recovery Installation using WinXP BootDisk. The system then runs normal.

I left my rig run over night as I'm downloading a huge file which about 3GB++. I was at work and suddenly my sister SMSed me telling me that the system suddenly BSOD and restarted. She told me that she read something about "Disk Read Error". Well, I switched ON my rig now and it runs normally. I haven't do any diagnostic yet, but yesterday my 500GB Seagate HDD passed SeaTools's (Seagate HDD's Diagnostic Tool) Short and Long Drive Self-Test.

Initially I plan to reformat everything and switching into AHCI mode. But since now that you mentioned no performance gain and in fact lower its performance, I hold it up at the moment and will do some HDD scanning. Perhaps any good applications to be recommended from you?

P/S: I'm running Windows XP Pro SP2

My new Seagate 500GB 7200.11 32MB entering 2nd week of usage...



How reliable is this program actually?

Tu lah... that software crappy and unreliable... least that's what I felt... but... anyway... changing my Seagate 500GB 1 on 1 soon

I already told them my problem. I failed to format and install Windows into the Seagate 500GB thrice already

Swap with my Samsung 120GB HDD, voila ~

Yeah, made the change yesterday and will install it on Tuesday since I'm not free these two days

Maxtor has already bought by Seagate.

U talk nonsense... *refer to my bolded red words please *

I got one Barracuda 500GB 7200.11 32MB cache in my rig now

Well, if used as a storage... I don't see any reason for not getting it . Unless if you wanted to use as system harddisk drive, getting Seagate 7200.11 with 32MB cache will enhance the performance . I'm running only SATA mode AHCI now which enables the features offered by SATA technology such as NCQ and hot-swappable.

I bought mine from CZone

Changed for a new unit ... I'm the first...

Just installed the new replaced unit into my rig yesterday since I'm busy for few days already. So far working good and fast responsive

RM450

CZone la... any bought HDD that enter Seagate will come out as "Certified Seagate Repaired HDD"

This post has been edited by vearn27: Mar 1 2008, 10:13 PM

7200.11 using higher capacity per platter and thus power consumption and heat is much lower than its predecessors. For that reason as well, the 7200.11 start with 500GB minimum. Besides that, it also using some sort of new perpendicular reading / writing mechanism which enhance the performance of the drive. 7200.11 comes with 16MB and 32MB cache model with NCQ technology. That's all which I know...

If you buy from retail shop, it will be Seagate OEM HDD. However, once you send to Seagate for RMA, it will return one stated "Certified Seagate Repaired HDD". Since mine is 1 to 1 exchange, so I'm getting a new unit. Got it?

This post has been edited by vearn27: Mar 4 2008, 12:23 PM

Poor soul here... any help?

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/644478