[LBo] hard drive failure?

[Brice Hunt]

Jackson Robertson wrote:
> I just want to say thanks for all you have replied and helped me out
> here. I
> have downloaded ulitmate boot cd and used some of the utils on that cd to
> test all my harddrives and my memory as well. Everything passed, no
> errors
> what so ever. At this point the only thing I can think of that could
> be the
> problem would be the motherboard. Does any one else have any ideas on
> what
> the problem could be? I have tried or tested all of the follow with no
> fix
> in site...
>
> Memory
> Harddrives
> Graphics Card
> Power supply
>
> Everything else in my computer is new. I have had problems with the
> motherboard in the past and I have seen some of the same issues
> popping up
> again which is why I'm almost certain at this point that its the
> motherboard. I would just like to see what you all think on this issue
> and
> again thanks for the replies.
At this point it is most likely the motherboard.  The first thing to do
is to make sure the BIOS is completely up-to-date.  Use the BIOS and
follow the instructions given by the motherboard manufacturer to update
it.  If that fails, then you may want to seek out warranty replacement
of the motherboard.

Also, you didn't say if this computer is running Windows or Linux.  When
you install Windows, you have to make sure the motherboard chipset, DMA,
and USB drivers are all installed before any other drivers.  You follow
that with the video card and other drivers for on-board motherboard
peripherals.  I have seen Windows machines exhibit this behavior time
after time when the drivers were installed in the incorrect order (it
has to do with the order they are listed in the binary Windows system
file that loads the drivers).

If it is Linux, unless you rolled your own, most Linux distros
automagically load the drivers in the correct order.  Problems that
might cause what's happening is not having the right driver loading or
sometimes having drivers load in the wrong order.  If LiveCD distros
don't demonstrate the problem, check into the kernel modules that are
loading and make sure all the right ones are loading in the right
order.  I haven't ever really needed to do a lot of messing with
modules.  (I've installed sensor modules for motherboard temperature and
fan sensors and NTFS modules, but not much else.)  Someone with a bit
deeper experience than I have would be the one who should give you help
in this area, if this is what you need.

That's all I can think of.

Brice