Need some opinions

[Baneblade]

My computer recently started randomly turning the hard disk on and off and booting to Windas is a pain becuase of it.

I know for a fact the Hard Disk is fine.

I know for a fact it isn't a software problem.

It also happens to the CD ROM.

What I haven't figured out yet is whether it is the motherboard, power supply, or something else.

Any ideas?

[Rbstr]

turning it on and off? what do you mean? i don't relay get all of it.

but for a HD problem try putting the IDE cabel into a different plug on the mobo.

what are the rest of your system specs?

[Baneblade]

Athlon 2000+
DDR333
WinME
Western Digital 60Gb

It does it regardless of which port the cable is in (CD and HDD are seperate)

Now the Ethernet goes out and I have to reboot to get it working again. I still don't know if it is the PSU or the mobo, but I'm leaning toward to mobo.

As for the HDD, it turns off for no reason, but it still needs to be used so it turns back on...mostly. Sometimes it will do it to the CD and leave the HDD alone. Sometimes neither, but to do that I have to boot it to Safe Mode and then restart.

My computer is as weird as I am...

[Rbstr]

it sounds to me like you have problems in your power management settings, make sure those are OK.

I remember ME also had some problems with My old comps CD drives

[Electrofreak]

I'm confused as well. So, hardware seems to be randomly just... turning off? Really wierd. I'd say it was a weak/bad power supply, but that usually causes reboots. Try updating your chipset drivers, and perhaps the power management driver (just a guess). Otherwise, your motherboard might just be dying. :(

[Baneblade]

I turned Power Management off in the BIOS last night, didn't think about ME's PM, so lesse what that does.

[Baneblade]

Well it seems I can learn new tricks. No wonder people hate ME.

[Baneblade]

Seems it hasn't totally fixed the problem...hmm.

[Electrofreak]

Whatever the problem is, ME is no doubt part of it. TERRIBLE operating system.

[Baneblade]

ME isn't part of it. It does it in the BIOS too.

Besides, my computer already murdered ME.

[Rbstr]

hmm, try unplugging a couple of devices(like the CD drive) and see if it stops that will pin it on the PSU

[Baneblade]

I have done that and it still continues. It even does it to the CD drive instead of the hard drive at times.

[Indecisive]

Im confused about the problem...what are the effects of the hardware 'turning off' the computer reboots? You just cant get it to respond anymore..

Unusuall

[Baneblade]

The Hard Drive turns off like it normally would when not being used, ie Power Management options. but it does this when it is in use, whether by Windows, another program, or even just passing POST.

Basically the IDE is not functioning based on demand, it seems to be random, and formatting and reinstalling Windows does nothing to change it.

[MattxMosh]

Basically the IDE is not functioning based on demand, it seems to be random, and formatting and reinstalling Windows does nothing to change it.

If you have the option available to you, plug your shit into a different motherboard, using the SAME cables. If it works you know its your mobo.

If not, try new cables, IDE cable suck and sht the bed all the time.

[Daleon]

So your saying it goes into sleep mode??? How on earth can you tell it does it to the cdrom?

[Baneblade]

Because the CD ROM won't detect on boot. The HDD does it too.

I managed to reinstall windows, but as soon as I loaded the LAN drivers it flaked again.

I'ma try dumping the VIA 4in1 drivers when I get home.