windows and CF keep locking up :s

**racer_X** · 04-29-2008, 04:09 PM

originally i had my hdd mounted vertically in my trunk and everytime i went over a slight bump the music with start to skip and the computer locks up. i then moutned it horizontally and for about a day or so it was perfect and i even went over man holes on purpose to test it, untill today when i went over another bump it locked up. my system is a p4 3.0ghz, 2gb dd2 ram, 360gb IDE hdd, m4-atx 250W. any help please! the rest of the system works awesome! except for this i really need to get it fixed before any perminent damage to the hdd.

**monkeyracer** · 04-29-2008, 04:12 PM

more info needed:

Where and how do you have it mounted?
Pics maybe?
more specs on HDD (manufacturer, speed, etc...)

Do you use the whole 360GB? depending on what is up with the hard drive, it might be worth getting a new laptop drive, but it might be a simple fix.

**racer_X** · 04-29-2008, 04:23 PM

its a 2006 honda civic the entire computer is mounted in the spare tire well. the hdd is screwd down right to the car. i'm at work right now so i can't take any pics the hdd is a maxtor 7200rpm and so far i have only used about 100gb

**mrbean_phillip** · 04-29-2008, 07:42 PM

Sounds like you have a bad connection somewhere, firstly check all you power-cables, both to the computer, and then internal too, make sure data cables are seated properly.

Br,
MrBean

**monkeyracer** · 04-29-2008, 07:53 PM

I was thinking something along those lines.

It's pretty rare to have a fairly new hard drive fail like that. It seems more like there's a bad connection somewhere. If it is the drive, then I would try to sell that one on ebay, and buy a new one...

Also, horizontal or vertical shouldn't matter too much. Search the forum for Hard Drive Mounting or something like that. It's a debate that is as old as this forum and the general consensus is that it doesn't matter how it's mounted as long as it is secure.

**rdholtz** · 04-29-2008, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by mrbean_phillip

Sounds like you have a bad connection somewhere, firstly check all you power-cables, both to the computer, and then internal too, make sure data cables are seated properly.

Originally Posted by monkeyracer

. . . It seems more like there's a bad connection somewhere.

I agree on the connection issue, and I'd suggest a much softer mounting, too. It sounds like this is a 3.5-inch drive, intended for static use, and you're using it as a mobile. The 2.5-inch laptop drives have internal cushioning to allow them to withstand some impact, but 3.5-inch drives don't. Give your drive a little more -- or a lot more -- cushioning, rather than hard mounting, and see if that eliminates the problem.

Just placing the drive on a piece of foam, or on two pieces -- one higher density, and one lower density -- would be a good test. But the foam may present heat issues, so it isn't a good long-term solution. You'll probably want to cushion the mounts.

**blk02si** · 05-01-2008, 06:46 PM

Go with a read only solid state OS running on flash memory and the problem goes away.

At least it did for me

**racer_X** · 05-01-2008, 06:54 PM

so it seems like it was a loose pci card. everytime that i would hit a bump the card would move slightly and of course vists panics and locks up. so i'v screwed it down better and for about 1.5 days nows seem to be perfect...*knock on wood*

**monkeyracer** · 05-01-2008, 07:02 PM

I saw a guy that took the shocks from an R/C car, and mounted them to a platform that suspended the drive. The springs provided the shock resistance, the oil in the springs provided rebound resistance. This limits the mounting options a little though. (need a little more space for it to move.)

Originally Posted by blk02si

Go with a read only solid state OS running on flash memory and the problem goes away.

At least it did for me

Have you seen a 360GB solid state drive yet?

Originally Posted by racer_X

360gb IDE hdd

Or maybe a 120GB?

Originally Posted by racer_X

the hdd is a maxtor 7200rpm and so far i have only used about 100gb

Or do you have a spinning HDD for your files and OS only on the SSD? (Which would work BTW)

edit: Just saw the post above, you were typing the same time I was... Hopefully that's all it is.