[CrazyKillerMan]

Wow....tonite there was a storm here (rain ... and I didnt see any lightning). When i got home this evening my monitors both were unsteady even at 60Hz and my IDE drives were not registering at all in Windows.

In the event viewer I get:
"The device 'Maxtor 5T030H3' (IDE\DiskMaxtor_5T030H3__________________________ disappeared from the system without first being prepared for removal."

Then got:
"Application popup: Windows - Delayed Write Failed : Windows was unable to save all the data for the file G:\. The data has been lost. This error may be caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection. Please try to save this file elsewhere. " all over the place as well as ntfs errors and the like.

Then:
"The device 'FUJITSU MPF3204AH' (IDE\DiskFUJITSU_MPF3204AH_______________________5C14____\5&38e87ed0&0&0.1.0) disappeared from the system without first being prepared for removal." Well that about cuts it for the HDD's on IDE. The two on RAID are still ok (I Hope).

I have good quality power bars for my computer and monitors as well. One strange thing I notice, after the two HDD disappear, the IDE Activity light is always on. The CD-Roms are also functioning normal. Checking the device manager, I see that the IDE driver and everything is OK, but teh HDD are gone from here. WHAT THE IN THE BLOODY HEL HAPPENED?

[Sampson]

Cant' say that this is the same, but lighting hit the phone line. It was such a discrete burst, it came through the external modem, through the serial port right into the motherboard, yet other than the modem not being able to dial out, the machine worked flawlessly. I did have to replace the modem, the serial port and the motherboard. The storm was mild, mostly rain. While your problem is with your hard drive, and the burst may have come through the power lines, I would have that motherboard thoroughly tested. I would also look at my insurance policy to see if you are covered.

[CrazyKillerMan]

Ok....I flashed the BIOS to the newest version from ASUS's site and it helped the problem a little. I am only loosing one drive now periodically, but the system ahs become unstable (locking up for no reason).

I know I should test my mobo, but I got finals this week and I dont have time, but I need this damn thing.
Thanks for the suggestion ... I do plan on testing it. I just want to see if anyone has found the problem to be more specific.


O well....if anyone else has had something like this happen plz post with your outcome.

[CrazyKillerMan]

Heres an update, it wont boot with FSB at 133MHz (DDR). If I leave it a 900 MHz, the ol' t-bird pulls through, but if i jump it up to 1200MHz, it wont get to desktop without locking.

Ignore above post, the only thing that fixed was the IDE LED not being lit constantly.

[AndyFair]

Sounds like you definitely have problems caused by a power spike - either down the phone line, or through the power socket. Sounds too coincidental to be anything else.

You say you have decent quality power strips, but are they surge protected? If they are protected, does the manufacturer offer any kind of warranty (I know APC strips are guaranteed, don't know if any other suppliers are)?

Rgds
AndyF

[Davros]

Most people I know buy a UPS after they lose hardware to surges.
Make sure that in the future you don't just protect the power line, but also the phone line and coax cable as well. Get a good APC UPS for each computer. Most of those power strips are worthless for protection, especially the cheaper ones.

[Alien]

[CrazyKillerMan]

The strips do have power surge protection, and they were no cheap

I think I got hosed on them at any rate, but I dont know where the bill is

I thinkt I might try and stick it out for another 6-8 weeks or so and get a new mobo. Proably the dual ASUS board for AMD's

[Sampson]

If you've been hit by lightning, there is precious little you can really do about it no matter what protection you have. It is sometimes a question of luck how the surge branches. As I said when it came through the phone line and took out my modem, it did go into the motherboard. I used the thing for weeks after it was tested and waited for the replacement. I never really had a problem; then, again, I didn't trust it either. Sorry about your mobo, but I would backup frequently.

[CrazyKillerMan]

Quote:

but I would backup frequently.

Thats not a problem....I back up everyday and take it off the computer every week. I havent lost any data, as both the HDD are still working perfectly, they just get disconnected all the time.


i got an email back from asustek and the fellow attached the latest bios and told me to get the power supply checked out. I flashed the latest bios for the board before I sent an email, so i may try to have a look at the power supply sometime (it isnt problem, we got tones of crap here at the lab). Just have to haul the case down here (its full tower and packed with goodies) which is a pain in da arse.


Thanks for your replies everyone, very much appreciated.

[Uykucu]

I had a similar problem the other year at my parents house in istanbul. A lightning hit one of the satellite dishes in garden and apart from the melting LNB etc we had all the electronics in the house messed up.
Computer especially really had it and had to be replaced. I was lucky about the HDD's though.

So as an EEIE i vote for a Low intensity EMP wave caused by close proximity static discharge.

(I know it sounds scientific and maybe a bit dogged but i do not know any other way of saying it.)

[CrazyKillerMan]

Its cool, I study electronics heavily in school

Im sure thats what it was.