Computer Trouble

[Ecip]

Having some issues, looking for ideas; last week BF3 quit working, would freeze my computer when I would try to run it. Today, Windows wouldnt boot and I couldnt get it to. Would show a screen with 4 small blue lines at the top of the screen and then some random colours, and thats bout it. Sooo... I tried booting into Ubuntu from a life CD, which I'm typing from now, so that worked, BUT it took long time, and after clicking on 'Try Ubuntu', I would get an error on the screen that kept repeating itself while Linux tried to establish some kind of connection to a device on this computer. If someone could tell me what the hell it is that is causing that error, would be apprechiated. I'll try and post that pic....

**edit: k here it is.



Is this possibly my SSD failing?

***or mainboard....

[KRosen]

first, because it is you ecip

OH CRAP ITS FEMA HACKING YOU RUN RUN!!!

okay, this does indeed look like your ssd.

fear not - take the ubuntu cd out, if you can (not sure if you have another pc or not) download this...
UBCD for Windows
and for future reference get the original ubcd too
Ultimate Boot CD - Overview

run the first one, its a live cd like the linux one but it is a little quicker/better - take note it just LOOKS like windows, its not actually windows.

when you log in, see if you can see your ssd - and see if you can read any files.

once you are in, if you can, use one of the utilities to scan your ssd - im not sure which to use, even though i was using it about 2 weeks ago my memory runs thin these days. go from there.

in teh event ubcd for win does not load (give it some time) use ubcd original. go to hdd-> diagnostics, and pick one that looks like it might work (most of them will work for any hdrives, though they give the maker of the software because some of them are locked)

[KRosen]

a quick google also suggests this could be a loose sata cable - i have my doubts, but take them out and reseat them just in case

[Ecip]

Well, so far I ruled out sata cable, the storage drive, and the ssd... for some reason it will boot, but only if -only- the ssd is connected. I tried this with a second sata drive I had laying around and it would no longer boot. Sooooo I'm thinking motherboard. Thoughts?
I'm going to get an external drive case and transfer some data off the SSD before I whipe it and do a fresh install after getting a new motherboard. Never had one go bad before.

[Ecip]

Just did some reading up on this. What I have is a driver interface issue. The output that linux gave me matches the explanation on this website: The Analysis of Drive Issues - unRAID

So this:

Drive interface issue #3

An example:

ata2.00: exception Emask 0x10 SAct 0x7ff4f SErr 0x400100 action 0x6 frozen ata2.00: irq_stat 0x08000000, interface fatal error ata2: SError: { UnrecovData Handshk } From an expert:

"This is transmission error. Most common causes are power related or unreliable connection especially if backplanes are involved. Is the problem still reproducible? If so, can you please try to move it to different power connector and SATA port and see what changes?" -- tejun

and this both apply to my situation:

Drive interface issue #2

An example:

res 40/00:00:48:19:67/00:00:1e:00:00/40 Emask 0x50 (ATA bus error) ata3: SError: { UnrecovData HostInt 10B8B BadCRC } These errors are usually related to a bad cable or cable connector, or possibly bad power. The presence of BadCRC or ICRC is a pretty good indicator of a poor quality SATA cable. However, if a better cable does not solve the issue, then it is probably a power problem (loose power cable or backplane connection, poor connectors, poor power splitter, overloaded power supply, too many drives on power rail, bad power supply, etc).

Tomorrow I will go purchase a new power supply and 3 sata cables.

[KRosen]

good work, hope it works out.

[Ecip]

Well... new PSU, new sata cables... same problem on first boot. shut it down, restarted with only the SSD plugged in and did a disk check, no errors.... plugged everything back in again and now it seems ok. Donno what to make of this. Maybe the mobo -is- dying slowly, but only time will tell for now.

On a lighter note, bought a modular PSU... Sooooooo much cleaner.

Edit: everything works perfectly now since the PSU change.