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problem with my external hard drive...i think


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#1
Pepper Jack

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hey guys, basically i've had an external hard drive for years and it's been very reliable but now all of a sudden it crashes windows explorer more often than not, and when a program tries to access it said program also crashes (usually vlc when i watch videos from the hard drive) and turns it into a hung process which task manager refuses to end (i always tried pskill and a few other programs to deal with hung processes but nothing works)

after that happens i really can't do anything with my computer and am forced to reboot by holding down the off button because otherwise the "shutting down" or "logging off" screen just stays up indefinately.

i've defragged all my drives, i've used chkdsk to detect and fix errors and nothing works. the reason that i put "i think" in the title is because i'm not sure if the problem is with the external hard drive, windows explorer or vlc media player, i'm totally stumped by this one, please help

thank guys

EDIT: sorry i left out this info but if it helps i'm using windows 7 ultimate edition and the hard drive is a seagate 750gb usb connected hard drive

Edited by Pepper Jack, 15 February 2010 - 08:32 AM.

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#2
peter99

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try diagnostic software

Download the latest diagnostic software and utilities from the manufacturer of your hard drive(s).

http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287
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#3
Pepper Jack

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ok, it doesn't appear to work with windows 7 but i'm trying anyway, thanks very much i'll reply on here to let you know if it works or if i need more help.
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#4
rshaffer61

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HD diagnostics doesn't depend on the OS to work. You create the bootable iso disk and reboot the system The software runs completely from the cd.
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#5
peter99

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thank to Broni

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287

Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.

If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

change boot order in BIOS to boot from CD first

Edited by peter99, 15 February 2010 - 09:31 AM.

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#6
Pepper Jack

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i downloaded seatools for windows from here http://www.seagate.c...nloads/seatools

it just installed to my internal hard drive and is running the tests from there, it didn't need to be burned to disk or anything, i'm running tests now but it says it may take a few hours so i'm just gonna sit tight and keep my fingers crossed that it solves this problem once and for all.

i have a little more info that i forgot to mention in the OP if it helps. when VLC or whatever crashes due to trying to read from the hard drive everything explorer related stops working, can't empty recycle bin etc but if i go to my computer and try to enter the external hard drive nothing happens, the explorer window just goes on not responding and end process doesn't work. sorry if that info is useless as i'm not sure exactly what i'm dealing with here, i still don't know if the problem is with explorer, the hard drive or vlc lol

the reason i think the problem could be to do with windows explorer is because when i had vista i had a big problem with explorer before christmas which made me have to restore factory settings on my laptop and start over. for some reason explorer.exe kept hogging all my cpu power and instead of showing up at 00 in the cpu column of the task manager it would be always above 80 and the cpu usage would always be 100% which would completely slow anything explorer related to a crawl or crash which made it impossible for me to navigate around the computer. i tried all sorts of tips that i found online such as disabling thumbnails and messing with the search indexing etc but nothing worked so i just had to cut my losses and restore factory settings on the computer. again i apologise if this is irrelavent i just wanna give you as much info as possible so we can end this problem. thanks guys
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#7
Pepper Jack

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ok, i just ran a test called "long generic" and it took about 3 hours but came back with no errors, any ideas?
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#8
Pepper Jack

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i tried to run a different diagnostic test and it took hours and near the end god [bleep] windows explorer f'd up again and i had to force a reboot, i'm sick to death of this guys, please help
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#9
Pepper Jack

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not getting much help here and the problem is getting worse. i'm pretty sure now that the problem is with windows explorer. anybody know of any diagnostic tests that actually work that i can run on windows explorer that will detect/fix errors?
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#10
rshaffer61

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Sorry for the long absence. Try the following steps and let us know what the results are.

Go to
Start and then to Run
Type in Chkdsk /r Note the space between k and /
Click Enter ...It will probably ask if you want to do this on the next reboot...click Y
If the window doesn't shutdown on its own then reboot the system manually. On reboot the system will start the chkdsk operation
This one will take longer then chkdsk /f

Note... there are 5 stages...
It may appear to hang at a certain percent for a hour or more or even back up and go over the same area...this is normal...
DO NOT SHUT YOUR COMPUTER DOWN WHILE CHKDSK IS RUNNING OR YOU CAN HAVE SEVERE PROBLEMS
This can take several hours to complete.
When completed it will boot the system back into windows.

Let me know if this fixes the problem




Go Start and then to Run ("Start Search" in Vista),
Type in: sfc /scannow
Click OK (Enter in Vista).
Have Windows CD/DVD handy.
If System File Checker (sfc) finds any errors, it may ask you for the CD/DVD.
If sfc does not find any errors in Windows XP, it will simply quit, without any message.
In Vista you will receive the following message: "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations".

For Vista users ONLY: Navigate to C:\Windows\Logs\CBS folder. You'll see CBS.log file.
Usually, it's pretty big file, so upload it to Flyupload, and post download link.


If you don't have Windows CD....
This applies mostly to Windows XP, since Vista rarely requires use of its DVD while running "sfc"
Note This method will not necessarily work as well, as when using Windows CD, because not always ALL system files are backed up on your hard drive. Also, backed up files may be corrupted as well.

Go Start and then Run
type in regedit and click OK


Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

You will see various entries Values on the right hand side.

The one we want is called: SourcePath

It probably has an entry pointing to your CD-ROM drive, usually D and that is why it is asking for the XP CD.
All we need to do is change it to: C:
Now, double click the SourcePatch setting and a new box will pop up.
Change the drive letter from your CD drive to your root drive, usually C:
Close Registry Editor.

Now restart your computer and try sfc /scannow again!


Thanks to Broni for the instructions

Edited by rshaffer61, 19 February 2010 - 10:23 AM.

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#11
Pepper Jack

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thanks a lot, i'll try those 2 methods now and let you know if they work. i hope to god that they do because i'm sick to death of my computer being barely useable :)
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#12
rshaffer61

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Also I need more info from you about your system so please do the following.

Download and install Free Everest Home Edition
Open it.
1: In left pane expand Computer folder.
2: Click once on Summary
3: In upper menu, go Report
4: And then to Quick Report-Summary
5: Save it in text file, and paste it in your next post.
Click the + by computer, click on Sensor. Get a screenshot and post it so I can check your temps and voltages...

DO NOT INCLUDE ANYTHING UNDER THE LINE THAT SAYS "DEBUG- PCI"
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#13
Pepper Jack

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i'll do that as soon as the sfc test is done, thanks very much for your help. i'm not familiar with this forum, is there i way that i can give you +rep?
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#14
Pepper Jack

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Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Quick Report
Computer ALEX-PC
Generator Alex
Operating System Windows 7 Ultimate Media Center Edition 6.1.7600
Date 2010-02-19
Time 17:13


--------[ Summary ]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Operating System Windows 7 Ultimate Media Center Edition
OS Service Pack -
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name ALEX-PC
User Name Alex

Motherboard:
CPU Type Mobile , 2100 MHz
Motherboard Name Hewlett-Packard HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook PC
Motherboard Chipset Unknown
System Memory 3072 MB
BIOS Type Insyde (12/04/08)

Display:
Video Adapter ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 Series
Video Adapter ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 Series
Monitor Generic PnP Monitor [NoDB]
Monitor Generic PnP Monitor [NoDB]

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter High Definition Audio Controller [NoDB]
Audio Adapter High Definition Audio Controller [NoDB]

Storage:
IDE Controller JMB38X MS Host Controller
IDE Controller JMB38X SD Host Controller
IDE Controller JMB38X SD/MMC Host Controller
IDE Controller JMB38X xD Host Controller
IDE Controller Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
Disk Drive TOSHIBA MK2552GSX ATA Device (232 GB, IDE)
Disk Drive Seagate FreeAgentDesktop USB Device (698 GB, USB)
Optical Drive Optiarc BD ROM BC-5500S ATA Device
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 228983 MB (33296 MB free)
D: (NTFS) 9487 MB (1664 MB free)
F: (NTFS) 715402 MB (98663 MB free)
Total Size 931.5 GB (130.5 GB free)

Input:
Keyboard Microsoft eHome MCIR 109 Keyboard
Keyboard Microsoft eHome MCIR Keyboard
Keyboard Microsoft eHome Remote Control Keyboard keys
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard with HP QLB
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad

Network:
Network Adapter Atheros AR5007 802.11b/g WiFi Adapter (192.168.1.2)
Network Adapter Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Modem Agere Systems HDA Modem

Peripherals:
Printer Fax
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Printer Send To OneNote 2007
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB2 Controller Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB2 Controller Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB Device HP Webcam
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Mass Storage Device
Battery Microsoft AC Adapter
Battery Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery
Battery Microsoft Composite Battery

Posted Image
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#15
rshaffer61

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OK got some ideals but i need to take a look at a couple of logs.

Download WhoCrashed from the link in my signature below
This program checks for any drivers which may have been causing your computer to crash....

Click on the file you just downloaded and run it.
Put a tick in Accept then click on Next
Put a tick in the Don't create a start menu folder then click Next
Put a tick in Create a Desktop Icon then click on Install and make sure there is a tick in Launch Whocrashed before clicking Finish
Click Analyze
It will want to download the Debugger and install it Say Yes
WhoCrashed will create report but you have to scroll down to see it
Copy and paste it into your next reply
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