Question about HP Pavilion Media Center a1330n - AMD Athlon 64 2.4GHz Desktop Computer (Open Box Product, Limited Avai... (EL466AAABAOB)
Hi,
I've got an HP a1330n with a Samsung SP2504C hard drive that uses SATA cable using Windows XP. It works for about 4-8 minutes, then the hard drive makes a grinding noise and it completely locks up whether in Safe or Normal modes. I have to turn off and turn back on again every single time as Ctr+Alt+Del doesn't work. I've not had it connected online either. It's frustrating as I can barely get the help 'tools' to install before I'm rebooting!
I've done the following in both Safe and Normal modes:
Ran spybot
Ran hijack this
Ran adaware
Left off attempting to install and run Trend Micro's PC-cillin
Swapping the red SATA cable on the motherboard slot
Ran a surface scan on the hard drive
Emptied the .tmp files, temp internet files, etc.
Used an uninstaller and uninstalled all older files (kids programs, Yahoo tools, every single instance of NAV I could find as well as , AT&T Self Help Tool, etc.)
I'm at a loss. There is a warning 'grind' just before it shuts down. I've searched many developer forums, but I'm not a programmer or a tekkie. Any advice?
Also, there's no updated BIOS for this model; I've looked into that as well.
Thanks so much for any help!
Humbly,
Lisa in Michigan
Well for this problem i have a few questions?
Do you really mean BIOS or driver. Try a different driver from HP or from the chipset maker for example silicon image.
Then.
If you don't have warranty buy a new hard drive. Cheap or expensive (cheap if you don't want to use it in a new computer if this is broken and you buy a new one). Just to exclude what is not good. With this hard drive you can install xp with the supplied restore cd's if you have. Then look if it again locks up. If not locks up it's your current hard drive. other than that it could be 2 cases. Something with the supplied sata driver of something with the sata controller. Also check the power connector maybe it's not attached in a good manner. Do not use 2 power cables on 1 hard drive. Like the molex (1 black 2 yellow 1 red) and the sata power. One of these and the normal sata cable. First try this and then you know more what to do
Posted on Nov 28, 2007
Hi Lisa
You must be heading for the mad house by now. But if your not could you check to see if all your fans, I don't mean you singing fans but the fan on the PowerSupply, The Fan on the CPU., and the internal fan in the computer itself are working. It sounds very much like a heat problem. Is there any noise while the computer is running other than the grinding before it powers out.
Posted on Nov 28, 2007
Hi,
According to your problem first check the hard drive status and make sure that it is ok. If it doesn't detect in bios setup then you can change the cable of the hard drive. Also make sure that the DVD Rom working fine. If the hard drive doesn't detect while you begin setup then clear the bios first. Then reset the bios properly. You may need a firmware update also. If you can not continue the setup then break the partition of the hard drive. You can use partition break up software, like partition magic etc also. If it doesn't solve your problem then you may need to replace the hard drive. To check the hard drive status you can try with another OS installation. Best of luck.
1,493 views
Usually answered in minutes!
Thanks for all feedback. Both fans are working. There is no updated BIOS according to the hp and Toshiba websites. Further, the hard drive isn't warm to the touch at all. I've checked all the cables and they are secure (even unplugging and re-plugging to be sure); however, the hard drive always boots up and xp loads with no problems after a hard boot. I actually got Trend Micro's scan to run 20 minutes last night before it locked up! :-) Further, when it does freeze, the mouse moves, but am unable to click or select anything. I only get the dreaded 'blue screen' once in a while.
I've got the cover off and I can hear the grind coming from the hard drive itself, but it's unlike a noise I've heard before (not like the hard drive is searching, but a different noise [6 or so grind sounds only] and then it freezes up). I thought it was virus-related as it's been working fine for 2 years...
I DON'T have the original install disks. It seems HP charges $30 for the restore disks and they don't come with the pc!! Thus, I was trying to fix it rather than replace as my father-in-law has things just so...however, if I have to, I'll replace.
Anything else I can check? Oh, with regard to the SATA driver and/or controller, can I just remove and another will automatically load upon restart? I thought that worked with some drivers...Thanks again!!!
Tallow, sorry I didn't answer your question. There is the normal hard drive noise (it's basically a very quiet machine) when the hard drive is busy, but the grinding noise is almost a click-hiccup (unlike any other sound it makes at any other time), it repeats 4-6 times and then freezes.
×