Help from any computer gurus out there

[uOpt]

If you are satisfied that adding and removing the third harddrive makes the error appear and disappear, and if the drive is idle, then you have a broken motherboard. Myself I would run more tests to confirm but once you are sure that's that.

There is a possibility to explain things with a broken PSU but then every computer problem can be.

The harddrive might be broken and things might work if you exchange it. But in the end then the mainboard is still to blame, because a broken harddrive on one port shouldn't affect other ports, much less USB ports.

Before you get a new board, flash to the newest BIOS.

[SabbathFan0220]

GoldenVulture, uOpt, and briggleman. Many thanks to the dream team.

Obviously we still haven't pinpointed the problem 100%, but I think we can all agree that a new PSU has a shot at fixing things. I took briggleman's advice and ordered a more powerful PSU from amazon.com. If I get the same crashes with the new PSU, we'll know that wasn't the issue, and I'll send it back, no harm done. Amazon.com is great about returns.

At this point that seems like the easiest possible solution and I'm just really burnt out on troubleshooting this one. I'll report back when the new PSU is up and running.

Thanks again guys.

[uOpt]

Man don't tell me you ordered a random PSU just because it has a bigger watts number on it. The number means nothing with most brands.

[SabbathFan0220]

I don't know how you pick a PSU if not by the number of watts, but I ordered THIS ONE.

[briggleman]

I think you will do OK with that one.....Really OK!

[SabbathFan0220]

The new PSU arrived and I installed it. I pushed the computer as hard as I could, doing as many operations as possible, with all three drives plugged in...and I have yet to get it to crash. I think this was the fix. I'm going to mess around with it for a few hours tonight before I'm completely convinced, but it's looking good.

Can't thank you guys enough.

[briggleman]

Well so far so good, however keep pushing and testing, it is still possible other factors that GV and uOpt mentioned could be the cause. Glad its working so far. I would be interested to see a power reading again with the new power supply. Just curious.

With the power supply you purchased, you now have one heck of a system.

Brad

[SabbathFan0220]

Thanks briggleman...unfortunately it crashed on me again, with the same crash report as before. And I wasn't even pushing it very hard.

The first decision I need to make is whether to keep the new PSU or return it. Is there any reason to keep it if it doesn't fix the crash issue?

[uOpt]

That was to be expected based on the works-without-hd. You have some problem there that is temporarily chased away by wiggling.

Is it still stable without that HD?

[briggleman]

Thanks briggleman...unfortunately it crashed on me again, with the same crash report as before. And I wasn't even pushing it very hard.

The first decision I need to make is whether to keep the new PSU or return it. Is there any reason to keep it if it doesn't fix the crash issue?

That is a decision up to you about the power supply. If it were me, I would keep it since it is well above the minimal requirements for your Video Card and it is an enhancement, and monetary concerns on my part for that amount would be minimal. I am not in your shoes however, so if there are other concerns, it would be OK keeping your original power supply since this latest crash seems to rule out a power issue causing the crashes. uOpt's question about the system stability without the third drive connected should be investigated further. I am not familiar with your motherboard.... How are the dvd or cdroms connected to the board...SATA or EIDE? If SATA, I would disconnect one and see if hooking the third drive up to one of those still allows operation or kills it again.

What I find strange is the fact that when you pushed your system after the new PS and did not induce the BSOD, which you could always make it do before, it seemed stable. But now, with little or no pushing on your part it has gone back to the same symptoms with the 3rd HD connected.

Do you leave your system on all the time? Or do you shut it down completely after each use???

[SabbathFan0220]

Thanks for keeping up with this thread, guys. I'll probably send this PSU back because money is tight right now and I really don't need it.

Here's something new, though: I got the system to crash without the third HD plugged in. Both SATA and power were unplugged from the drive at the time. I guess the problem isn't directly related to that third drive, it just happens more often with it than without it.

All three hard drives and the CD/DVD drive are connected via SATA.

I generally shut the system down completely after each use, because that computer is not my primary computer and I only use it for music.

Any guesses as to the next appropriate diagnostic test would be greatly appreciated, but feel free to give up on this at any time. I'm almost there myself.

[briggleman]

Well now, .... if you got it to crash without the third drive installed... and you never had a problem with crashing before the installation of the third drive, it sort of leads down the path that uOpt is suggesting..... during the installation of the drive, something came loose, connection was bumped, or some type of damage was done to another component we have yet to identify. Really the only suggestion I can give you now is re-seat every connection, and I mean all of them, including pulling the main processor, making sure you have plenty of heat transfer thermo paste between the heat sink and processor. I have seen these issues where not enough paste was used and intermittent crashes occurred due to the heat.

I cannot think of anything else to do.

Brad

[uOpt]

Here's something new, though: I got the system to crash without the third HD plugged in. Both SATA and power were unplugged from the drive at the time. I guess the problem isn't directly related to that third drive, it just happens more often with it than without it.

Well it's what I've been telling you all along.

So your choices are try different OS or different motherboard.

[GoldenVulture]

Do you have the latest Bios or an early one.? There's been a few updates that have included " improved system stability ".
The latest vesion is this;

BIOS (7)
Version 1006
Description Sabertooth X58 1006 BIOS
1. Update Intel Raid Option ROM
2. Fix USB3.0 Overcurrent check may fail File Size 1,22 (MBytes) 2011.04.21 update

[briggleman]

Well it's what I've been telling you all along.

So your choices are try different OS or different motherboard.

uOpt, you crack me up " told you so, told you so"

actually, SF...220 told us that the computer worked before the installation of the third hard drive. That leads me to believe your suggestion about bumping something or something got disturbed/damaged in the system seems a little more possible. Before the third drive installation, the OS was OK. Now the MB could have been damaged by pressing too hard on the SATA connector when he installed the third drive.

I do not know what more we can do to help in this situation. All we are doing now is suggesting parts replacement until the issue goes away. In theory, we have eliminated the Power supply and now the third drive being the issue. The Motherboard and OS are too intertwined to determine which could be at issue here with firmware and driver issues all involved.

I can fix the issue easy... buy a new computer Sorry, I just do not know where to really go from here.

Brad

[briggleman]

Do you have the latest Bios or an early one.? There's been a few updates that have included " improved system stability ".
The latest vesion is this;

Sounds like a good route to take!!!!

[SabbathFan0220]

Okay, here's the plan...

I'm going to reinstall the old PSU, and in the process, unplug and replug everything.

I'm going to check the BIOS version.

If it crashes after this, I'm going to throw the computer out a window. A very high window.

[briggleman]

Okay, here's the plan...

I'm going to reinstall the old PSU, and in the process, unplug and replug everything.

I'm going to check the BIOS version.

If it crashes after this, I'm going to throw the computer out a window. A very high window.

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET to pull the main processor, then the heat sink from the main processor, apply more thermal paste, and re-install in MB.

[uOpt]

What I said is that it is very unlikely that the thing "works without the third harddrive, doesn't work with it" turns out to be true in the end. That's the problem with studies and a sample size of 1 or 2. The thermal paste thing is another useless thing. There's no heat problem, otherwise it would have crashed with 4x mprime.

You will have to try either a new mainboard or a different OS. I know that's actual work but you ruled out everything else. As I mentioned these problems (things on the southbridge being hosed) are not too uncommon for loaded Asus boards.

[briggleman]

Well following those solutions, replace MB and OS should just about cover every possible thing wrong on the present MB and any and every driver issue...... basically you are telling him to get a new computer... again.... you crack me up. I also like your statistical analysis example and sample size explanation on diagnosing a computer issue with multiple variables. Sample rates.... you have got to be kidding

You do realize it worked before the installation of the 3rd hard drive????

Well, lets hope it does not go that far.

Wishing the OP the best.

Take care.

Brad