Help! Windows Delayed Write Error

[AzuthZero]

I just recently installed a new Western Digital 160GB 2MB cache HDD as my third HDD, and whenever I try to do some anime downloading overnight, I wake up to find a "windows delayed write error" message and a partially frozen computer (ie: it'll freeze for like 30 secs, then unfreeze, then freeze again) , which I have no idea how to solve.

When I installed my HDD, I also took off my CPU heatesink and replaced the Artic Silver on it. I also just recently restored my C: Drive through windows backup. I've tried running Prime 95 to test stability, but I only had time to run it for about an hour (it passed ).

If anyone has any idea on how to solve this, I would appreciate it.

Thanks

 

[XRaider]

Well, it's not your cpu/heatsink causing this that's for sure. Sounds like there is an issue with your HDD. Is this HDD slaved with your CDROM? Is it on Master, Slave or CS setting for the jumper in back? Quick thing to check is to make your HDD Master and your CDROM Slave on the jumper settings.
Try / check that out first. Make sure your IDE cable is plugged in all the way (securely) at both ends.

 

[XRaider]

Also, disable any power management stuff... i.e.. Turn off Hard disks after 1 hour.. if your going to Download at night and go to bed.. turn off all power management. and then turn off your monitor and go to bed.
R click on desktop, Properties, Screensaver, Power, Settings for Power Scheme (bottom section) - and select Never for all of them. That might be your problem. Just a guess.

 

[AzuthZero]

Thanks for replying

It's definitely not my cpu, cause I just ran P95 for 11 hours. I have both the HDD and DVD-ROM set on CS (cable select) with the HDD as the master. Should I set the jumper to master and slave?

Also, it happens somewhere around 2-3 hours after starting to download, so could it be overheating? I have all three of my HDD's stacked on top of each other beacause I only have three slots for them... Is there a way I could mount my HDD in the bigger 3.5" slots, since I have 3 of those open?

If it is overheating that is causing the problem, do you know of a mod site that shows how to put a fan on the side of the case? My father bought a xaser III with the side fan, and it keeps everything very cool ( I'm jealous ^_^ )

Thanks for the help, and sorry for all the questions. This is the first time I've ever had anything like this happen.

Oh, and my power management stuff is already set to never. I remember when I first started downloading I was having problems with that

 

[AzuthZero]

Ok, like I said above, I had P95 running all day. So I just started some downloading, and after 15 minutes, my system freezes, 30 seconds later, it unfreezes, then in like five seconds it freezes again.

So I'm thinking that either the HDD is defective or its overheating. It's probably the latter, as I had no problem transferring 60Gb of anime to the drive right when I bought it.

Does anyone know of some ways to increase the ventilation in my system, especially near the HDDs? Right now, I have two little fans ( 90s? ) sucking air in the front, and a big one ( 120?) pushing it out the back.

My PSU also has a fan on its underside sucking air in and a fan on the backside pushing it out.

Any help would be much appreciated. Right now, I think I'll switch my downloads to one of my other drives and see how that works, but I hope to get this fixed soon

Thanks

 

[Nick5324]

hmm, i've had this problem with my external firewire drive before, when i bumped the firewire cable, never with an internal drive. Good luck.

 

[Anubis]

could have ben formatted incorrectly

try formatting it again NOT A QUICK FORMAT and see if that helops, i was haveing issued with my 160GB drive i just got and i did a format with partion magic, the crazy format that took like 2 hours and made it so data wouldent be able to be drecovered, and the drive is fine now

 

[AzuthZero]

alright, I finally have a day off tomorrow, so it looks like I'll be trying a few things. I think I'll change the wire first (maybe its bad ? ), then reformatting.

I was hoping reformatting would be a last straw kind of thing, since I already threw ~60Gb of anime on the thing...

Oh well, thanks for you help, and I'll let you know what happens tomorrow.

 

[Paulson]

Could be a bad drive too.. never know...

 

[imported_Phil]

You are using Win2k or WinXP, right?

If so, do you have Service Pack 4 or Service Pack 1, as applicable?

 

[AzuthZero]

I switched cables about two days ago and have been downloading a good bit since then and have had no problems so far.

I guess the cable I was using was too twisted or something, cause the new one seems to work fine.

I'm glad I didn't have to do anything too drastic.

Thanks for all your help

 

[Wiktor]

You know, you should check the event viewer (it's in the administrative tools). Look for errors with a red icon that have something to do with your hard drive. When I was getting delayed write errors, I also had pairity errors and IDE controller errors in the event viewer - very characteristic pattern. The suggestion to solve the problem was to replace the cable.