Warcraft III and Hard Drive Crash

[RSLancastr]

After eight months of use, the hard drive of my new computer fried after I installed Warcraft III for my son to play. He played it one time (for a few hours), then went to bed.

When I went to power it down, I got a blue screen o' death.

The hard drive was dead. I can't reload XP with the system disks, as it reports that no hard drive can be found.

After several failed attempts at booting, I opened it up and checked the connections on the drive. It booted successfully. I then reassembled everything, and when I powered it up, it again found no hard drive.

Thoughts?

Any way of telling whether this was simply a coincidence, or if Warcraft III somehow effed up the drive?

[Brian]

I can't think of any reason why WoW would wreck a drive. My drive doesn't go crazy with constant disk access when I play. How much memory does your computer have? If it's a relatively small amout, maybe (and I mean maybe) windows is using HD space as virtual memory that is being frequently, or constantly accessed. That would give your drive a work out, but I still don't see why an 8 month old drive would burn out.
I've never heard of this problem from other people playing WoW.
Sorry, if I wasn't much help. Good luck and I hope you have a warranty.

[Mongrel]

The hard drive was dead. I can't reload XP with the system disks, as it reports that no hard drive can be found.

After several failed attempts at booting, I opened it up and checked the connections on the drive. It booted successfully. I then reassembled everything, and when I powered it up, it again found no hard drive.


Have you tried another IDE cable?

[DreadNiK]

It doesn't sound like it is related to the game, in my opinion. It is possible, of course, but I suspect there is a different reason and the game installation was coincidental. As to what the problem is, I haven't a clue. Does the hard drive actually activate?

[Hagrok]

Cooincidence. There's nothing software could do that would make your hard-drive completely undetectable by your computer (well, nothing realistic in this scenario, anyway).

Just curious, do you turn off your machine very often? I've noticed that a lot of hard-drive problems seem to manifest themselves when you've left your PC on for a long time (weeks), then turn it off and on (then again, this could also be cooincidence).

[alfaniner]

Is it a Dell? I had two hard drive crashes in the first year.

[RSLancastr]

I can't think of any reason why WoW would wreck a drive. My drive doesn't go crazy with constant disk access when I play. How much memory does your computer have?One gig, so I don't think virtual memory thrashing should be an issue.

Have you tried another IDE cable?No, but that's a thought, thanks. Everything is packed in pretty tight, and I have big fingers, so it won't be easy, but I'll give it a shot.

Does the hard drive actually activate?Sorry, but what do you mean by "activate?"

Just curious, do you turn off your machine very often? I've noticed that a lot of hard-drive problems seem to manifest themselves when you've left your PC on for a long time (weeks), then turn it off and on (then again, this could also be cooincidence).It was turned off every night. I sleep in the same room that the computer is in, and the flashing "sleep mode" button would keep me awake.

Is it a Dell? I had two hard drive crashes in the first year.No, it's an HP Pavilion a720n (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=c00232962).

Thanks everyone for the input. I'll let you know what happens.

[DreadNiK]

Sorry, but what do you mean by "activate?"




I mean give any indication it is working, i.e spinning, hd light going on, hard disk noises

[ShowMe]

My first guess is a loose power cable, possibly only a single wire. Second guess would be IDE cable, as previously mentioned.

[HeyLeroy]

I had a HP computer go wonky on me after a few upgrades. Turns out I'd overtaxed the power supply. HP was pretty notorious for their power supplies' being barely adequate to support their systems. I got a new case for $40 with a 350W PS pre-installed, swapped the guts into the new case, and everything was good to go. The bigger case also allowed more air circulation (my old case was packed pretty tight too).

Here's a link to a power supply calculator:

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/power_supplies/selector/.