Problem with my 2nd SATA HDD - should I just use an enclosure

[fourtheboys96]

I bought and installed a 500gb samsung HDD as my 2nd HDD. my 1st HDD is western digital.

I believe it is a SATAII drive and my motherboard (AliveMF7g-HD720) supports SATA II. The samsung HDD can be detected by the system and i was able to partion, format and put files into it.

the problem is that whenever i restart my pc, booting takes forever, windows explorer hangs and all the files i put in the 2nd HDD disappears. after doing reformatting and seemingly able to fix the problem, it happen again every reboot.

then i removed the 2nd HDD and everything is normal again.

what is the problem here?

should i just buy an enclosure and use the 2nd HDD as an external hard drive since its purpose is for back up? if so, are CDR king enclosures OK?

[ghosthunter]

Why not return the Samsung and get another WD HDD as a replacement?

Using a USB to connect your HDD wil make it run like a snail when it could perform much faster.

[fourtheboys96]

i don't know if i can return something i bought that is not defective.

[ghosthunter]

i don't know if i can return something i bought that is not defective.

many stores allow replacement for another item.

Since you are asking for a replacement and not a refund, it might be acceptable for the store.

[Jun aka Pekto]

Why not return the Samsung and get another WD HDD as a replacement?

Using a USB to connect your HDD wil make it run like a snail when it could perform much faster.

He could enable SATA mode so he can use an external SATA cable assuming the enclosure has a SATA port in addition to USB2.

[ghosthunter]

He could enable SATA mode so he can use an external SATA cable assuming the enclosure has a SATA port in addition to USB2.

Assuming it supports that mode.

But I still prefer a simpler solution, just change the HDD to another brand/model if possible.

[Jun aka Pekto]

Assuming it supports that mode.

But I still prefer a simpler solution, just change the HDD to another brand/model if possible.

He can try exchanging the Samsung for a WD. But, I don't know if that will make any difference. I've never seen too many differences among different hard drive brands.

I'm inclined to think it's a bios setting. But, let's see him exchange the drive first and see if it works.

[fourtheboys96]

Ok guys this is what I've done since my last post.

I searched for an enclosure but found none that can support up to 500gb. What I bought in CDR King was a docking station with USB and eSATA ports. I was able to copy my files into the hard drive. But after re-starting the PC, the problem occurred again. Then suddently, the hard drive cannot be detected via the docking station nor the motherboard.

I returned it and he store replaced the hard drive (same model) immediately.

I installed the new HDD in the mobo and it works perfectly.

so many late nights wasted waiting trying to figure out the problem. positive thing is that i learned some thing tinkering with the PC.

[roninblade]

since newly purchased yung hdd, you should've had it replaced agad at the first sign of trouble.

[fourtheboys96]

since newly purchased yung hdd, you should've had it replaced agad at the first sign of trouble.

what if the problem is with the motherboard? i tried isolating the problem first. my motherboard isn't new so it's possible it is the problem.