Q: I recently just got a new Western Digital 160GB 2MB Cache HDD as my third HDD installed, and whenever I try what anime download work at night, I wake up with a “Windows delayed writing error notice to find a part frozen computer (ie: it will freeze for about 30 seconds, then thaw, then freeze again), I have no idea how to solve.
When my hard drive is installed, I took my CPU heatsink and replacing the Artic Silver on. I have recently restored my C: drive using Windows backup. I tried running Prime 95 to stability testing, but I only had time to perform for about an hour (it passed) 0.
If anyone has any idea how to fix this, I would appreciate.
Thanks
Best Answer: I suspect you have done the following:
1) deleted unnecessary files from D: and C: drive (check out DiskCleanup under Accessories>System Tools>Disk Cleanup)
2) you do NOT have unnecessary software running in the background? (check your system tray–at the bottom right next to your clock)
3) you have disabled (unplugged) your internet connection and have done a Defrag on all you drives.
4) confirmed you have plenty of memory (normally 500MB will be only JUST enough–and 250MB is just PUSHING the envelope).
If you have done all of the above and you still get an error, you can try changing the size of your PageSwap.
START>
(right-click)MY COMPUTER>
(left-click) PROPERTIES>
ADVANCED TAB>
(click "Settings" in) PREFORMANCE section>
ADVANCED TAB (in that new window)>
(click "Change" in) VIRTUAL MEMEORY section>
(select "System Managed Size" in) PAGING FILE SIZE…DRIVE>
(finally) click SET button first
now you can click on OK button.
reboot and try again. Good Luck
–JA
Re: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.
Re: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 
Re:You are using Win2k or WinXP, right?
If so, do you have Service Pack 4 or Service Pack 1, as applicable?
Re:Could be a bad drive too.. never know…
Re: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.
Re: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
Re: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.
Re: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
Re: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
Re: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.
Re: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.
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