Strange HD problem...please help...

[FlikStik]

Here's my problem, the HD works as far as I can get into HDL and see all my games, but none of them work for some reason. Every game in my list worked just fine before and even stranger is when I try to go into the browser, it just hits a black screen. If I detatch the HD (or disable auto-atad patching) I can get into the browser fine. I have narrowed the problem down to an issue with the HD itself, I had a spare HD laying around and that one works just fine. I can get into the browser, view the contents of the drive, just like normal. What I can't determine is what exactly the problem is with the drive. I've reinstalled the sony hdd drivers which goes smoothly but didn't fix the problem. Anyone here had a similar problem?

Just so you know before you post possible solutions, please be aware that there is NOTHING wrong with the console itself, the network adaptor, the chip, the chip bios or the memory card, because a different drive I tried worked perfectly. The problem is strickly the HD itself, I just can't figure out what is causing it.

[rivlez]

Originally posted by FlikStik
Here's my problem, the HD works as far as I can get into HDL and see all my games, but none of them work for some reason. Every game in my list worked just fine before and even stranger is when I try to go into the browser, it just hits a black screen. If I detatch the HD (or disable auto-atad patching) I can get into the browser fine. I have narrowed the problem down to an issue with the HD itself, I had a spare HD laying around and that one works just fine. I can get into the browser, view the contents of the drive, just like normal. What I can't determine is what exactly the problem is with the drive. I've reinstalled the sony hdd drivers which goes smoothly but didn't fix the problem. Anyone here had a similar problem?

Just so you know before you post possible solutions, please be aware that there is NOTHING wrong with the console itself, the network adaptor, the chip, the chip bios or the memory card, because a different drive I tried worked perfectly. The problem is strickly the HD itself, I just can't figure out what is causing it.

definitely sounds like the HD is done, you troubleshot your situation perfect with testing another HD. get a new drive and everything will be fine.

[FlikStik]

Do you think reformatting it may fix it? I hate to throw away a (possibly)perfectly good 250GB HD... What do you think may have caused it?

[Artlover]

Have you tried hooking it up to a PC yet? See if it's being physicly detected properly? See if it's locking up the ide channel. If it all boots ok, try running WinHiip and see if it can access the drive.

If not, well, as for formatting. Can give it a try. Maybe it could be a corrupted partition table. Not going to hurt much by giving it a shot. Personaly, I've never used HDL as I use HDA myself. But they are basicly the same, and as far as HDA goes, it's error checking seems kinda weak. I've corrupted the 60gig in my PS2 with a bad WinHiip session and a few stalled ftp sessions before and sometimes HDA didn't notice or care. I can only imagine what kind of mess you'd end up with if you tried to let it copy another game to the HD in that state.

[legendoflegaia]

I HAVE BOUGHT SEVERAL MAXTOR HARD DRIVES FROM WWW.TIGERDIRECT.COM PLUS THE WARRANTY FOR 1 YEAR AND NEVER RAN INTO A PROBLEM. IF I WOULD RUN INTO A PROBLEM THE WARRANTY KICKS IN AND PROTECTS ME. THEN SEND A TECH TO YOUR HOUSE TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIX IT OR THEY PICK IT UP AND TAKE SOMEWHERE TO BE FIXED. IF ALL FAILS THEY SIMPLY REPLACE THE HARD DRIVE UNIT FOR ANOTHER IN ITS PLACE. NOT BAD FOR A HARD DRIVE MANUFACTURER HUH. PLUS MAXTOR HARD DRIVES WORK GREAT AND THEY ARE MORE AFFORDABLE THAN MOST HARD DRIVES ON THE MARKET FOR THE PS2. A 200 OR 250GB IS AROUND $100. BEAT THAT PRICE ANYWHERE ELSE ALONG WITH THE WARRANTY. :)