[Goatmanji]

I have 2 hdd's: 1 IDE (the c: drive that has all my programs and windows) and 1 SATA hdd (the e: drive that has all my files and multimedia on it). My mobo does not have SATA connectivity, so I also have a SATA host controller card . Both have been in my computer for 2 years or so. I am running XP SP2.
Anyway, last night i was listening to an mp3 from my e: drive and surfing the net. My computer froze for a minute or so, then came back with a yellow Windows warning message saying something to the effect that my Samsung HDD (e was disconnected without changing the windows settings. Since then, Windows does not recognize the drive to exist at all, and when I boot up, the SATA bios does not find the drive either. Windows takes FOREVER to boot up now, but once it does, everything works fine (with the exception of not finding the e: drive). ALL my files were on that drive, and being only 2 years old, i wouldnt think it just went bad suddenly. HELP!

[CJS23]

You say it takes "forever" to boot up. Did it used to be quicker? If so run a full Virus Scan asap. If you need to download and update AVG Free 8.0 http://www.filehippo.com/download_avg_antivirus/

Enter SETUP and check that the Drive is correctly detected.

Additionally, it may be something as simple as the Card not being seated correctly.

[Goatmanji]

Yeah, Windows used to load a lot faster. But I've run AVG, AntiVir, Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D, and HijackThis. All come up clean (with the exception of a few cookies, taken care of) and none detect e: drive.
I also found and ran some diagnostic utilities (TestDisk and Samsung's own HUTIL) but neither 'see' the e: drive. I also tried CHKDSK even though I didnt think that was the problem. Again, same result. I've re-seated the SATA card and re-connected both cables.

The error messages in Event Viewer say:
"The device \Device\HardDisk1\D , is not ready for access yet"
and
"The system failed to flush data to the transaction log. Corruption may occur."
and
"The device 'SAMSUNG SP2504C SCSI Disk Device' (SCSI\Disk&Ven_SAMSUNG&Prod_SP2504C&Rev_VT10\5&3726276f&0&000) disappeared from the system without first being prepared for removal."

I have seen other posts where the cables could be the problem, should i go out and buy new SATA data and power cables?? Is it likely that during use, one or more of the cables went bad?

Or do you think my HDD is toast?

[CJS23]

Can you try the SATA Drive in another PC?

When you enter SETUP does your SATA Drive Appear along with it's parameters?

[Goatmanji]

Well, I don't have another computer available to test the SATA drive in...
SETUP shows my IDE drive C: and some empty IDE channels, but I do not see anywhere that the SATA drive would show up (perhaps because it cannot 'see' it, or because it just doesn't show SATA). I do notice that during boot it comes up with the SATA BIOS (like i stated earlier) that does not see it, but it has the option "Press F3 for Configuration". I tried multiple times to press F3, but when i do, it just hangs until I restart. Could this be related?

[CJS23]

First things first. I would download the latest drivers from the Web Site of your motherboard manufacturer. If you need help IDing the EXACT model of your mobo let me know.

[dustyjay]

Have you tried opening the computer up an disconnecting then reconnecting the cables to the Sata Drive? It sounds as though the data cable may have vibrated loose.