Karl Larsen wrote:
I have this computer on a SATA hard drive and it keeps failing. The
failure is in the data cable or the power cable and I can't tell for
sure which is bad. I am now using the old style power because the SATA
drive has this still. That stopped the failures for awhile.
SNIP
I looked at the BIOS and it said NO hard drives! Turned off the
computer and pulled off the cover a giggled the two ends of the data
cable. Turned it on and it booted right up. It looks normal again.
From the description of above, I suspect either a bad cable which needs
replacement or contaminated/dirty contacts. Case in point on my own
crash & burn:
Replaced & added more memory to my Compaq Presario. I "thought" I
had all cleaned out. Some how I missed a bit of dust. The theory of
all electrical & electronics working on smoke reared it's ugly head.
What happened: Three pins on the memory stick arced through some dust
causing a thermal melt down. This took out the memory sticks, the
mother board & the power supply.
Bottom line is: Check & clean all connections when you
change/remove/replug
anything. I learned this the hard way.
Even
new machines are suspect.
This is my suspicion from your problem description. It is one action
that is overlooked so many times.
Theory of smoke states that all electronics work on smoke. Once you
let the smoke out, they quit working.
I hope this helps you prevent a hardware crash & burn.
