Question : Problem: The Case of the Disappearing SATA Drive

Hello,

Configuration:
Windows XP Pro SP2 + latest updates (OS & Drivers)

CPU:    2.40 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core
Board:  ASUS  M2A-VM Rev. 1.XX
Memory: 2 X 1GB (Dual Channel) DDR2-800
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies Revision 0901 06/26/2007

RADEON X300 SE 128MB HyperMemory
Conexant D850 56K V.9x DFVc Modem
PATA CD-ROM drive
3.5" Floppy drive

Drive 0 SATA - C: D:  ST3320620AS
Drive 1 SATA - F:     SAMSUNG SP2504C
Drive 2 SATA - E:     WDC WD1600JS-08MHB0
Drive 3 SATA - G:     Maxtor 6V250F0

No RAID

Situation:

For no apparent reason, drive G: (Maxtor) keeps disappearing after a while. Very quietly: All of a sudden there is no trace left of it in Explorer or Drive Manager.

The System Event log shows errors/warnings:
From  PlugPlayManager, Event ID 12
"The device 'Maxtor 6V250F0' (IDE\DiskMaxtor_6V250F0__________________________VA111630\3556323932384745202020202020202020202020) disappeared from the system without first being prepared for removal."

From Application popup, Event ID 26
"Windows - Delayed Write Failed : Windows was unable to save all the data for the file G:\."

From disk, Event ID 51
"An error was detected on device \Device\Harddisk2\D during a paging operation."

The drive comes back after a restart (For another random while). Content doesn't seem to be affected (Although I wouldn't be surprised to have lost a few files).

I swapped physical drives 2 & 3. Same strange behaviour from the Maxtor (Still G:). The drive itself never gave me any problem when installed on another computer.

I need expert advice on that matter.

TIA.

Answer : Problem: The Case of the Disappearing SATA Drive

The case has been solved long ago: The Maxtor drive definitely disappeared from the machine since I replaced it with a Seagate and installed it on another computer.

Now both drives are working perfectly on their respective machines.

Although I would tend to agree with aviandragon13 about the mobo (I'm, too, getting to be rather weary of ASUS  boards), I cannot accept his comment as solution.

I'm therefore asking this question to be PAQ'd with points refunded.

Thank you all for your time.