I've been dealing with a frustrating issue on my custom-built PC for four years now. It started when I noticed weird sounds coming from the HDD, which eventually led to beeping and the HDD becoming unresponsive. While playing games, the PC sometimes freezes or crashes, particularly during high-demand scenarios. I observed that the HDD usage spikes to 100%, especially when downloading or installing software. I initially replaced the HDD and tried different ones, but the issue persists. Interestingly, if I manipulate a specific cable connected to the HDD, it temporarily resolves the problem. I've taken my PC to repair services multiple times, and although one technician replaced the cable, it only helped for a short time. Recently, during my third visit, I discovered that my PC has started restarting while gaming. Any thoughts on what could be causing this? I'm at my wit's end!
2 Answers
It sounds like you've had a rough time with this! If you've already replaced the HDD and tried a new SATA cable without success, I’d suggest checking the power supply unit (PSU) next. Make sure you're not using any low-quality adapters, especially for crucial components like HDDs or GPUs. Also, take a look at the Windows event viewer. When your PC restarts, log exactly when it happens and check the logs for any error codes. Sometimes the issue could be linked to motherboard or chipset drivers too, so a reinstall of Windows might help clarify if it’s a software problem. Good luck!
Is your HDD a traditional spinning model? They can be prone to failure, especially if they start making clicking noises. This usually indicates the read/write head is having trouble. If you’ve replaced the HDD and it's still acting up, consider trying a different SATA cable. I once had a faulty cable that caused major boot issues until I replaced it. It could also be a sign that the motherboard's connectors are loose or damaged. Your experience with moving the SATA cable temporarily fixing things might hint at a hardware connection issue. Hang in there!
I thought about the HDD failing, but since I've swapped them multiple times, I was leaning towards the cable or possibly the PSU.
I had a Critical error related to Kernel-Power when my PSU was failing. Might be worth checking!