Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have a friend's Samsung X05 laptop (and have had it for several months now already!) which he gave to me to replace the hard drive since it was failing (intermittently giving "operating system not found" on boot). It isn't the 1st time it's happened - he had the original HDD replaced after about 18 months. Now another 18 months (maybe 2 years) later it has failed again.

So, i bought a replacement (a Seagate) and fitted it... it lasted for the duration of an XP install, then within about 10 minutes of use the machine froze up with the hard drive making horrible noises. Tried rebooting, but got nowhere. Tried re-formatting, got a little way but then hung. I used SeaTools which determined the drive was screwed.

I tried a further two drives (another Seagate, and a Hitachi) only for the same thing to happen.

So... this laptop is apparently a hard drive killer. Oddly enough though, it works perfectly well booting and running from CD. (Indeed, i'm using the laptop to write this now with the help of a PClinuxOS LiveCD)

The Samsung X05 doesn't seem to get much mention on the web... at least not problems with them. However, i did find a single reference to a very similar problem as we're experiencing. That article suggested there was a known problem with the X05's HDD-motherboard ribbon. Sadly i've not been able to verify this anywhere else.

Anyway..... Does anyone have any ideas as to what else i could try? Any input welcome...

Cheers,
Mark.


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That is a wiered one one thing came to mind when you said HDD-motherboard ribbon i had internal bays in one of my mechines all was fine then the hard drive became unformatted 5 times this happend so finally scrapped the bays and all was ok i checked the bays over and over couldnt find nothing wrong put one back in again it killed the drive.Not entirley the same i know but close.lol

Is there any possibility the hd could be shorting out on anything

If it was mine I would be reading my home contents insurance policy.

This sounds like an engineers nightmare, any machine that kills new components you replace is a mare.

If you have a theory that there is something suspect with the HDU ribbon, can you get a spare? To test?

The fact that you have destroyed a few HDU's would lead me to give up? how much has it costs up to now? At best even fully working the laptop is probably worth less than the HDU's you have replaced and destroyed?

Time to get an eeePC ;)

If you have a theory that there is something suspect with the HDU ribbon, can you get a spare? To test?

Last time i checked ebay there was only one (2nd hand) X05 for sale... and it was working, so they wanted about £350 for it. (They are very light and compact - and a very nice piece of kit all-round)

Not sure if the part in question is soldered to the mobo too...


Time to get an eeePC ;)

:D Definitely! I'm very interested in those little numbers. I don't think my friend is bothered about Linux though (this X05 works fine booting of a Linux CD).

On the subject of the EEE though... Anyone know of a supplier? I know Ebuyer had them listed, but they now show as discontinued. :(


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i'd love an eeePC, specially one of the newer ones that are coming out with XP as standard, faster cpu and more storage..

as for suppliers...

http://www.google.co.uk/products?hl=en&q=Asus+701&oe=UTF-8&scoring=p

I'm all for faster cpus and more storage, etc. on the eeePC though i don't really see the need for Windows XP. It just adds £60 onto the price. I'd rather stick at the £200 mark.

Anyway, we're getting off topic. (Maybe we should start a separate eeePC thread? :) )

It's looking like most people are seeing this X05 as a goner, right?

BTW, i'd gladly let someone else have a look at it in-person if they thought they could do something with it...


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I'm all for faster cpus and more storage, etc. on the eeePC though i don't really see the need for Windows XP. It just adds £60 onto the price. I'd rather stick at the £200 mark.

Anyway, we're getting off topic. (Maybe we should start a separate eeePC thread? :) )

It's looking like most people are seeing this X05 as a goner, right?

BTW, i'd gladly let someone else have a look at it in-person if they thought they could do something with it...


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I've installed XP on my eeePC just to see what it would run like kind of defeats the object as the way forward is NOT Windows!

Back to topic, moonlight i would offer to have a look being an certified laptop engineer (Toshiba, Siemens Fujitsu, IBM) but from what you have said and speaking from experience fault finding will be very difficult, seems odd everything appears to work ok when running a Nix live CD. It appears the IDE controller is ok.

I'm not sure if you know anyone from a Samsung technical background as there maybe a technical bulletin concerning the matter. A field or bench engineer for Samsung may know common faults.

Yes, i understand finding the fault could be difficult... although the fact that everything works off CD would suggest the problem simply lies in whatever connects and powers the HDD.

Don't s'pose there's much chance of a Samsung tech reading this...
:(


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Yes, i understand finding the fault could be difficult... although the fact that everything works off CD would suggest the problem simply lies in whatever connects and powers the HDD.

Don't s'pose there's much chance of a Samsung tech reading this...
:(


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have you tried fix ya Technical Support, User Guides and Repair Service

Here (http://www.fixya.com/support/p284934-samsung_x05_nx05rp2pfu_suk_pc_notebook)

Yes, i understand finding the fault could be difficult... although the fact that everything works off CD would suggest the problem simply lies in whatever connects and powers the HDD.

Don't s'pose there's much chance of a Samsung tech reading this...
:(


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Not a fix, but any way to boot from USB? USB HDD / USB Flash?
Could be a stop gap so the lappy is usable? Install XP to a USB device prb a HDU?

Just an idea?

When you say it kills the drives? How?

Not a fix, but any way to boot from USB? USB HDD / USB Flash? Could be a stop gap so the lappy is usable?

The laptop is quite usable off liveCD as long as you don't mind waiting for it to boot up (about a minute).

If it can't be fixed, then might buy a flash drive to run linux off though - help speed things up.



Install XP to a USB device?

I was interested in trying this. I looked at the WinUSB.de way of doing it, but got stuck when i couldn't find a copy of the modded ntdetect.com file.



When you say it kills the drives? How?

Put in a brand new drive, start an install of WinXP... after about 45 minutes the drive is running incredibly hot, then starts making odd squeaks and clicks, then the system hangs. Of 3 attempts (with 3 new drives) only once did i manage to get through the whole WinXP installation. And the one time when a drive would let me reformat it (after it'd cooled) and i tried to install Linux, it hung partway through again.

I did wonder if the laptop will only take a hdd with a very specific power requirement (a particular voltage and current)?



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The laptop is quite usable off liveCD as long as you don't mind waiting for it to boot up (about a minute).

If it can't be fixed, then might buy a flash drive to run linux off though - help speed things up.





I was interested in trying this. I looked at the WinUSB.de way of doing it, but got stuck when i couldn't find a copy of the modded ntdetect.com file.





Put in a brand new drive, start an install of WinXP... after about 45 minutes the drive is running incredibly hot, then starts making odd squeaks and clicks, then the system hangs. Of 3 attempts (with 3 new drives) only once did i manage to get through the whole WinXP installation. And the one time when a drive would let me reformat it (after it'd cooled) and i tried to install Linux, it hung partway through again.

I did wonder if the laptop will only take a hdd with a very specific power requirement (a particular voltage and current)?



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Do you have a service manual for it?

It might be an idea to replace the IDE ribbon and test it with an old drive 4Gb-20Gb ;)

I expect it should be a standard 2.5Inch PATA (IDE) drive can't see it being a special drive.

Do you have a service manual for it?

Nope... :(
Can't see owt on the web either.


It might be an idea to replace the IDE ribbon and test it with an old drive 4Gb-20Gb ;)

Would if i could get hold of the correct sort of ribbon.



BTW, these are a few other posts i've found about the same sort of problem with the X05. It looks like a common fault.

http://www.itreviews.co.uk/discuss/1928
http://www.driverzone.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=1884
http://www.tabletquestions.com/mobile-pc-hardware/37666-samsung-x05-help.html

(When i first started trying to resolve this problem i found a better piece - a blog entry i think - that described everything the author had tried to resolve the issue. Can't find it now of course.)


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Nope... :(
Can't see owt on the web either.




Would if i could get hold of the correct sort of ribbon.



BTW, these are a few other posts i've found about the same sort of problem with the X05. It looks like a common fault.

http://www.itreviews.co.uk/discuss/1928
http://www.driverzone.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=1884
http://www.tabletquestions.com/mobile-pc-hardware/37666-samsung-x05-help.html

(When i first started trying to resolve this problem i found a better piece - a blog entry i think - that described everything the author had tried to resolve the issue. Can't find it now of course.)


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Reading through some of those posting it does seem like yours isn't unique. Maybe hard wire the HDU ... It may be tricky and require lots of careful soldering., just a thought.

the drive runs hot ?

have you checked the voltage being fed to the disk ? there isn't a short somewhere bumping the voltage up or even an ac component being fed to it

OP states the drive runs hot then die :(

How about testing with a stable 5v supply should be easy to hook up? Disconnect the supply (GND&+5v) from the ribbon (HDU to systemboard).

got anywhere on this ?

just a thought but now you have several dead drives you could disassemble the headers from them and make a breakout cable

Sorry for the lack of response from me here folks (been a little busy) and thank you for your suggestions.

Let me get you a photo of the HDD bay on this machine, and then we'll discuss the suggestions you've offered... :)


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no problem I occasionally have busy days ... not as many as I'd like but as long as the bills are paid it's ok

Right, this is the connector the laptop has... picture (http://moonlightcomputing.googlepages.com/X05-hdd-connection.jpg)

(Sorry it's not a very good photo)

esme and itosan, are your earlier suggestions still viable?


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looks like IDE to me ;)

Yes, it is IDE of course. :P


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hmm, what do the dip switches do to the side of the connector on the board?? is there any clues?

Well, i think you can see they're labelled 1 and 2, and along the side it says "3D".

The nearest mark on the m'board reads C741.

There's also what *could* be a pictorial representation of the dip switches nearby. If it is, then the switches are currently in the "Normal" position. The alternate positions would be "Crisis" and "RTCRST".


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yep I'm curious about the dip switches too

I'd still suggest checking the voltage to the disk looking at your pic the power should be the top two socket holes with + being on the right

RTCRST sounds like a reset for the bios

I've been busy too.....

Had some time to look over the problem

Now from the pic it looks safe to say it's a 2.5" PATA 44 Pin connector like this one 44 Pin connector (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff92/photonows/idc44m.gif)

Samsun X05 diag. (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff92/photonows/X05-Power.jpg)

Now the x05 wiring Samsung X05 pins (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff92/photonows/X05-hdd-connectionFIXED.jpg) I can't find a pic for the female PATA connection but the ribbon is soldered to it.

To take readings for the supply voltage to the drive it's pins 41+42 (+5v) and 43 (GND) As per the above picture and therefore :-

41 +5VL +5 VDC (Logic)
42 +5VM +5 VDC (Motor)
43 GND Ground
44 /TYPE Type (0=ATA)

As i can't see how its wired up at the female PATA connector is 44 n/c'ed? and pins 41+42 are common 5v you will see if this is true as the connections to 41+42 will clearly be the same track from the PATA ribbon.

From your postings the drive killing is not always instant as you have stated 2 of the drives that have been previously replaced worked for sometime. I would doubt you are going to find a problem immediately (readings) but you did say the last drive fried pretty quick.

After looking for the suspect (from previous owners) PATA cable i found this lappy for spares Samsung X06 (http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/samsung-x06-spares-x05-x10-inverter-xp-coa_W0QQitemZ140168157462QQihZ004QQcategoryZ177QQc mdZViewItem) the seller states the PATA cable works on the X05 and X10.

The auction is over but it didn't really go for much and a straight replacement of the cable, then fit a new drive and install to test would be the best bet.

One idea, back to the USB idea is to fit inside a 2.5 PATA > USB converter and internally wire up to one of the USB sockets. Taking the supply directly from the source on the mobo this would discount the PATA ribbon.

This of course is only applicable if you can actually boot from USB setting XP to boot shouldn't be too difficult as i now carry a USB flash drive that has a small XP build (100Mb) so any machine that will support booting from USB and set to will boot-up from USB. A great way to test hardware, XP O/S and burn a DVD/CD fast it's usually quicker than using a CD/DVD too boot too.

Hope this helps.

I repost this as i got the connector 180 degrees wrong :) as the drive is mounted upside down in the laptop sorry for the crude drawings!

Itosan, i saw you posted in quite some detail last night but didn't have chance to respond... now i've logged in to find you've deleted your message.

What was the problem? :confused:

I have had my multimeter to the hdd ribbon, but couldn't get a decent reading. Your post looked like it might explain why - i think i was checking the wrong points. Mind, i didn't have a disk attached either - would it need one fitted to draw a load?


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Apologies i realised that the diagrams i posted were wrong!

I'll post later on today when i get this damn machine installed with XP (came with vista) nightmare. :rant::suspect::confused::loopy:

:thumbsup:

Ah, right, i see.

Cheers.


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looking at the photo the power comes in on the top two sockets of the connector, next down is the master/slave selector though it's rare for this to be used

I'll try and get a better pic of how the wires in the ribbon are split at the connector...


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