BG> Given the previous problems you've had with HDD controllers, and the
BG> fact that the ISA socket has been flogged to death due to all that
BG> substitution and eventual replacement, it's quite likely that the
BG> slot itself is a bit dodgy, especially given the age of your motherboard.

RS> Its very rare to get a socket failure like that. And dead easy to
RS> prove by trying another one.

BG> Not for me it ain't, coz I'm almost 1000 km from Bob's PC, so I won't
BG> be trying another slot at any time in the near future.

I think even poor old Bob could actually manage that one himself.

BG> However, approaching the problem logically, given that his motherboard
BG> is a few years old now, and that the ISA slots have had a fair bit of
BG> use, I'd suggest that it is far more likely that the ISA contacts are
BG> probably pitted or corroded to some degree,

Well you are wrong, it is in fact as I said, not a very common problem
at all. It does happen occasionally, but its more usually just one pin
gets physically damaged. And as I say, dead easy to eliminate by trying
another slot.

BG> and that they've lost quite a lot of their tensile strength as well.

BG> Anyway Rod, it was only a helpful suggestion.  I'm not attempting
BG> to write a 1000-page thesis on the fucking thing.

And I was just pointing out that of the possibilitys, its about the
least likely to be the problem, and trivial to eliminate too.

BG> I was talking with Dave Meeds last week (the dealer who sold me my
BG> WD-A2250), and he told me that the failure rate of the current crop
BG> of WD Caviars is amongst the lowest in the PC industry, which is
BG> another reason I'd suspect the controller or the ISA slot.

RS> It may well be very low, but the socket failure is actually
RS> considerably lower.

BG> Yeah, OK Rod, whatever you say.  You're right and I'm wrong.

About time you realised stuff like that boy |-)

BG> Really, I've no idea what made me think otherwise, unless it was these
BG> two motherboards I have sitting here, both with fucked ISA slots.

Doesnt really prove a damned thing, as I say, its considerably less
likely than the other alts, the drive itself dying, or the paddle card,
or even the ribbon. Its the least likely and trivial to eliminate.

BG> On second thoughts, they're probably just fine, especially if they
BG> fail as rarely as you suggest.

Bullshitting Bill.

--- PQWK202