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In Reply to: about to give up on audio server posted by MediaSeth on September 18, 2006 at 10:17:29:
All of these are great suggestions. I don't have a problem with internal heat. My first internal media drive started getting corrupted files out of nowhere that would hang the whole system, though. The replacement internal drive is fine.
I don't have room in the case for any more.The biggest problem I have is with USB. I had to get a dedicated 2.0 controller card (in addition to the dedicated one for my M-Audio 24/96 USB). However, I still wonder if USB is a flaky sort of connection. I never shut off a drive without properly "putting it away," but pretty often the computer just loses it.. like it ceases to exist and when I go to manage my computer it can't find it there to re-mount. Eventually, the data on the drive gets bad and it goes.
I'm a teacher with another part time job just to pay student loans. I can't afford a fancy RAID box, which is what I would do if I could. I'm afraid of my computer not being able to handle two USB drives since it always loses the one - but that's a more realistic backup option. I can not afford to replace the computer - another possible fix.
That's why I think it would be cheaper to repair and upgrade the Rotel for now. The Rotel has a simple mechanical problem where the transport is not lifting the disc into the proper position.
Follow Ups:
I had similar problems--buncha USB/firewire drives started blowing up on me. I did end up going RAID5--terastation 1TB--and haven't had any problems, even tho' its on 24/7.I keep seeing sales on the Terastations... Don't know what your limit is, but the last one I bought I picked up for $600, shipped. Think it was Tigerdirect.
There does sound like something is amiss in your system. It almost sounds like a virus. Try running Bitdefender online virus scan (it catches more viruses that any of the standard better known softwares).If it's not that I wonder if there is a problem with a controller or something, though I have never heard of this happening with USB. Are you using an older system that does not support USB (or 2.0), so you are using PCI cards for USB?
I would also contact LaCie Support to see if they have a suggestion about their drives.
Here is a short list of what could be wrong, sorry it's so long!
- Failing disks (a symptom?)
- Failing disk controllers (why would it be both USB and internal?)
- Loose cards/connections (make sure all cards and connections are tight - you'd be suprised how many times this is the culprit)
- Virus
- A Driver/s in Windows is wrong or corrupt (reinstall Windows).
- Problem with memory or memory controllers (causes corrupt files that get written to hard disks, hard to diagnose or fix short of replacing memory and motherboard).
If it were my computer, I would check out the virus, then check the cards, then run a hard disk analysis utiliity, then try reinstalling Windows, then replace motherboard and memory (drastic).
If you're a teacher buy an Apple computer with your educator's discount. Macs have used USB for a long time and do it well. No need for USB cards etc. Just get the Mac and two externald hard drives (one for music storage and one (or two) for backups) and you'll be in fine shape. You could even use the Mac as a CD transport (might be a bit noisy though as it spins).
Even with discount, that's a little pricy for me. Anyway, I use flat panel iMacs at the school for video editing and they sound like jets about to take off when their fan gets spinning. I'd have to spring for the tower version.I have an earlier generation Gateway P4 with USB built in, but the built-in USB wasn't even able to handle a USB 1.1 compatible external sound processor. That's the first thing I had to buy a PCI USB 2 controller card for. When I got the USB hard drive and tried to use the same PCI USB controller, the devices weren't so happy. I had to buy another PCI card! Someone explained to me that USB is bad with bandwidth sharing or something like that. Anyway, my PCI slots are full now! Crazy!
If anything, I'd get a Mac for the firewire support. I think firewire is more stable?
iBooks do have fans, but they rarely if ever come on. My iBook is pretty much silent except when reading a new disc. You can get a used iBook (G3) with a warranty for about $289. Use the firewire for your drives (notebook drives are almost silent) and the usb for your dac or your usb to spdif converter.I've been using an iBook (G4) this way for 2 years and haven't had any issues. it will take about 5 minutes to set up and you are done.
Steve
PS Please note that the G3 iBooks support USB 1 and not 2 ( I think) if that makes a difference to you.
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