Serious Problem External Harddrives

Computer Help and Discussions Hardware
1

I recently bought a new laptop form extreme gear. Though they have good technology for reletively cheap prices, the company itself does have a reputation for being a bit dissapointing at times. I do know that almost nothing was installed on my laptop when i first got it and to my knowledge may still be missing some unknown drivers.

Heres the problem. Recently, while listening to music on my new laptop off of my barely year old reliable external harddrive, the drive crashes. At first i thought to myself that it wasnt really that old, but crashed is crashed. So i try to take it in to get recovered. Currently i do not have the external here so i cant give you a brand. I do have a different external however, my new one, of a completely different brand name, i-rocks, and type all together. My first harddrive was portable, where this new 500gig one is not. I started noticing a pattern however when just after formatting my new hard drive, it does the same thing. CRASHES! Brand New. Maybe its the brand, i dont know, but its the exact same thing that happened to my other hard drive that ive been using for a while.

Personally, i think there is something with my laptop thats causing it, but really have no idea. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what could be causing this? How to stop it? How to recover the data if possible? With my old hard drive, you could still see all the files, it was all still intact to a degree, it just took a long time to load that far, and cause my explorer.exe program to go crazy if i tried to go any further. For my new hard drive, it looks like its just been unformated again. I had to take it to a place to get formatted to begin with because my laptop couldnt do it on its own. I hope all this extra information helps. Please reply. Im just starting university and have enough stress as it is.

Heres a logfile if it helps.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1

Scan saved at 2:24:33 AM, on 10/09/2007

Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)

MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE

C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe

C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe

C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware 2007\aawservice.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe

C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRecvr.exe

C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehSched.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\PcCtlCom.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\Tmntsrv.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\TmPfw.exe

C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe

C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\PcScnSrv.exe

C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe

C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehmsas.exe

C:\WINDOWS\RTHDCPL.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\AGRSMMSG.exe

C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\PDVDServ.exe

C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security 2007\pccguide.exe

C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe

C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_02\bin\jusched.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe

C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security 2007\TMAS_OE\TMAS_OEMon.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\Nero\data\Xtras\mssysmgr.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\tmproxy.exe

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe

C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe

C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\Steam.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe

C:\Documents and Settings\owner\Desktop\hijackthis_sfx.exe

C:\Program Files\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://runonce.msn.com/?v=msgrv75

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =

R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing

O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll

O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_02\bin\ssv.dll

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)

O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll

O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll

O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll

O3 - Toolbar: Veoh Browser Plug-in - {D0943516-5076-4020-A3B5-AEFAF26AB263} - C:\Program Files\Veoh Networks\Veoh\Plugins\reg\VeohToolbar.dll

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ehTray] C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RTHDCPL] RTHDCPL.EXE

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Alcmtr] ALCMTR.EXE

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AGRSMMSG] AGRSMMSG.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RemoteControl] "C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\PDVDServ.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [pccguide.exe] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security 2007\pccguide.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [sunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_02\bin\jusched.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast!] C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [sSBkgdUpdate] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Scansoft Shared\SSBkgdUpdate\SSBkgdupdate.exe -Embedding -boot

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DNS7reminder] "C:\Program Files\Nuance\NaturallySpeaking9\Program\ereg.exe" -r "C:\Program Files\Nuance\NaturallySpeaking9\Program\ereg.ini"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iSUSPM Startup] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\INSTAL~1\UPDATE~1\ISUSPM.exe -startup

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iSUSScheduler] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe" -start

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [OE] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security 2007\TMAS_OE\TMAS_OEMon.exe"

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PhotoShow Deluxe Media Manager] C:\PROGRA~1\Nero\data\Xtras\mssysmgr.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [steam] C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\\Steam.exe -silent

O4 - Startup: Dragon NaturallySpeaking.lnk = C:\Program Files\Nuance\NaturallySpeaking9\Program\natspeak.exe

O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

O18 - Protocol: livecall - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL

O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL

O23 - Service: Ad-Aware 2007 Service (aawservice) - Lavasoft AB - C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware 2007\aawservice.exe

O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe

O23 - Service: avast! iAVS4 Control Service (aswUpdSv) - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe

O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe

O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe" /service (file missing)

O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe" /service (file missing)

O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe

O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe

O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe

O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe

O23 - Service: Trend Micro Central Control Component (PcCtlCom) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\PcCtlCom.exe

O23 - Service: Trend Micro Protection Against Spyware (PcScnSrv) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\PcScnSrv.exe

O23 - Service: Trend Micro Real-time Service (Tmntsrv) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\Tmntsrv.exe

O23 - Service: Trend Micro Personal Firewall (TmPfw) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\TmPfw.exe

O23 - Service: Trend Micro Proxy Service (tmproxy) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\tmproxy.exe

O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

2

What type(s) of connection are you using ... USB, IEEE 1394(Firewire), ethernet, E-SATA?

EDIT: After the apparent crashes, did you try the drives on another PC?

Also, what did you mean by "I had to take it to a place to get formatted to begin with because my laptop couldnt do it on its own."? What was the specific problem? What format did you use ... NTFS, FAT32, other?

3
What type(s) of connection are you using ... USB, IEEE 1394(Firewire), ethernet, E-SATA?

EDIT: After the apparent crashes, did you try the drives on another PC?

Also, what did you mean by "I had to take it to a place to get formatted to begin with because my laptop couldnt do it on its own."? What was the specific problem? What format did you use ... NTFS, FAT32, other?

I didnt really use a program to format it, it was an option when i right clicked the drive, i dont know the specifics of it, but it would work. So when i tried to recover my smaller drive i just had my new drive formatted there also. Both drives use usb. I definately did try both drives on other computers, i also have a desktop here, but they wont work.

If you know anything about xtremegear though, after reading reviews or what not, they sell cheap technology, but other than that their setup isnt great, and the customer service is horrible. I know now that, even though this is a new laptop, it crashes occationally, which is due to some missing drivers. Im not sure which ones though, but its my guess that that may be a part of the problem because I did get one of the hard drives form the same company, so its my guess that they wouldnt sell a hard drive that wouldnt work with their own laptops. To elaborate on my driver issues, sometimes when I turn on my laptop, my explorer.exe freezes during its initialization. I have to go to processes, exit the process and restart it inorder for my computer to continue to restart.

I believe i mentioned before that the hard drives seemed to mess up my explorer program after they crashed. Maybe it could have been the other way around. Hopefully this is enough information to get close to identifying the missing driver that may be causing the problem, if that is the problem at all.

4
I didnt really use a program to format it, it was an option when i right clicked the drive, i dont know the specifics of it, but it would work. So when i tried to recover my smaller drive i just had my new drive formatted there also. Both drives use usb. I definately did try both drives on other computers, i also have a desktop here, but they wont work.

If you know anything about xtremegear though, after reading reviews or what not, they sell cheap technology, but other than that their setup isnt great, and the customer service is horrible. I know now that, even though this is a new laptop, it crashes occationally, which is due to some missing drivers. Im not sure which ones though, but its my guess that that may be a part of the problem because I did get one of the hard drives form the same company, so its my guess that they wouldnt sell a hard drive that wouldnt work with their own laptops. To elaborate on my driver issues, sometimes when I turn on my laptop, my explorer.exe freezes during its initialization. I have to go to processes, exit the process and restart it inorder for my computer to continue to restart.

I believe i mentioned before that the hard drives seemed to mess up my explorer program after they crashed. Maybe it could have been the other way around. Hopefully this is enough information to get close to identifying the missing driver that may be causing the problem, if that is the problem at all.

Hi,

After what i could read in ur log file, ur using 3 different internet security programs? (Avast,Zonealarm and Trend Micro) as i know this is never a good idea, since it damages performance severly, and usualy antivirus software dont like other antivirus software running at the same time, i suggest you try to only have one antivirus running at one time, also only 1 firewall program too, that meight just do the trix :rolleyes:

5

A number of things could be causing your problems.

First.... it might be spyware, however you log is from an old version of HijackThis ...the newest one is 2.0 - Google it and then submit a new report.

Second.... as you said, it could be the drivers. Have you thought about reinstalling Windows?

Third.... Have you updated with Windows Update to see if there are things you are missing???

Fourth.... As Miracle said above, running three anti virus programs will kill your system performance. Choose one and stick with it. You can have many antispyware programs, but I trust Windows Defender and AVG Anti-Spyware.

Can you post your system specs --- I have a feeling this might be the major problem.

AJ