Ground Screws on HD?

[TacitBlue]

To those who remember my previouse hard drive problems. This is a long post, but I really want to understand what has been happening, so please bare with me:

My computer killed another one! While trying to get it going again I realized that I hadn't screwed it or any other previouse HD in place. Stupid? probably, but we'll get to that. So I put the screws in to hold it in place, then when I started the machine up, I could immediatly smell hot plastic. I touched the drive, and it was hot enough to burn my finger. And another on bites the dust. So I took it back and exchanged it (acting like it wasn't my fault of course  ;)). So I got this new one home and dutifully screwed it in place like I was supposed to, installed windows, and everything is fine! that is until I hook up my old drive as a slave to retrieve a few files that I needed. Note that I screwed that one in too. everything started up just fine, I copied my files and shut it down to take the old drive back out. Once the old drive was out, I started the machine and it wouldn't go past the windows loading screen. I ended up using the "revert to last good configuration" (don't remember exactly what it said) and managed to get into windows. Now here I am. I still have everything that I copied from my old drive. So what does it sound like the problem was? did the ground screws have anything to do with it? why did windows not work after the old drive had been hooked up? I'm thinking that there is a slight chance that the old drive had some kind of virus on it, and I am downloading a good free anti-virus program now (Avast). I am at a loss if this happens again. In that event I will just call in the professionals. :-/

[congo]

No such thing as ground screws sorry. The only thing with screws is that you mustn't use too long a screw or it may bury itself into a component and damage it.

You nearly had the problem solved last time you posted about this computer, but you went and bought another

[Ivan]

There is loads of room behind the screw holes (and they are far away from the 12v anyway), so nothing should go wrong with long screws

Probably fauly power connector, better change the PSU

[congo]

Maybe on your drives Ivan, the normal coarse thread mounting screws will actually hit the PCB on some of my drives, I have to find or cut short ones sometimes.

But this hasn't got anything to do with his problem

[TacitBlue]

You must be thinking of someone else. I've never had a problem with my PSU that I know of. I'm the guy that has been having slave drives (and not the master) stop functioning completely.

I'm still running fine on the new drive, and after going through 3 of them total I know that you must be right. It can't be a problem with the drives themselves. I'm going to do some research and find out if anyone has ever had this problem with the same mobo (ASUS A7N8X-X), and if not, then I will move on to something else. I did find a similler complaint on the forum at the ASUS site, but it was with a different motherboard.

About the screws: To directly quote the directions that came with the drive-

For proper grounding, use screws in hole positions as shown.

 So I didn't just pull that out of my rear.

[congo]

Yes, I've heard the grounding theories before a few times, this doesn't explain why PC's built in Perspex Cases work perfectly fine though..........  :P

[nperrygo]

As a computer technician,  :-/ I can give a little insight on the "grounding".  This is true, the screws do provide ground for the drives, just like the screws holding a mobo into the case provide grounding for it.  The thing is, this grounding is not for functionality of any component, but, infact, to help eliminate possible static charge.  I have seen instances where a drive that does not have at lease 1 screw holding it in place did cause strange (read random) errors and problems.  Again, this is because there was no way for static charge to dissipate into your house ground and away from the computer.  

I hope this may shed a little light on the subject of ground screws.

V/R
Nate

[Weather_Man]

Yes, I've heard the grounding theories before a few times, this doesn't explain why PC's built in Perspex Cases work perfectly fine though..........  :P

You do not need a case to establish a ground. I think the components are actually grounded, physically, through the power supply plug in your wall outlet. The motherboard connector and everything connected to it has a black ground wire -- all eventually leading back to the PSU and wall outlet.

IMO, any HDD errors encountered is coincidental to whether it's mounted with screws or not.