E6400 and E-Sata freeze/lockup issues

I have lockup issues with my E6400 and E-SATA. When I plug in my E-SATA drive (2 different ones, though it looks like they may share the same board inside), the computer almost completely locks up, with only a sporadic burst of movement until the drive is either removed or turned off. In my case, it is a conflict with the NVIDIA graphics driver every time - the driver crashes during the lockup and has to be "recovered" by Windows when the drive is removed. I am still testing to see if it is the computer or the drive. Dell replaced the motherboard (even though this clearly seems to be a driver/OS issue) and it made no difference. The computer also seems to lockup if the drive is connected on a fresh boot - it will start locking up on the Windows Splash screen (with the green progress bar). I have also tried changing my SATA mode in the BIOS to AHCI from the factory default of IRRT which required a complete reload of Windows, but that made no difference. Has anyone else experienced this issue?

Incidentally, the E-SATA drives have USB connections available as well. When connecting with USB there is no issue.

 

See this thread. Do you get the same errors in the system event log?

John

 

No, but I get similar errors. Here is the one in the event log:

Log Name: System
Source: HECI
Date: 12/3/2008 6:53:32 PM
Event ID: 1
Task Category: None
Level: Warning
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: BT6400.approva.int
Description:
The HECI interface is being reset.

Several of those in a row, then:

Log Name: System
Source: ACPI
Date: 12/3/2008 6:53:34 PM
Event ID: 13
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: BT6400.approva.int
Description:
: The embedded controller (EC) did not respond within the specified timeout period. This may indicate that there is an error in the EC hardware or firmware or that the BIOS is accessing the EC incorrectly. You should check with your computer manufacturer for an upgraded BIOS. In some situations, this error may cause the computer to function incorrectly.

And then the display driver error upon removing the connection to the drive:

Log Name: System
Source: Display
Date: 12/3/2008 6:54:04 PM
Event ID: 4101
Task Category: None
Level: Warning
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: BT6400.approva.int
Description:
Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered.

And from Windows Error Reporting:

Product
Windows

Problem
Video hardware error

Date
12/3/2008 6:54 PM

Status
Solution Available

Description
A problem with your video hardware caused Windows to stop working correctly.

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: LiveKernelEvent
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033

Files that help describe the problem (some files may no longer be available)
WD-20081203-1851.dmp
sysdata.xml
Version.txt

Extra information about the problem
BCCode: 117
BCP1: 86924510
BCP2: 8FC104F0
BCP3: 00000000
BCP4: 00000000
OS Version: 6_0_6001
Service Pack: 1_0
Product: 256_1
Server information: f8d59224-ab58-4633-a116-6304e9c89d32

BIOS and drivers are all current revisions (as of Friday). This is Vista Ultimate.

 

What version of the SATA drivers/Intel Matrix Storage Manager do you use?

Örjan

 

Matrix Storage Manager 8.2.2.1001 and Sata driver same version.

 

I am also using the 8.2.2.1001 drivers.

The HECI error is probably unrelated. HECI is a part of Intel vPro/AMT and it shouldn't cause any problems like this. I ordered my laptop without HECI so naturally I don't have any of those events in my event log.

I have similar events about "embedded controller (EC)", but they look a bit different, e.g. source is set to acpiec instead of ACPI. Maybe this is a Windows XP/Vista difference. Anyway, I only get this errors when resuming from standby with my E-SATA drive connected and I haven't noticed any problems because of this.

The video controller events are kind of serious. On Windows XP, a similar problem would probably cause a blue screen. I haven't had any problems like that though.

Do you have the Panasonic DVD burner? If you do, does it have the latest firmware?
Have you tried taking out the DVD burner to see if the problem goes away?

Örjan