Windows freezing randomly and hard disk not detected after reboot

[qball]

Hello. I have this strange problem and I don't know how to troubleshoot it. Windows freezes at random times and I have to press the "Reset" button to reboot. When I do that my hard disk doesn't get detected. I mean BIOS detects that there is a hard drive there, but can't fetch the make and model and computer hangs again. If I power it of and on again the hard disk is seen without problems and everything works like nothing ever happened.
I have no idea how to troubleshoot this. I don't know if it's the hard disk that's failing or the SATA controller on the MB.
Please help me figure this one out.

 

[GeekTech]

Hi there, here few things you can do with this problem:

1) Scan for malicious software
2) Check for new startup programs & services
3) Clean and Compact the Registry
4) Run a Disk Check
5) Defragment the drives

To find out more, I recommend you read this article

Cheers!

John

 

[BoBBYI986]

if you've got a spare machine take the hard drive out and benchmark it. check you read speeds. Also do you have any dodgy processes running in ram? run a check disc for bad sectors. I would also recommed running prime 95 or orthros for stability issues this will rule out any issue with cpu or ram, aslo memory controller and system bus controller.
Also try another psu if you have one spare you will be amazed at what problems a dodgy psu can cause. Also try repairing your OS. if no joy after repairing windows full format, but if you scared about losing data transfer it off to an external or use acronis true image to make a complete backup of your hard drive.

btw: if you bench your hard drive and find it to be faulty. buy a new sata disc and use acronis true image to do a disc to disc copy of your windows installation.