BIOS Error Code I9990301

[mastermiaow]

I have been getting this error for over a year, also i9990305. I have looked this up on ibm manual and know that it refers to hard disk error. The XP operating system is definitely installed OK and the way I remedy situation is by tapping hard disk or removing it and putting it in again. However it is very tiresome and I wondered if there was anything more I could do. The problem I assume is the connection between hard disk drive and computer rather than hard disk drive itself?

[PCSAR 4x4 652]

According the manual ... you may have a bad HDD connection/connector. Inspect the pins on the HDD and the connector in the bay for damage. The connector on the machine may need to be cleaned.
Also, I would say check your start up sequence in easy setup, but you say tapping on the drive fixes it temporarily. That is just another action given by the manual.

[mastermiaow]

Thanks for getting back
What do you advice cleaning the pins with? They definintely do not seem physically damaged.

Many thanks

Master

[wa8yxm]

Is it possible the drive is developing 'Stiction' (Not starting promptly when powered up) and that by tapping or remiving/re-inserting it you cause it to spin up? (listen to it during start up)

[mastermiaow]

Thanks for responding
The fact that sometimes it starts fine and sometimes not would appear to me to mean that the heads are not dirty. So "stiction" is plausible. At the moment it is starting fine in that department (see my latest post for a different problem that is occuring). What sort of noise should I be looking out for if this problem occurs and how can I remedy it?

[reset]

There is a product that I found online awhile back to improve electrical connections called DeoxIT. It got good reviews and the other day when I was picking up soldering wire at the local Radio Shack I found it in the same section so I picked some up. It may be worth a try.