Write Error on External HD

Hi,
I have a question regarding my external USB HD.
I bought this external Case for IDE drives with USB 1.1 or 2. I am running XP Pro.
I installed a older HD that I had from a old PC 6.4 Gig and I think ATA 33.
I used Partition Magic to convert it to NTFS as Backup. XP recognised the drive as Local Disc M and it is listed on the Taskbar in remove Hardware Safely as a mass storage device. I have tested it by creating a Folder and moving files in and out and most of the time it works ok but on several occasions now I have it plugged in and connected at all times I receive the following message when not using it drive empty and not moving any any files to it:
Windows "“ Delayed Write Failed
Windows was unable to save all the data for the file M:\$Mft. The data has been lost. This error may be caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection. Please try to save the file elswere.
I have no network connection and it comes up when not moving any files, and it disables the drive until I reboot.
Could it be the age of the drive ATA33 as all my other drives are 100 or 133.
Could this setup with a external USB drive be used to create a Image of my C drive say with Norton Ghost or Acronis Drive Image 8. Is it possible to boot when disaster strikes from USB to restore from this Image.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hawk22

 

hawk22,

I'm not sure about the External HD (it being ATA33), but I did find some information that will answer your question about booting from USB, and hopefully might help with the Delayed Write problem:

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1676

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=330174

 

Hi Irdreed,
Sorry to be late with a reply to you. I do thank you.
I have not yet found a answer to my Delayed writing error, but the Idea with the external HD USB will work fine with Acronis True Image 8, as the Rescue Disk is on a bootable CD so therefore my USB does not need to be bootable.
I have done what MS recomends but still the same, I receive mixed info in regards to what Format the HD should be Fat 32 or NTFS.
Thanks again
hawk22

 

hawk22,
Thanks for the follow-up info. I've Been kind of curious if the problem was solved or not.
I came across this while surfing on the Internet and maybe it'll help.
"I am a Microsoft support engineer for Windows XP and had a customer call in with the write delay error and was able to fix her by downloading a XP driver for her disk controller card. When she installed XP, and this is true for everyone, the installation put a MS generic driver for her controller. We went to the mfg's web site and downloaded the XP driver for the card and her problem is now resolved. She was getting this error when trying to write above 140 gig on a 200 gig Maxtor 2000. Go to device manager and she if you disk controller has a Microsoft driver with a date of 6/2001. If you have that driver installed go to the mfg's web site for your card and get their XP driver and your problem should be resolved "

 

Hi there Irdreed,
Many thanks again for your efforts.
I had a look and all my drivers have a date: 1/07/2001 that is close, but I don't know if it is right or wrong.
In device manager it is just listed as a USB mass storage device.
It does not specify any Ultra UDMA settings that is what the MS link that you had given me is refering to, to disable it, but I think that referes only to Internal drives and not USB.
I had thought about re-formatting it to NTFS and see what happens then.
Someone on a other Forum thought that the HD itself was faulty, but it worked ok in the PC it came out of.
I will keep hoping for a answer.
thannks
hawk22