hey guys. for the last couple weeks i had an encoding machine of mine randomly reboot. it had no spyware/virus/adware of any sort as i scanned it with everything. today it rebooted again and one of the drives turned up missing from the "my computer" list.

it turns out the sata data cable had worked itself loose. the computer has been in the same place and not moved or touched in six months, but the loose cable had been causing winXP to re-boot without warning.

the new type sata data cables don't seem to have very firm socket connection, so check them once and a while. it seems even the vibrations of the drive itself can work the cable free.