Had some timeout errors on a webfarm server that had been running steady with an uptime of several months. All of a sudden it couldn’t write to some directories, couldn’t reboot, I figured the HD failed. But the HD tested OK in another system, and a drive I knew was good wasn’t detected by this server. I was starting to think it’s the motherboard. But when I tried a different IDE cable, everything worked perfectly. Put back in the original IDE cable and it won’t boot. hmm I think that’s a first for me.
well now i’ve got the “new” cable in there and it’s working great, yum update and back in service.