billnot

After I wrote my last reply, my own hard disk seized up a couple of times. Although it was very hot (65º), I'm wondering if an inadequate power supply isn't also part of the problem.

What I have done is to mount externally both the hard disk and CD-ROM , in a box with an independent power supply.

I punched out (and expanded somewhat) the hole in the DB where the modem would go and routed a 90cm Sharkoon round IDE cable through it and into a small AOpen PC case. The CD and hard disk are mounted in that case, and fed by its integral power supply.

Since I've done that (admittedly only a few days ago) the hard disk temperature has never gone over 40º and there have been no crashes.

Fingers crossed!