HD failure.

[slimmx]

I was backing up a movie and in a 15 min. period a kept hearing clicking in the pc. IT sounded like some hardware was trying to work but could not. I got really close to the and still could not figure out what it was. Then I got a blue screen of death. I restarted it but the load would not go further than where it checks for all the drives. It does not show either hd or cdrom. When I unplugged one of hte drives, still nothing. After I unplugged the hd with xp on it, it started loading up to a part where it looks for hte boot device(since the 2nd hd does not have windows on). Did one of my hard drives die on me?

[BJ_M]

sounds like it

[makntraks]

Can you post the blue screen error?
Either way from the sounds of it I can pretty much ensure your HD has "left the building"

makntraks

[rallynavvie]

hmm, the "click of death"

[slimmx]

I can't post the blue screen because I can't log on into windows. I can't pass the first sreen.

I am looking for a new drive and I want to go with Serial Ata rather than IDE. Its better isn't it?

Is this a good choice. I don't want a slow hd.

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?DEPA=0&description=22-144-152&ATT=Hard+D...&CMP=OTC-C173T

[rallynavvie]

SATA is OK. You won't really notice a difference in speeds between that and a 7200rpm IDE drive. Just be careful with the power and data connectors, they're a bit fragile.

[BJ_M]

and if you have a SATA interface in your system

[slimmx]

I recieved the hd today. I was surprised that it was plug and ply , since a ot of ppl on newegg were having problems with it at first. This is my config now

1st Master - my old ide hd 120gbs.
2nd Master - dvdrom
2nd slave- cdrom
3rd Master- my new sata hd.

Is that ok? Is it possible to make my sata as first master? My problem is that I want to make my new sata as partion c and d and install windows on c. My other hd as e and f. I labeled the drives as i wanted during installation but when I click on install windows on partion c it automatically renames it to e and asks me to press any button to install windows on E. How can I change that?

[slimmx]

I got it. All I had to do is to unplug the ide hd and install windows on sata drive. After just plug in the ide drive and all done.

[injunpana]

You might still be able to revive your hard drive.

I've done this procedure with my hard drive (same one) about four times now. Every three to four months my computer will hung up and whenever I try to reboot it will just say it's looking for the boot device.

Just take out your hard drive, wrap and seal it in a cellophane bag, then put it in your freezer overnight. Take it out in the morning, wipe off moisture if there is any then put it back in your computer. Fire up your computer and most probably your computer will boot.

[808smokey]

Just take out your hard drive, wrap and seal it in a cellophane bag, then put it in your freezer overnight. Take it out in the morning, wipe off moisture if there is any then put it back in your computer. Fire up your computer and most probably your computer will boot.

How in the world did you come up with that? That's sounds crazy. I'm just curious as to what that does exactly?

[injunpana]

I think i once read it from arstechnica.com, a tech website, and when my hard drive first failed I remembered it. I was desperate since I had imprtant files in that hard drive. I tried the fix and it worked. Just for a lark, try googling " hard drive fixes" and you'll get to a link mentioning freezing the hard drive. This fix is not really a secret among the tech community anymore really.

The idea is that the hard drive may have failed because the platters inside may be touching some surface which is a no no. When you freeze the hard drive the platters or the essential parts may have contracted just enough so they're free from contact surface again, or something of that sort. Thus the hard drive will work again. Heh heh, I assure you this is not a case of mumbo jumbo, it really has a scientific explanation.

[BJ_M]

yes - it has worked for me --- so has dropping it about 5 - 6" when all else fails ...

last resort -- take cover off and spin platters by hand till they start to spin ....



use the above methods at your own risk !!!!

[injunpana]

use the above methods at your own risk !!!!

If you really think about it, there is no risk. The hard drive is done anyway. The idea is to make the hard drive work just long enough for you to be able to back up your files in it

[rallynavvie]

OMG no. One fingerprint on a high-density platter and that section is toast. Get any oils on the head and that's toast. I've seen the refurb facilities at Seagate and they're like something out of the CDC.

The freeze method works, but just recover your data quick and get a new drive because it's only a matter of time before that one goes for good. Had this happen to my favorite 200GB drive, sadly the first one I ever bought back when they were $350 for one

[BJ_M]

OMG no. One fingerprint on a high-density platter and that section is toast. Get any oils on the head and that's toast. I've seen the refurb facilities at Seagate and they're like something out of the CDC.

The freeze method works, but just recover your data quick and get a new drive because it's only a matter of time before that one goes for good. Had this happen to my favorite 200GB drive, sadly the first one I ever bought back when they were $350 for one

i said do it when it locked up -- it is already toast , just need to pull data off the drive.. ive done this twice and i was able to retrive the whole drive.

ive also replaced the circuit board on a couple to get data ....