Hard Drive Failure --- I thought!

[wwaag]

Not a question, but just an experience I thought I'd pass on. On shutdown, my computer hung and after a while I could hear a clunk, clunk sound of death emanating from my backup hard drive which is mounted in a mobile rack. Thereafter, on start-up the BIOS would not recognize the HD and XP would not boot. Removed the drive--everything OK. After trying repeatedly, I called Western Digital and they issued an RMA for replacement--obviously a bad drive.

Then realized, I'd forgotten to restore info from the backup drive since I did a re-format on my main video drive. Panic!!! Tried the freezer, a few knocks---nothing worked. Then tried on another computer--still dead. Thinking I didn't have the jumpers correct, I removed the HD from the mobile rack and installed directly. Everything was then OK. Relief--then copied all the files to the other PC.

For grins, I then re-installed the drive into the mobile rack--dead. Re-installed in another rack and everything worked again.

Bottom line--it was the mobile rack inner tray. I was truly surprised and relieved.

Just thought I'd share this experience since it seemed pretty unusual.

wwaag

[JerryB]

Not a question, but just an experience I thought I'd pass on. On shutdown, my computer hung and after a while I could hear a clunk, clunk sound of death emanating from my backup hard drive which is mounted in a mobile rack. Thereafter, on start-up the BIOS would not recognize the HD and XP would not boot. Removed the drive--everything OK. After trying repeatedly, I called Western Digital and they issued an RMA for replacement--obviously a bad drive.

Then realized, I'd forgotten to restore info from the backup drive since I did a re-format on my main video drive. Panic!!! Tried the freezer, a few knocks---nothing worked. Then tried on another computer--still dead. Thinking I didn't have the jumpers correct, I removed the HD from the mobile rack and installed directly. Everything was then OK. Relief--then copied all the files to the other PC.

For grins, I then re-installed the drive into the mobile rack--dead. Re-installed in another rack and everything worked again.

Bottom line--it was the mobile rack inner tray. I was truly surprised and relieved.

Just thought I'd share this experience since it seemed pretty unusual.

wwaag

Thank yoy for the info.... I am curious what was wrong with the movile rack... a bad pin or something... that of interest to me because... I am thinking on my next system..... of setting up where on each hard drive have a different OS

oh my own..... experience along the same line as yours... I had a pc when boot up it gave a bad track zero error!!!! .... generally that means a dead hard drive.. but it turned out just a lose/dirty connector!! smile

[redwudz]

It's always a good idea to check connectors when you have a hard drive problem.

I've used mobile racks quite a bit with no problems so far. I would use models with included fans. Some hard drives run fairly hot and racks don't usually have good air circulation. The aluminum based trays help a little. Check those little fans occasionally also, they die fairly often.

The tray to IDE internal connector and cable can get damaged fairly easily as it is jammed up against the rear of the tray. That's what caused my problem. I have only had one with bent/damaged tray pins. The racks I use now have a handle/lever that unplugs and plugs the tray into the rack socket. It causes a lot less stress on the connectors.

[Mr. Dweezel]

Tried the freezer

If anybody is interested in the pros and cons of freezing
a harddrive here is some info...

http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6255-5029761-2.html

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=398225

Also found this thread...

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=293910&highlight=disable+usb