Hard drive despaired?

Hardware

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Yes, the HDD or controller is probably dead.

by seanferd · 11 years ago In reply to Hard drive despaired?

You could try slaving the drive into another computer to check for function.

You may look in BIOS for a drive testing utility, if available. Otherwise, download a test utility from your HDD manufacturer. Usually, your choices are to make a bootable CD or floppy with the utility, or run a version of the utility on another computer with your suspect drive connected as a slave. Just find the HDD manufacturer's website and look for the utility.

Since it does not show up in BIOS, the utility may not find the drive either, which would be another death certificate.

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A couple of things to try

by Jacky Howe · 11 years ago In reply to Hard drive despaired?

Check the cables and power by disconnecting and reconnecting them. IDE cables have been known to cause this problem and reseating them will fix it. If it is a Sata drive make sure that it is on Sata0 or Sata1 which ever is the lowest connector. Try another IDE/Sata cable.

Check the hard disk controller options settings in BIOS. Make sure that the settings reflect your drive and it is being detected. Check the Boot sequence. EG:
1. CD/DVD
2. Floppy
3. HDD or Hard drive

Try another Hard drive if one is available.

If the drive isn't detected it has probably gone to Silicon Heaven.

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something has gone

by .Martin. · 11 years ago In reply to Hard drive despaired?

try plugging the hard drive into another computer as a slave, to see if it is the drive or the motherboard.

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will try then reply thank you

by u4mist · 11 years ago In reply to something has gone

will try then reply thank you

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all great segestions

by u4mist · 11 years ago In reply to Hard drive despaired?

i'm going to try them all i will let you know what i find thank you all.

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Good luck

by seanferd · 11 years ago In reply to all great segestions

I hope something works for you.

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your avatar

by u4mist · 11 years ago In reply to Good luck

i like your avatar, vorlon, one of my favorite shows Babylon 5,hoping for a movie one day maybe about the 4 other babylon stations.

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Good luck {nt}

by Jacky Howe · 11 years ago In reply to all great segestions

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Maybe the circuit board failed?

by john · 11 years ago In reply to Hard drive despaired?

I know the vast majority of HD failures are mechanical but I have seen a few that the board failed on. I save old drives and have been able to recover data from failed drives a few times by swapping the board.

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