Did my HDD die?

[Reptlle]

Hi guys,

I'm pretty sure my Seagate 1TB is dead, but just want someone to confirm it. Maybe I overlooked something. So last night I shut down my pc. This morning when I started it back up, I got a failed to boot error. After restarting, the pc got stuck on "detecting IDE drives". If you leave it for long enough it proceeds to the failed to boot error. Tried a different set of cables, same result. It isn't detected in the BIOS either. It also makes a weird noise. Sounds like the mobo is trying to read it and then stops. Then it starts again and stops again. Goes on like this for a while.

If you leave it long enough the noise stops and after a reboot the drive gets detected. Though the failed to boot error still occurs. So I tried putting it in another pc as a secondary drive. Also doesn't get detected. After waiting for the noise to stop it gets detected again, but the pc then gets stuck on the windows loading screen. If I go into the BIOS after the noise stops the drive is there, but it's only 4GB in size, even though it's a 1TB drive.

So does anyone have any ideas? Or should I get it replaced (still under warranty luckily). Will the data be recoverable? Also, what could've been the cause for it to just fail like that overnight without any activity whatsoever?

 

[Bobbin]

How important was the data?

I would also try switch on PC and keep pressing F12 until you reach the short boot menu and then waiting for the noise to stop, then inserting a PE or Linux CD if you have one? and booting from the CD to try and recover the data on to an external drive. But I suppose knowing that the more you play around with the drive the less chance you would have to recover the data and with what you describe it may already be too late for a DIY job.

 

[SouthBit]

The fact that it is being detected as 4GB means that there is an issue with your drive's firmware. This usually happens due to bad sectors in the firmware area (firmware is stored on the platters) or weak read/write heads. If it's making noises then you have a physical problem. Clicking noises? If so you have failed read/write heads which will also be the reason it may stop clicking for a while as it has finally calibrated after many attempts, but it hasn't read the service area (firmware) correctly so it's showing as 4GB.

There is nothing you can do here DIY if this is the case. We recover from these drives on a regular basis if you are interested. If we can work around the problem without having to physically open the drive then your warranty can remain intact.

 

[Reptlle]

Thanks for the replies! The pc is quite new, about 3 months old, think I probably have the data from just before I bought the new pc so don't think it'll be that important to recover the data. It's not really a clicking noise. Sounds more like the drive starts to spin and then immediately stops. Then starts again then stops again. Something like that.

I'll just have a look at the data that I still have and if there is anything important that I'm missing I might contact you guys. Although I'm in Bloem so might have a look around here for someone that can do the job. Cape Town is a bit far. But thanks anyway

 

[ponder]

Although I'm in Bloem so might have a look around here for someone that can do the job. Cape Town is a bit far. But thanks anyway

I don't think you will find any data recovery companies in bloem, pe, el or durban. In all those areas they have 'resellers' of other companies services based in jhb or ct who they courier the drives to.