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#11
Hi there
OT but you might be able to "Rescue" the "failing disk.
If it's an EXTERNAL disk sometimes the electronics that converts the SATA===>USB connection gets hosed up and you are told often incorrectly that the disk is defective.
You can often "Rescue" these disks.
a) convert them to "Internal drives".
1) open the external case and remove the disk -- disconnect the physical disk from the electronics USB connector.
You'll see now a "Bog standard" SATA disk drive.
2) Connect to a spare SATA connector on your MOBO. - Note if you don't have enough SATA power connectors but plenty of the old 4 pin IDE connectors you can get very cheaply an IDE==>SATA power adapter -- screenshot enc.
3) Re-format the disk (FULL) -- and you should be good to go with a "New Disk".
b) If it's an INTERNAL disk.
The chances are that it probably is broken -- however swap the drive to another SATA slot and re-format (full) again -- or IMO a better solution try testing it with a SATA==>USB adapter and re-format via your computers USB port.
Many times disks can be "repaired" this way. In my experience disks rarely go "Partly defective". They either break or work and it's quite rare believe it or not for HDD's to go bust --not impossible but doesn't happen nearly as often as one might think.
In any case whatever you do - or whatever the state of your HDD's ALWAYS--ALWAYS have plenty of backup for important data. This can't be repeated often enough. --The OS can always be re-installed - but user data can me a NIGHTMARE to retrieve --even if it's possible -- I'd hate for example to have to re-rip 5,000 old CD's again !!!!!.
Cheers
jimbo
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