Hard Disk dropping

[Nippe]

Like a month ago I found my second hard disk was gone (Windows or BIOS couldn't see it) and suddenly it came back like 2 days after (this time I could see it under my computer, but couldn't access it). After a week it just suddenly started working again.

Now it worked just perfect until today. I still see it, but can't access some folders or run programs.

What should I do with this?

 

[theog]

Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
HD Diagnostic

 

[Nippe]

Humh.. what of those Western Digital tools should I download ?

 

[James Colbert]

what of those Western Digital tools should I download ?

The first link should do. Gives you both the windows and DOS version.

You'll also want to start copying data from the drive:

Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

Or, failing the above method, a Linux Live CD may allow you to see and copy files from the drive.

James

 

[Nippe]

I downloaded some app from here
WD Support / Downloads / SATA & SAS / WD VelociRaptor
And all it told was "There were errors that we can't repair, contact support. (error 08)"

Now Windows threw a message "Want to check for bad sectors?"
I did press "yes" and it asked to force dismount drive.. So it did and scanned it (I think) but now the drive is dismounted..

 

[Nippe]

So now I even can't see my second Hard Drive.. Any tips how to get it back? Last time it just became normal after a week.

 

[pooch]

Click Start orb rb: type Disk Management, click on Create and format hard disc partitions. A new window will open, can you expand this window and then copy and paste it here using the snipping tool.

 

[Nippe]

Here..

 

[pooch]

Not looking good you could try the connections to the device to ensure they are still sitting properly. If it is also not showing in the BIOS and Device manager I would say that it is an ex HDD.

 

[Nippe]

Well it doesn't show in BIOS (like it didnt last time) but last time it just suddenly reappeared? And cables are fine.

 

[pooch]

you could wait for it to appear again it may happen, but I still say it is at best, on its way out
If you want to be certain try it in another PC.

 

[James Colbert]

I downloaded some app from here
WD Support / Downloads / SATA & SAS / WD VelociRaptor
And all it told was "There were errors that we can't repair, contact support. (error 08)"

Do you have a velociRaptor HD? Your specs show as ATA. Are you sure it's not SATA? The model# could help in determining that. Is the drive in warranty?

So now I even can't see my second Hard Drive.. Any tips how to get it back? Last time it just became normal after a week.

The HD is failing or failed. Your main priority should be saving your data. First, if the drive is in warranty, you should contact WD to see if they can help you save your data before RMAing the drive.

Here are two other ways you can try, but again, if the drive is in warranty, contact wd support before anything else.

http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/166036-hard-disk-dropping.html#post1421602

Try the Windows Recovery Console method first (link in earlier post). If Windows Recovery Console can't see it, you can try the Linux Live CD, which is a bootable CD.

Here is a link to a Linux Live CD download. Scrolling down will reveal a step by step tutorial in downloading, burning and using the Linux Live CD:

Download | Ubuntu

The Linux method should be tried if the Windows method fails. Here is a link to an indepth tutorial on how to use it to save your data:

Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer - How-To Geek

Again, if your drive is in warranty, contact WD support before anything else.

James

 

[Nippe]

Device properties shows this: WDC WD5000AAKS-07YGA0 ATA Device

Warranty is gone ages ago (I rebuilt PC and kept old HD:s)

I was thinking about that Ubuntu too.. But if even BIOS can't see it I don't know how Ubuntu would..

And I can't backup disk I can't see.. But maybe I should try in other PC.

 

[James Colbert]

You should follow the steps listed in my previous posts, starting with Windows Recovery Console.

You don't mention the symptoms, but sometimes mechanical issues with a drive can cause it to overheat.

1. Try shutting the system down for an hour.
2. When time is up, restart the system and enter the bios. Is the drive present?
3. Regardless of whether it is or not, make sure that your CD/DVD drive is listed first in the boot priority list so that you can boot from it (this will not prevent booting from your system drive, but will check the DVD drive first for a boot CD)

Try the Windows Recovery method. Does it see the drive? If not, there is an old trick that may help:

1. Try removing the problem drive, wrap it in a cloth, place it in a ziplock, then place it in the freezer for 2 hours.
2. Remove it from the freezer and bag, make sure there is no condensation on the drive (if so, wait a few minutes for evaporataion).
3. Place it back in the system and immediately try WR. If that fails, try the Linux method.

If the drive shows up, You will need to immediately try to save your data while you can see it. Don't boot into windows, don't waste time. Data recovery is the priority.

If none of this works, you may be able to see it in another machine.

James

 

[dsperber]

Like a month ago I found my second hard disk was gone (Windows or BIOS couldn't see it) and suddenly it came back like 2 days after (this time I could see it under my computer, but couldn't access it). After a week it just suddenly started working again.

Now it worked just perfect until today. I still see it, but can't access some folders or run programs.

What should I do with this?

It's already been discussed, that this drive may really be an ex-HDD.

But if you haven't already tried it you might connecting the SATA cable to a different SATA connector on the motherboard, removing the power and data cables at both ends (i.e. to both board and power supply, as well as to the drive) and re-connecting the cables making sure that both ends are firmly seated, and replacing the SATA cable itself.

But if the drive is gone, it's gone. Time for a replacement, unfortunately.


Incidentally, I had a virtually identical story myself. No great insight here, other than that I actually DID finally decide after trying all of the above suggestions to eliminate the intermittent failure, that it was the drive.

So I replaced it and the problem disappeared! I was convinced it was a defective old drive.

Well everything was perfect for a few weeks, when it started happening again!! I now realized it probably wasn't the old drive (which was probably fine, after all), but just something about the other variables in the story. Again, I changed to yet another SATA connector on the motherboard but still no change. Swapped to a new SATA cable and magically it fixed itself. Once again, stability returned... and hasn't failed since.

So it took one new drive, three different SATA connectors, and two SATA cables, to finally find what (fingers crossed) is stability again.

 

[theog]

This is a Known SATA 1 problem.

There is no difference in maximum transfer speeds between cables labelled as SATA vs. SATA2. The only difference is that SATA2 cables have a locking mechanism to stabilise connection.

 

[Nippe]

You mean I should replace my cable with SATA 2 or ?

 

[Nippe]

Ok.. After I today woke up my computer it found my disk again
But now it says "You need to format the disk in drive D: before you can use it."

Should I format it or ignore and see if it returns normal soon?

 

[Nippe]

"format" message looks like this..


I don't know should I pass it and do that format actually work :/

 

[James Colbert]

You mean I should replace my cable with SATA 2 or ?

I'm using some sata I's on sata II and have not had any issues, but it would be advisable to try it, esp. since it takes minutes to try.

Should I format it or ignore and see if it returns normal soon?

OK, I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume you don't care about the existing data on this drive. If you do, backtrack in this thread to employ the data rescue methods mentioned.

Beyond that, sata drives are so cheap these days:

Newegg.com - Internal Hard Drives

I would pick up another drive ( a 500GB is now less than $50) to put in the system. Given that the WD diag software states the drive has an irreparable error, there's no way I would trust this drive.

James