Solved HDD nowhere to be found

[RK2511]

I'm on windows 7 ultimate 32-bit & have an issue with one of my 2 hdd... the 160gb hdd is the one that has the windows installed & its running fine but the other one, a Seagate barracuda 7200.12 500gb @ 3gb/s (st3500418as) is the drive that frequently disappears from the entire os (even the Disk management utility of windows). Just about yesterday when i was Googling about the issue, i read about some batch of seagate hdds being faulty in their firmware and hence i upgraded the hdd with the help of a downloadable utility available on the seagate website. and now the hdd is only visible in the BIOS and never shows up in the os. 1 more thing i've tried all the hardware tactics i can by connecting & disconnecting the power & read cords and even trying new read cords....


the entire issue of the hdd surfaced just about 2-3 weeks ago & the hdd hasn't troubled me since i bought it somewhere around April 2010.... What are the chances that the hdd has just gone corrupt.... Any help would be appreciated on the issue....

 

[Darryl Licht]

I'd suggest backing up ASAP if you haven't already!

Sounds like the HDD is on its last leg!!!

 

[gregrocker]

Sometimes if an internal or external HD does not show up in Windows or you cannot open it, you can install free Partition Wizard and it will detect it, allow you to rightclick on it to Check File System with both repair boxes checked. I have seen it unfold a number of times where the drive will come back to life during this Disk Check popping up its autostart.

If not you can try the PW HD Surface Test with both repair boxes checked, and as a final measure boot the maker's HD Diagnostic on an internal where only it is plugged in.