Solved Hdd suddenly disappeared

[PSCO2007]

One of my hdds, that I was just using has suddenly disappeared.

Luckily, I have all my movies on it backed up up to another Hdd.

I haven't opened up the comp yet, but have done a Restore - still not there or in Disc Mgmt.

I received no warnings - could it have just dropped dead without warning?

This happened immediately after I had xsferred WMP recordings to a different hdd, although I can't see any correlation.

 

[Mellon Head]

The first thing I would do is to boot into BIOS and see if the drive is recognized there. If it isn't, open the case and check the drive connections and make sure that they haven't worked their way loose from vibration. While you're inside the case, put your finger on the drive (on the drive's case. Don't touch the drive electronics.) and turn on the power switch. As the machine powers up, you should feel a little bit of vibration and movement from inside the drive. If you don't feel anything, the drive might be seized up.

It isn't unusual for a drive's bearings to suddenly seize up and stop spinning. No spin, no data, no drive.

Try those things above and post the results. (Please)

 

[PSCO2007]

Thanks for reply Bryan,

The suggestions you gave is what I intend to do tomorrow.

I thought it strange that it happened just as I finished using it - I'll post back results tomorrow.

Paul

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I had a HDD disappear on me once. It turned out that, for some odd reason, it lost its drive letter. I found it when I was advised by someone here to go into Disk Management and put the drive letter back in. That drive is still in service without a hitch since then.

 

[PSCO2007]

As I said previously, the hdd does not appear in Disc Mgmt.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

As I said previously, the hdd does not appear in Disc Mgmt.

Totally missed that. Sorry.

 

[PSCO2007]

Hi Bryan,

I was just about to open PC and check cables.

I just happened to open My Computer and the hdd that disappeared is BACK!

I opened Acronis drive meter and it shows no problems.

Since the disappearance occurred immediately after I was transferring a large amount of GBS, do you think it just got hot and seized for the moment to protect it?

Anyway, thanks again for your help.

Paul

 

[PSCO2007]

As I said previously, the hdd does not appear in Disc Mgmt.

Totally missed that. Sorry.

No problem.

BTW, I am aware of your suggestion about drive letters, because every time I connect an hdd to my laptop, I have to assign a drive letter to make it work.

 

[Mellon Head]

Hi Bryan,

I was just about to open PC and check cables.

I just happened to open My Computer and the hdd that disappeared is BACK!

I opened Acronis drive meter and it shows no problems.

Since the disappearance occurred immediately after I was transferring a large amount of GBS, do you think it just got hot and seized for the moment to protect it?

Anyway, thanks again for your help.

Paul

Well, I'm glad it's back. I doubt that it seized to protect itself, but maybe the jostling of the case did something. Could be that you've got a flaky or loose cable...