Help - HDD (1 Viewer)

[fatmuscle]

Was about to install new HDD.

I shut down my computer,
unplugged the power cable from back of system,
unplugged the power and IDE cable from HDD,
moved the HDD up on slot,
put the power and IDE cables back in the HDD
put the power cable back into the back of the system unit,
tried to turn the computer on, and it DIED!

(Note that no other settings were changed. just the slot where the HDD sits. No jumper settings, and using the same IDE cable and power.)

I didn't even get the chance to put my new HDD in, and my stupid computer DIES!!!!!

The discs in the HDD do not spin when the computer is turned on. I've swapped the HDD with my new one, and that works fine, but my old HDD with all my files is gone!!!

Could anyone suggest anything?

 

[sunny]

If the disk does not spin at all or theres no activity from it, is there a chance you damaged the power connectors when you unplugged it from the HDD?

 

[loquasagacious]

Does your power supply (where the power goes into back of computer) have a switch, if so did you turn that to off before doing anything and leave it in that position until everything was all plugged back in?

If nnot did you turn the power off at the power point first and leave it like that until evrything was plugged back in?

Can you smell a strange smell around the HDD or visually see any burning or scorch marks?

Have you made sure that the IDE cable is up the right way?

Did you hear any strange noises during the process?

How long had the computer been turned off for before you unplugged and moved the drive?

Have you tested the old HDD in another computer yet?

Do you have by any chance a seconf working HDD identical (same manufacturer, size age, model etc) to your old one?

Have you had a stiff drink and contemplated what complete loss of your stored data means?

Are you prepared to pay $100 to $3000 to retrieve you're data, or know anyone who works in data recocery?

 

[fatmuscle]

I've used the exact same cables on a different HDD, and that works fine.
So i can only assume it's the other HDD's problem.

The discs do not spin on startup.



The only thing i haven't done, is test the old HDD in another computer.

 

[Frigid]

Could anyone suggest anything?

you may have static-killed something. that's happened to me more than once.

 

[redslert]

you may have static-killed something. that's happened to me more than once.

i agree! sounds like you didn't ground yourself properly

 

[MedNez]

That may well be the case (no pun intended), perhaps you should start looking for a data recovery service

 

[velox]

costs way too much. Not really worth it unless the data is really really needed

 

[jm1234567890]

If it doesn't spin, your hard drive is definately dead....
cause even a hard drive without IDE connected will still spin.

Harddrives die all the time, but good thing is they usually have long warranty. You should prolly send it back. I have had a 17gig (i know, strange size) die before and they replaced it pretty quickly.

 

[redslert]

i must say that i have had plenty of computers with plenty of harddrives and i run my computers 24/7
none of them have ever died on me *knock on wood*
and i do shift them around a fair bit

guess it's just whether you're lucky or not

 

[fatmuscle]

yeah, i'm thinking i static killed it too...

now i have to think what i've actually lost.

which is a lot of data...

If anyone knows of a data recovery place, let me know
I'll have to weigh out the cost to decide.

if not... just lost 80Gb of useful data.

bad thing is, i back up my stuff, but not the rest of my family's

 

[fatmuscle]

btw, thanks for all the help/suggestions guys

 

[Frigid]

yeah, i'm thinking i static killed it too...

now i have to think what i've actually lost.

which is a lot of data...

If anyone knows of a data recovery place, let me know
I'll have to weigh out the cost to decide.

if not... just lost 80Gb of useful data.

bad thing is, i back up my stuff, but not the rest of my family's

dude, i think data recovery centres charge by the thousand's. definitely not worth it. you back up your data, which is good. the rest...

a maxim of computing: "data which you do not back up is data you do not wish to keep."

 

[jm1234567890]

dude, i think data recovery centres charge by the thousand's. definitely not worth it. you back up your data, which is good. the rest...

a maxim of computing: "data which you do not back up is data you do not wish to keep."

yes..... i back up on anthoer harddrive on my computer, lol

prolly should get a dvd burner of some type in the near future.

 

[MedNez]

Indeed, I back up to both computers, and I know recovery centres are rather expensive - much much easier to find someone who'll do it for a cheaper price i.e. Only a few hundred dollars as opposed to thousands.

Really depends what you can find.

 

[redslert]

the cheap solution for you is to find someone with the exact model HD and just swap the mainboard....grab the data and then switch it back

 

[loquasagacious]

Was about to suggest that - much cheaper than data recovery service (and pretty much what they would do) and actually quite easy to do.

That it is an 80Gb suggests that if you couldn't find a mate who was willing to do a temporary swap you could easily find and buy a new 80Gb drive exact same specs do the swap get your data back and you also get a replacement for the lost drive.

 

[AsyLum]

You could check the pins, my floppy drive ceased working for a while, until i unplugged it and had a look and i had bent one of the power pins in and it wasnt connected.

Perhaps a last ditch effort though.

 

[fatmuscle]

yeah, thought of that.
Guess I'll go hunting.

 

[fatmuscle]

I'm using one of those IDE-to-USB convertors
after installing, it doesn't recognise my harddrive (not surprised there)
but after leaving it there for a while, the harddrive starts heating up.
So i guess there is some power running through it!