Jump to content

HARD DRIVE BLEW UP??


wyantm06

Recommended Posts

First I would like to ask...How does a Hard Drive crap to bed? I left for work today and came home and it showed a black screen sayign Disk Boot Failure, Please Insert System Disc. Did so to reboot/format and said it could not find my Hard Drive. I then put it in my other PC and it did the same thing. How does a Hard Drive blow up? I noticed it starting to get louder a while back, so can someone tell me how they blow up? Thanks, plan on buying a new one, just don't know when.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hard drives are mechanical devices, they have moving parts.You have platters, where the information is stored on, that almost constantly spin around while the computer is on, especially when the drive is in use. There are also read/write heads. They are just above each platter and the swing back and forth when read/writing. Think of a record player and you'll get the idea.

Your problem (getting louder and louder) sounds like, to me atleast, the drive was wearing down. The bearings the the platters spin on might have worn out. Less likely but ,it could also have been a problem with the heads. When they wear out, sometimes the heads smash onto the platters, destroying the drive.

Replacement is the only option.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hard drives are mechanical devices, they have moving parts.You have platters, where the information is stored on, that almost constantly spin around while the computer is on, especially when the drive is in use. There are also read/write heads. They are just above each platter and the swing back and forth when read/writing. Think of a record player and you'll get the idea.

Your problem (getting louder and louder) sounds like, to me atleast, the drive was wearing down. The bearings the the platters spin on might have worn out. Less likely but ,it could also have been a problem with the heads. When they wear out, sometimes the heads smash onto the platters, destroying the drive.

Replacement is the only option.

What sucks is the HDD is not even a year old...It's a 250 Gig Western Digital. I plan on gettig a smaller one this time aroudn since I never used close to that much space. Sigh...My only worry is investing more money and it breaking again!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What sucks is the HDD is not even a year old...It's a 250 Gig Western Digital. I plan on gettig a smaller one this time aroudn since I never used close to that much space. Sigh...My only worry is investing more money and it breaking again!

Is it under warranty? I bet it is. Also, you never know how quickly you'll use that space. I used to think 1gb was too much. You should buy the biggest drive you can afford.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

netmasta got most of it.  Hard drives are very touchy beasts and it's actually quite amazing that they last for as long as they do, considering the mechanics behind them.  Consider that a lot of newer hard drives are spinning at 7200RPM.  If your car ever went that fast, your engine would likely catch on fire.  Aside from that, even though hard drives are very carefully sealed to be air tight, the heads that hover over the top of the platters inside your hard drive to read them are actually sitting so close above those platters that a single spec of dust that got in before the hard drive was sealed could be 2 or 3 times the distance between the platter and the head in diameter.  To get a full picture of just what this would do if your head happened to hit a piece of dust,...

picture what a 747 would look like if its wheels touched down on a 50 gallon metal trashcan that was lying in the middle of the runway.

Yeah, can you hear me now? :haha:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

wyantm06 ;Have you went into you computers BIOS & made sure the your HD is listed & enabled?

Then is it in a list like primary boot?

You shouldn't even need a HD to check BIOS because I beleive this is all on your CMOS chip.

Also hows your battery?

Last where did you buy the HD? or do you have a receipt? you can probably check warranty information online if you can prove when you purchased it you may still be able to get it warrantied.

btw my HD is a 1999 so they can last a long time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

wyantm06 ;Have you went into you computers BIOS & made sure the your HD is listed & enabled?

Then is it in a list like primary boot?

You shouldn't even need a HD to check BIOS because I beleive this is all on your CMOS chip.

Also hows your battery?

Last where did you buy the HD? or do you have a receipt? you can probably check warranty information online if you can prove when you purchased it you may still be able to get it warrantied.

btw my HD is a 1999 so they can last a long time.

I tried it in 2 computers. When I turn the PC on it doesn't even spin, or vibrate like it kicked on. I don't see how it got to be set off when I left for work my PC was on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It could have just died..  It happens.. WD drives are 3 years I believe.. call them up and they should replace it.  It is just a matter of giving them the serial number on the drive itself.   

However, before you send it back make sure to run a magnet over the top to erase/scramble the data.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It could have just died..  It happens.. WD drives are 3 years I believe.. call them up and they should replace it.  It is just a matter of giving them the serial number on the drive itself.   

However, before you send it back make sure to run a magnet over the top to erase/scramble the data.

How big of a magnet? I really don't want them seeing my information. Which I am almost 100% sure you can bring back the information no matter what. I will check their site for a warranty or something. But I have a bad feeling about sending back my HDD. I used to download music illegally, but now use Imesh.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

First, I would like to say thank you for the people who told me to RMA. My warranty is good until 2008.

A. place drive in ESD Bag

B. wrap in foam or bubble wrap cushioning

C. place in sturdy cardboard box

D. write RMA number on outside packaging

When shipping multiple items, each item must be packed as above, so they do not touch each other and cannot move inside the packaging. All products MUST be packed in individual anti-static bags and in a sturdy cardboard box.

^^^ Those were the directions giving to me. What is a ESD bag? I need to get one to send it back, if they get the broke HDD and it isn't boxed and wrapped like they say then I am SOL.

Btw is this magnet good enough http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8731/p1010002al5.jpg ? Where do I use it at? Rub it on the whole HDD? Front and Back? Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My friend has a magnet that weighs like 30-40lbs  :haha: You don't want to get anything electrical too close to it, like your cell phone  :evil6: .

I've used it sucessfully to wipe my hd's, but it is not a common magnet that everyday people have laying around...Honestly I have no idea why he has it...He is one of those people who have all sorts of crap, but you have no idea why they have it, or if they ever actually use it  :haha:

Go get an MRI, and bring the HD with you  :D That should erase it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

wyantm06;If you can go to a scrap metal yard I bet the electro magnet crane operator would run the electro magnet over it.That might sound like a joke but I'm serious.

I guess I have to send the HDD in how it is. What will they do if they find music and stuff downloaded through torrents and such? Btw where do I get a anti static bag?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I guess I have to send the HDD in how it is. What will they do if they find music and stuff downloaded through torrents and such? Btw where do I get a anti static bag?

They probably won't care. They probably get dozens of returned drives each week. Half probably have illegal stuff on therm. Besides, they need solid proof that you stole the music. They can't tell where the files came from.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What sucks is the HDD is not even a year old...It's a 250 Gig Western Digital. I plan on gettig a smaller one this time aroudn since I never used close to that much space. Sigh...My only worry is investing more money and it breaking again!

First off...don't buy el cheapo <grin> western digital drives.  Their warranty policy is lousy.  Spend a little more and get a seagate with 5 year warranty and NEVER have that paranoid feeling in your gut and empty feeling in your checkbook.  Seagate has done quite well by their customers over the years and nothing seems to be changing there unlike Maxtor and Western Dig who have substantially cut back their warranty periods (what does that tell you?)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...