HDD decided to **** up.

Discussion in 'Tech Support' started by scq, 5 Nov 2007.

  1. scq

    scq What's a Dremel?

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    Alright. So I've had a 250GB IDE for a few years now (around 3-4), and it's mostly been a backup/file drive. A few days ago, I've noticed that it started clicking once in awhile, and showing/hiding in My Computer. It was detected in BIOS, and I could usually get it to show up in Vista after a restart. I became a little concerned, and was planning to move my files over sometime.

    However, it died. It spins up and is detected in BIOS now. It even shows up in Vista, and I can even copy the files off the root directory, but I can't go into other folders. Windows just freezes up. I've tried safemode and normal mode. I've even tried Testdisk 6.8, which usually hangs, and after a long while, tries to analyze the drive, showing read errors in every sector, and then listing no partitions.

    It's a 250 GB IDE Maxtor while my 2 other drives are SATA2s.

    Any ideas?
     
  2. GoodBytes

    GoodBytes How many wifi's does it have?

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    Maxtor....I vote this for the problem.
    Sorry, not to panic or anything, BASED simply on a PERSONAL EXPERIENCE (no actual data or review on it); I had a bad experience from them, in life span.
    I'm the type of person that keeps HDD's for some time and doesn't change it every 2 years. I know some of Maxtor hard drives has interesting specifications and low price, but they don't last long.

    Here is my experience:
    I had 3 Maxtor HDD's from 3 different computer, all different Maxtor models purchased at different years, all failed after 2 years and half to 3 years. I was very disappointed, to a point I decided to not leave them any second chance anymore, and I change with a different brand. I went with Western Digital (I did not try other brands). I find Western Digital HDD's quiet to very quiet drives, very long lasting, and you see/feel the higher build quality.
    Up to know, my 3 Western Digital on my 3 computers are still as quiet, as performed as when I purchased them, and they never failed or broke (I have them since 3.5 years, almost 4).

    In fact I have a very old HDD 10GB Western Digital, and it still works fine! it's loud, and vibrate like crazy, but it still works. So I don't know, hopefully they didn't reduce quality over the years.
     
  3. IAmATeaf

    IAmATeaf Minimodder

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    Sounds like the disk is kacked, it sort of gave you a warning by clicking, for me this would have been the point where I copied off the contents. The only thing I can think of doing now would be to google for free disk recovery tools and give them a go but be warned they can take many many hours to run through with little or no success.
     
  4. kenco_uk

    kenco_uk I unsuccessfully then tried again

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    Bung it in a non-static, sealable bag and stick it in the freezer overnight. Then very quickly plug it in and if it reads it okay, back up as much as you can.
     
  5. scq

    scq What's a Dremel?

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    This may actually work!?
     
  6. dragon2309

    dragon2309 techie

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    It has been known to yes... never tried it myself, but a lot of people say they got at least some data back, aparently you get about 15-20minutes of life back out of it.... so have your DVD's at the ready...
     
  7. kenco_uk

    kenco_uk I unsuccessfully then tried again

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    It's a very much last resort thing. If you can replace the circuit board at all - do! If it's completely dead, check if there's any warranty. Most hdd manufacturer's are very quick to replace under warranty.
     
  8. 3dHeli

    3dHeli What's a Dremel?

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    Can't offer any helpful advice for you current drive . . . . but the following will help with any new drive, and might be relevent to your current one, which may just need a reformat (maybe it's got a corrupt directory, sector).

    Firstly I like Seagate, due to good past experience, and the free version of Acronis True Image that they make available to owners.

    I like the 500gb size currently, but this is way to much (for most needs) to have as one partition . . I suggest 2 or 3 partitions, of or 250 or 166gb. First great reason for this is maintenance and repair tasks. To do a full disk check on a 166gb partition is much easier and quicker than a 500gb partition, and should anything be wrong with that partition, you can copy the data off (166gb instead of 500gb) to a backup much more easilier, and repair (reformat, repartition etc) just that section.

    With any new drive I perform a number of test cycles before trusting it . . . rather than fill it up over time (maybe a few years) and much later down the road discover that a section of the disk is damamged from new, I like to fill it up with test data.

    Typically on the 3 partitions, I create a 10gb folder of images, then copy that to partition 2, then copy that from parition 2 to 3, then I copy from partition 3 to partition 1, then from 1 to 2 again . . . after so many cycles the disk is completely full. I then check the very first 10gb folder (file size on disc) to the very last copy . . . they should be identical. I then carefully check the images in the last copy of the folder. Then I run a number of complete disc checks, looking for damaged sectors etc . . . if it passes, then the data is wiped, and the drive ready for use.

    You may need to buy another drive, backup all data, then reformat and test the original 250gb Maxtor to see if it's ok for future use . . . the reformat might cures it's issues.
     
  9. Hazardous

    Hazardous What's a Dremel?

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    Only with their external drives though :idea:

    As for...

    Sod that kinda palaver :eeek: I'd wager you're one of the very few who does so?

    I usually install SMART monitoring software, to help keep an eye on it/them thereafter... but when I buy a new HDD... be it internal or external... I expect to be able to use it immediately - without checking it's A-OK first :idea:
     
  10. DBeans

    DBeans What's a Dremel?

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    Be very careful if you are doing this. The main problem is that if you have it in the freezer for too long, and you take it out, water condenses on it immediately. This can cause a short, or worse still, form droplets on the platters and cause a head crash.

    Only use this as a last resort, and never if you think you may want the data in the future.

    Only freeze if you can gamble with the data.
     
  11. Bladestorm

    Bladestorm What's a Dremel?

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    I have two 160GB maxtor HDD's (relegated to tertiary storage these days) that were replaced twice each within the warranty period when I was using them much, I certainly wouldn't go with them again after that experience.
     
  12. Shielder

    Shielder Live long & prosper!

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    I've got a relatively new (~1yr old) Maxtor 160GB IDE drive running 24/7. So far (touch wood) it's running fine. It's my primary backup disk tho, so if that goes I lose 5 years worth of family photos and gain a few days quiet time when the wife gives me the silent treatment:naughty:

    Andy

    P.S. Oh yes, my main computer disks are 1x30GB WD disk (that's about 6 years old) and 1x60GB Seagate disk that is about 5 years old. They are both sounding a bit noisy, and may die soon, but after 6 years, I think it may be forgiven...
     
  13. 3dHeli

    3dHeli What's a Dremel?

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    They give the software with both internal and external drives - for free. I have taken advantage of that and use it.

    As for not testing a drive thouroughly before use . . . it's one of those things were I'd rather make time to avoid a problem (spot it early) than the greater amount of time required to fix it later.

    Out of about 30 drives for personel use - I've sent two back claiming DOA, due to issues at testing stage. I've only had one HDSC fail on personel systems in 20 years . . . and that turned out to be directory corruption caused by software crashing (which was renaming/ranking/sorting a photo shoot) and thrasing working folder.

    I perform sames tests with new memory cards for cameras. But then my data is important to me . . . If the content of the disc isn't important then I would fully understand not wasting time testing for a problem first off.
     
  14. GoodBytes

    GoodBytes How many wifi's does it have?

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  15. Hazardous

    Hazardous What's a Dremel?

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    Sorry to the OP for the OT :D

    But I'm intrigued by...

    I've bought more than a dozen OEM [internal] Seagate HDD's over the years (the same goes for any make/model OEM drive I've bought though... not just Seagate)... and none of them have included any software whatsoever?

    I don't see Acronis True Image being "available" anywhere in their 'Downloads' section?
    And a search of the whole website ('All') shows no mention of Acronis True Image anywhere either?

    I can only assume therefore, that you must buy/be referring to retail internal drives specifically :confused:
    If that's the case, you really ought to have made that important distinction clear, by saying: "... and the free version of Acronis True Image that they make available to owners... of their retail boxed drives." :idea:
     
  16. 3dHeli

    3dHeli What's a Dremel?

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    Apologies for any confusion . . . if I'd realised finding it was the issue I would have got to the relevent information a little quicker. :)

    Seagate call it DiscWizard - it's a free download on their website (to any one), and functions provided you have a Seagate Drive (internal or external). For their Maxtor brand they call the free download MaxBlast. Both are Licensed builds of Acronis True Image (version 10 from memory), exactly the same build as Acronis sells (regarding the disc image functionality, which is fully functioning, including a boot up CD, backup and restore, testing, individual file retrieval), but with the individual file incremental backup archive feature removed. Same manual also - bar branding.

    I use it on OEM internals, and retail externals from Seagate.

    I suspect - but have not tested it - that either version MaxBlast/DiscWizard works with either Seagate or Maxtor drives, and I also suspect that merely having one connected Seagate/Maxtor drive is enough for the license, thus you could also use the software on a Western Digital, Hitachi etc . . . but I haven't tested this myself.

    I have made succesfull disc images with the software, and have tested restores from them, along with just selective and individual file retrievals from the disc image. Although copy protection activation, like Adobe's is not restored by such methods. I use Acronis Disc Image (DiscWizard/MaxBlast) only on my C drive - for the OS and software programs, updates etc. During a PC build, I might take 3-5 disc images along the way.

    I do think one needs to practise with it, and try it a few times to work it out though . . . I see many reports slating Acronis True Image, and suspect it can be easy for the process to go a little wrong.

    Hope this helps.
     
    Last edited: 20 Nov 2007
  17. cmberry20

    cmberry20 Mad Scientist

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  18. Hazardous

    Hazardous What's a Dremel?

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    Yup... I certainly did, and from this comment alone (he mentions the two later on in the same post as well)...

    3dHeli obviously did too ;)


    But what has their merger, got to do with the discussion we were having about Acronis True Image (which I now know is actually called DiscWizard/MaxBlast respectively :D) :confused:



    @ 3dHeli: Thanks for the clarification :thumb:

    @ SCQ: Sorry once again for the OT discussions :eyebrow:
     
  19. 3dHeli

    3dHeli What's a Dremel?

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    Yes and No . . . I knew they both share one and the same website . . . hence each offers their own branded version of the same thing off the Seagate Website - I knew Seagate had bought maxtor.

    But to date, i was only aware Seagate now owned Maxtor . . . initially they kept their seperate production facilities . . . . I do not know if/how they might have merged production now . . . in the first instance they were under the same company, but producing different products in different plants/factories . . . albeit they were still hard drives.

    if course the mereger would one assume be in part to reduce production costs by sharing facilities and or plants . . . . but every reference I have read suggests they still have seperate production lines . . . and I suppose if both are still good established brands selling near production capacity then they would NOT drop one factory to combine production into another.
     

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