Ever have a HD prevent your computer from turning on??? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

mikec · 06-01-2004, 02:47 PM

This is the weirdest thing I've seen yet. Using the computer and all of a sudden hear a nice POP sound come from it, and the machine immediately turns off. Figure the power supply is shot with the sound and smell...

Power supply is indeed shot, so I replace it with an Antec True Power supply. But when I wire everything back up hit the power switch, and nothing happens. WTF!? So I start the process of elimination, and as it turns out, one of my hard drives, a seagate barracuda 120gb (ST3120026A) is causing my computer not to boot up. If it's plugged into the power supply, regardless if the IDE cable is attached or not, the machine will simply not turn on with it attached to power! (side note: I have 2 HD's in this computer, and it will turn on with the other HD attached, just not the seagate!)

Attached this drive to another computer, same thing. My last resort was to put the drive in an external USB device I have, and that wouldn't turn on either.

I have never seen a hard drive's power connector go bad to the point that you couldn't turn the machine on.....has anyone else!?! This sucks so bad, cause there was some stuff I didn't have backed up, not to mention this was the drive that had windows on it. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

hrdwareguy · 06-01-2004, 02:55 PM

Sounds like a short in the drive. Probably no way to get the data back without paying big bucks for someone with a clean room to move the platters from that drive to a new one.

Cocktopus · 06-01-2004, 02:58 PM

that really sucks. i don't think a raid mirror would have protected you either. data recovery will run ($1000s). how important was that data?

mikec · 06-01-2004, 04:08 PM

yeah I looked into clean room recovery the last time a client had a fujitsu drive from an HP die. only worth the money if you really need it. Mine is more pain in the ass data. stuff I needed to organize into my main folders, but didn't, and I can live without, but I'd rather not. windows with the family's accounts too but nothing major. fortunately, for the most part I practice what I preach when it comes to data backup hehhe.

it's weird how whatever happened in the power supply only shorted one HD. another HD, cdrw and dvdrom, 100mb zip and tape backup, and 4 case fans are all in tact.

thanks again to Wyodiver33 for posting the $130 Maxtor 250gb drive. I went out and bought 2 after my other one died. One for data, and one for backup!

mrap1 · 06-01-2004, 04:30 PM

Yeah, the same thing happened to me a few years ago, except my PSU never died just the HD. The PC would not turn on if the HD was plugged in. Furthermore, it wasn't enough to just unplug the faulty HD, that wasn't enough the machine still wouldn't turn on. I also had to plug and unplug the PSU leads to the MB in order for it turn on. If I tried to reconnect the HD, I would have to go through the same reset process I previously mentioned.

Weird stuff.

hrdwareguy · 06-02-2004, 05:30 AM

Maybe the problem didn't start in the PSU and affect the HD. Maybe the problem started in the HD and it affected the PSU.

AngelicVampire · 06-02-2004, 07:46 AM

My friend had this kind of problem, however when we connected his second HDD (the one that stopped his comp starting) to my computer it worked fine and could recover the data, however when he went back to his comp the HDD would still not work... try it in another comp to see if you can get the data off, otherwise data recovery or a clean room sounds cool.

mikec · 06-02-2004, 12:36 PM

yeah I tried it in another machine w/no success. the data on that drive is replaceable, so for shitz and gigglez I might try switching platters on my own to another spare cheapo drive I have. hell, the worst thing that'll happen is I kill the platters w/dust, and since the drive's already dead, no harm, no foul heheheh.

primal · 06-02-2004, 01:16 PM

Same thing happened to me once. When I figured out it was the hard drive I threw it aganst the wall. After that it worked again for a couple of days which allowed me to retrieve my data. The moral of the story is: Violence is the answer

AngelicVampire · 06-02-2004, 06:03 PM

Violence never solved anything, except: *long list of good things violence solved* and fixing any technical appliance (BTTF really showed us how to make tech work!)

mikec · 06-02-2004, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by primal
Same thing happened to me once. When I figured out it was the hard drive I threw it aganst the wall. After that it worked again for a couple of days which allowed me to retrieve my data. The moral of the story is: Violence is the answer

kill that focker!

06-01-2004, 02:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
mikec I flopped the nutz... Location: Stratford, CT	Ever have a HD prevent your computer from turning on??? This is the weirdest thing I've seen yet. Using the computer and all of a sudden hear a nice POP sound come from it, and the machine immediately turns off. Figure the power supply is shot with the sound and smell... Power supply is indeed shot, so I replace it with an Antec True Power supply. But when I wire everything back up hit the power switch, and nothing happens. WTF!? So I start the process of elimination, and as it turns out, one of my hard drives, a seagate barracuda 120gb (ST3120026A) is causing my computer not to boot up. If it's plugged into the power supply, regardless if the IDE cable is attached or not, the machine will simply not turn on with it attached to power! (side note: I have 2 HD's in this computer, and it will turn on with the other HD attached, just not the seagate!) Attached this drive to another computer, same thing. My last resort was to put the drive in an external USB device I have, and that wouldn't turn on either. I have never seen a hard drive's power connector go bad to the point that you couldn't turn the machine on.....has anyone else!?! This sucks so bad, cause there was some stuff I didn't have backed up, not to mention this was the drive that had windows on it. Thanks in advance for any feedback. __________________ Until the 20th century, reality was everything humans could touch, smell, see, and hear. Since the initial publication of the charted electromagnetic spectrum, humans have learned that what they can touch, smell, see, and hear is less than one millionth of reality

06-01-2004, 02:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
hrdwareguy "Officer, I was in fear for my life" Location: Oklahoma City	Sounds like a short in the drive. Probably no way to get the data back without paying big bucks for someone with a clean room to move the platters from that drive to a new one. __________________ Gun Control is hitting what you aim at Aim for the TFP, Donate Today

06-01-2004, 04:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
mikec I flopped the nutz... Location: Stratford, CT	yeah I looked into clean room recovery the last time a client had a fujitsu drive from an HP die. only worth the money if you really need it. Mine is more pain in the ass data. stuff I needed to organize into my main folders, but didn't, and I can live without, but I'd rather not. windows with the family's accounts too but nothing major. fortunately, for the most part I practice what I preach when it comes to data backup hehhe. it's weird how whatever happened in the power supply only shorted one HD. another HD, cdrw and dvdrom, 100mb zip and tape backup, and 4 case fans are all in tact. thanks again to Wyodiver33 for posting the $130 Maxtor 250gb drive. I went out and bought 2 after my other one died. One for data, and one for backup! __________________ Until the 20th century, reality was everything humans could touch, smell, see, and hear. Since the initial publication of the charted electromagnetic spectrum, humans have learned that what they can touch, smell, see, and hear is less than one millionth of reality

06-02-2004, 05:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
hrdwareguy "Officer, I was in fear for my life" Location: Oklahoma City	Maybe the problem didn't start in the PSU and affect the HD. Maybe the problem started in the HD and it affected the PSU. __________________ Gun Control is hitting what you aim at Aim for the TFP, Donate Today

06-02-2004, 12:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
mikec I flopped the nutz... Location: Stratford, CT	yeah I tried it in another machine w/no success. the data on that drive is replaceable, so for shitz and gigglez I might try switching platters on my own to another spare cheapo drive I have. hell, the worst thing that'll happen is I kill the platters w/dust, and since the drive's already dead, no harm, no foul heheheh. __________________ Until the 20th century, reality was everything humans could touch, smell, see, and hear. Since the initial publication of the charted electromagnetic spectrum, humans have learned that what they can touch, smell, see, and hear is less than one millionth of reality

06-01-2004, 02:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cocktopus Insane	that really sucks. i don't think a raid mirror would have protected you either. data recovery will run ($1000s). how important was that data?

06-01-2004, 04:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
mrap1 Insane Location: NY	Yeah, the same thing happened to me a few years ago, except my PSU never died just the HD. The PC would not turn on if the HD was plugged in. Furthermore, it wasn't enough to just unplug the faulty HD, that wasn't enough the machine still wouldn't turn on. I also had to plug and unplug the PSU leads to the MB in order for it turn on. If I tried to reconnect the HD, I would have to go through the same reset process I previously mentioned. Weird stuff.

06-02-2004, 07:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
AngelicVampire Insane	My friend had this kind of problem, however when we connected his second HDD (the one that stopped his comp starting) to my computer it worked fine and could recover the data, however when he went back to his comp the HDD would still not work... try it in another comp to see if you can get the data off, otherwise data recovery or a clean room sounds cool.

06-02-2004, 01:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
primal Crazy Location: Oklahoma City	Same thing happened to me once. When I figured out it was the hard drive I threw it aganst the wall. After that it worked again for a couple of days which allowed me to retrieve my data. The moral of the story is: Violence is the answer __________________ "Where the white women at?" -Sheriff Bart (Blazing Saddles)

06-02-2004, 06:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
AngelicVampire Insane	Violence never solved anything, except: long list of good things violence solved and fixing any technical appliance (BTTF really showed us how to make tech work!)