Annoying External Hard Drive Problem - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Jeff · 10-16-2005, 10:19 PM

I've got a 200 Gig WD SATA hard drive in an external enclosure that I use for backup. The thing has worked fine for the 6 months I've had it, but lately it won't work until I put some pressure on it. The computer just won't acknowledge the hard drive unless I put some weight on top of the enclosure.

This does not make sense to me. Can anyone explain why this is?

macmanmike6100 · 10-16-2005, 10:36 PM

Your hard drive could be failing (as mine just did). From what I've been reading already, IBM, Hitachi, and WD do not get the Internet tech community's general consensus. Maxtor, Seagate, and Samsung supposedly do.

In any case, you should download a tool to analyze the SMART information of your drive (something like this http://www.passmark.com/products/diskcheckup.htm). While you look up reliability information specific to your drive, start backing up. Good luck!

pokethebody · 10-16-2005, 11:26 PM

i read that most external hard drives fail after 5-10 months, they say that its the USB port or firewire(it puts to much strain on it.

Jeff · 10-16-2005, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokethebody

i read that most external hard drives fail after 5-10 months, they say that its the USB port or firewire(it puts to much strain on it.

Well, it connects with a SATA cable.

And I pray this thing isn't going bad after 6 months, I can't afford a new one.

Jeff · 10-17-2005, 01:29 AM

I'm bumping this to the top because:

1. It is of utmost importance.
2.pokethebody just went post crazy and knocked it about 12 spots down in approximately .2 seconds.

MooseMan3000 · 10-17-2005, 03:45 PM

Have you opened the enclosure to see if there's a loose connection? If the drive works when you apply pressure, it sounds like something's not making contact somewhere... but without looking at the drive, it's hard to say exactly what.

Also, have you tried laying the enclosure on its side? Most people place their external hard drives vertically, but in my experience this leads to having a drive wear out faster. I like to keep them flat. It could be that the lens is not lining up properly with the spindles... though that wouldn't really account for why the drive wasn't recognized, just if it didn't read correctly.

Either way, though, it sounds like the drive is starting to shit the bed. As far as I know, ALL Western Digital drives have at LEAST a 3 year manufacturer warranty (a few have 5, though I can't remember which models). My recommendation: try to get the data off the drive as fast as you can, then RMA it. It shouldn't be dying this fast, period. Something's wrong.

Jeff · 10-17-2005, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MooseMan3000

Have you opened the enclosure to see if there's a loose connection? If the drive works when you apply pressure, it sounds like something's not making contact somewhere... but without looking at the drive, it's hard to say exactly what.

Also, have you tried laying the enclosure on its side? Most people place their external hard drives vertically, but in my experience this leads to having a drive wear out faster. I like to keep them flat. It could be that the lens is not lining up properly with the spindles... though that wouldn't really account for why the drive wasn't recognized, just if it didn't read correctly.

Either way, though, it sounds like the drive is starting to shit the bed. As far as I know, ALL Western Digital drives have at LEAST a 3 year manufacturer warranty (a few have 5, though I can't remember which models). My recommendation: try to get the data off the drive as fast as you can, then RMA it. It shouldn't be dying this fast, period. Something's wrong.

Yeah, I've tried all that. And I can't get the data off the drive, I've got nowhere to put it. My two internal drives are close to being maxed out.

Jeff · 10-18-2005, 04:19 PM

One last thing, even when the drive's working correctly, the hard drive checkup software won't find my hard drive, so I don't know if it's healthy or no. I'm guessing it's because of the way the hard drive's connected (Sata cable to Sata PCI card)

Anybody know a workaround for this?

10-16-2005, 10:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jeff And we'll all float on ok... Location: Iowa City	Annoying External Hard Drive Problem I've got a 200 Gig WD SATA hard drive in an external enclosure that I use for backup. The thing has worked fine for the 6 months I've had it, but lately it won't work until I put some pressure on it. The computer just won't acknowledge the hard drive unless I put some weight on top of the enclosure. This does not make sense to me. Can anyone explain why this is? __________________ For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can't readily accept the God formula, the big answers don't remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command or faith a dictum. I am my own God. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us. --Charles Bukowski

10-17-2005, 01:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jeff And we'll all float on ok... Location: Iowa City	I'm bumping this to the top because: 1. It is of utmost importance. 2.pokethebody just went post crazy and knocked it about 12 spots down in approximately .2 seconds. __________________ For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can't readily accept the God formula, the big answers don't remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command or faith a dictum. I am my own God. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us. --Charles Bukowski

10-18-2005, 04:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jeff And we'll all float on ok... Location: Iowa City	One last thing, even when the drive's working correctly, the hard drive checkup software won't find my hard drive, so I don't know if it's healthy or no. I'm guessing it's because of the way the hard drive's connected (Sata cable to Sata PCI card) Anybody know a workaround for this? __________________ For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can't readily accept the God formula, the big answers don't remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command or faith a dictum. I am my own God. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us. --Charles Bukowski

10-16-2005, 10:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
macmanmike6100 High Honorary Junkie Location: Tri-state.	Your hard drive could be failing (as mine just did). From what I've been reading already, IBM, Hitachi, and WD do not get the Internet tech community's general consensus. Maxtor, Seagate, and Samsung supposedly do. In any case, you should download a tool to analyze the SMART information of your drive (something like this http://www.passmark.com/products/diskcheckup.htm). While you look up reliability information specific to your drive, start backing up. Good luck!

10-16-2005, 11:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
pokethebody Banned	i read that most external hard drives fail after 5-10 months, they say that its the USB port or firewire(it puts to much strain on it.

10-17-2005, 03:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
MooseMan3000 wouldn't mind being a ninja. Location: Maine, the Other White State.	Have you opened the enclosure to see if there's a loose connection? If the drive works when you apply pressure, it sounds like something's not making contact somewhere... but without looking at the drive, it's hard to say exactly what. Also, have you tried laying the enclosure on its side? Most people place their external hard drives vertically, but in my experience this leads to having a drive wear out faster. I like to keep them flat. It could be that the lens is not lining up properly with the spindles... though that wouldn't really account for why the drive wasn't recognized, just if it didn't read correctly. Either way, though, it sounds like the drive is starting to shit the bed. As far as I know, ALL Western Digital drives have at LEAST a 3 year manufacturer warranty (a few have 5, though I can't remember which models). My recommendation: try to get the data off the drive as fast as you can, then RMA it. It shouldn't be dying this fast, period. Something's wrong.