hd malfunction

john connolly

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Jan 17, 2012, 12:42:24 PM1/17/12

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Hi,
An old pc bit the dust when after it was not used for a couple of
months the hard drive failed. In fooling with the thing I found that I
could not tell if the disk was spinning or not. Is there a simple way to
do that?
Thanks, jwc

J G Miller

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Jan 17, 2012, 1:15:52 PM1/17/12

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If you are very, very, careful ...

If you have first grounded yourself, then gently place a finger on the
case of the hard disk when it is powered up and notice if you can feel
any vibrations.

Sometimes the problem with hard disks in old installations is that
the power connector is not properly making contact. If the disk
is SATA and you are using a molex connector, remove that, and try
using a SATA power connector plugged into another molex connector
that you know is supplying power.

The worst sound a disk can make when powered up is not no sound at all
buy a continuous kerchunk, kerchunk, kerchunk which is I think caused
by a problem with the rotor arm.

john connolly

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Jan 17, 2012, 1:55:52 PM1/17/12

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It's an old hd with only a molex power connection. The only change when
it is powered up is a warming on one part of the underside; no vibration,
no clicking or other noise.

Pascal Hambourg

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Jan 17, 2012, 2:08:38 PM1/17/12

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Hello,

john connolly a écrit :

Unmount the disk from the computer case, while keeping the power cable
connected. Power the PC on, take the disk in your hand and tilt it
gently in any direction. If you feel some resistance, then the platters
are spinning. It is the gyroscopic effect.

Danno

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Jan 23, 2012, 12:59:18 AM1/23/12

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You might try taking a large flathead screwdriver and placing the head on
the case, then pressing the handle to that little flap over the entrance to
your ear (so that the flap closes over the hole to your eardrum). I don't
know if an old hard drive makes enough noise for that "stethoscope" effect
to work, but it might...
FWIW, all the old hard drives I own are loud enough to warrant trying
to diffuse the noise. Virtually anything PATA can be heard from a metre
away, when I first fire them up.

--
Slackware 13.1, 2.6.33.4-smp, Core i7 920
RLU #272755

Tony Newman

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Jan 23, 2012, 1:44:19 AM1/23/12

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If the method Danno suggests doesn't work for you (too many other noises in the computer) a bit more
invasive method would be to remove the drive and hold it in your hand while you power up the
computer. If the drive is spinning, you will be able to feel the gyroscope effect of the spinning
platters.

I've had several drives that wouldn't spin-up after being off for a while. With the drive loose in
your hand (but of course connected for power and data) you can sometimes get a "stuck" drive to spin
by rotating the drive briskly in the plane of platter rotation while it is trying to start. You
need a fair amount of slack in the data and power cables. A quick twist of your wrist should do it.

If that works, get any important data off the drive NOW!

--

Tony