Need a bit of help, Harddisk problems

[Zacharine]

I had a problem with my computer about an hour ago, I had to restart my computer (due to complete lack of visuals coming from my display adapter) and I did the restart via the windows task manager (XP).

However, after powering down my computer failed to reboot. Claimed that the OS could not be found. Littel digging in BIOS revealed that the computer could not detect any devices connected to my primary IDE cable.

But here's the kicker. I removed my second harddrive (from which I was watching a video when the original error occured) and connected it to my secondary IDE cable, alongside with my DVD drive. The next reboot the main harddrive connected to the primary IDE cable was detected and windows started. The secondary IDE drive was dead however: neither BIOS nor windows detect either the HD or DVD connected to the secondary IDE cable.

I assume my HD broke down for some mysterious reason, but is there any way to fix it or retrieve the data within? Some of the documents there really were important and losing them would be a bit of a setback to a project of mine.

 

[CosmicGrenade]

Well if it's a circuit board problem get a same hdd and swap the boards over
Done it before at a computer shop I worked at and it started working again

 

[Dessembrae]

if you could not detect the DVD or the HD it's more likely a problem with the IDE cable or port.
try switching the IDE cables and ports and see if you can't find the DVD or HD. or even better put the HD in another computer.

 

[Zacharine]

Tried it, completely switched the cables the setup was using. Again, the cable the non-OS hdd was connected to doesn't work at all. In addition, once the power plug for the faulty hdd was disconnected, the DVD started working after a reboot.

 

[CosmicGrenade]

Tried it, completely switched the cables the setup was using. Again, the cable the non-OS hdd was connected to doesn't work at all. In addition, once the power plug for the faulty hdd was disconnected, the DVD started working after a reboot.

Have you check the hdd see if anything look burnt was there a weird smell when you opened your case?

 

[GreigKM]

Try using the hdd and drive on another computer/mobo. If they still don't work then they are both probably shot. As for data recovery; If the hdd is broken I think your screwed.

 

[Zacharine]

No burnt smell and checked the visible circuit of the disk. No burnt mark of other clues pointing toward a shoter-out circuit.

 

[CosmicGrenade]

Try using the hdd and drive on another computer/mobo. If they still don't work then they are both probably shot. As for data recovery; If the hdd is broken I think your screwed.

No read what he says if the hdd is connected and powered the drive don't work but if it's unpluged (even the power) the drive works so it's got to be a problem with ONLY the HDD

 

[Zacharine]

Well, got to wait till monday to check it in another computer. Right no I'm using a laptop and the normal computer was the one that has the problem.

 

[CosmicGrenade]

No burnt smell and checked the visible circuit of the disk. No burnt mark of other clues pointing toward a shoter-out circuit.

have you checked the otherside of the circuit board

 

[Zacharine]

Try using the hdd and drive on another computer/mobo. If they still don't work then they are both probably shot. As for data recovery; If the hdd is broken I think your screwed.

No read what he says if the hdd is connected and powered the drive don't work but if it's unpluged (even the power) the drive works so it's got to be a problem with ONLY the HDD

Yeah, removed the hdd from the cable and better yet, kept the IDE cable connected but didn't plug the power in. In both cases the DVD connected to the cable works. Put connect both the cable and power to the hdd and the entire IDE cable goes non-functional.

 

[Zacharine]

No burnt smell and checked the visible circuit of the disk. No burnt mark of other clues pointing toward a shoter-out circuit.

have you checked the otherside of the circuit board

I don't have the tools with me to safely remove the circuit board.

 

[CosmicGrenade]

No burnt smell and checked the visible circuit of the disk. No burnt mark of other clues pointing toward a shoter-out circuit.

have you checked the otherside of the circuit board

I don't have the tools with me to safely remove the circuit board.

Well from everything you have said and done it's got to be a short somewhere (unless someone can think of anything else?)

 

[Zacharine]

No burnt smell and checked the visible circuit of the disk. No burnt mark of other clues pointing toward a shoter-out circuit.

have you checked the otherside of the circuit board

I don't have the tools with me to safely remove the circuit board.

Well from everything you have said and done it's got to be a short somewhere (unless someone can think of anything else?)

Assuming it's a short, might it be possible to repair the hdd and recover the data within?

 

[GreigKM]

No burnt smell and checked the visible circuit of the disk. No burnt mark of other clues pointing toward a shoter-out circuit.

have you checked the otherside of the circuit board

I don't have the tools with me to safely remove the circuit board.

Well from everything you have said and done it's got to be a short somewhere (unless someone can think of anything else?)

Assuming it's a short, might it be possible to repair the hdd and recover the data within?

Taking it into a computer specialty shop would be the best course, although they may not be able to recover the data... (I haven't done much with hard drives yet)

 

[Sewblon]

I had a similar problem, it turned out my hard drive had defective firm ware, I sent it to one of the manufacture's subsidiarys for repair yesterday.

 

[Oopsie]

Have you tried clearing your RTC-Ram?

 

[CosmicGrenade]

No burnt smell and checked the visible circuit of the disk. No burnt mark of other clues pointing toward a shoter-out circuit.

have you checked the otherside of the circuit board

I don't have the tools with me to safely remove the circuit board.

Well from everything you have said and done it's got to be a short somewhere (unless someone can think of anything else?)

Assuming it's a short, might it be possible to repair the hdd and recover the data within?

If it's a short on the board and it hasn't damage the platters in the hdd yes. just get another make and model hdd and take the board from the new one and replace it on the old one
but if it's a short inside the hdd then you got a problem. you will have to send it off to either the maker or a data recovery (one that opens the hdd and move the platters to a new housing for them to access the data) and thats not cheap

 

[Zacharine]

Have you tried clearing your RTC-Ram?

ohhhm, tried what now? That says nothing to me.

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

sounds like ti just bought the farm

happens. mine just explode into flames.