I wounder if anyone can give me an explanation of the following phenomenon.
My laptop's hard disk stopped functioning properly several days ago. Now I'm trying to revive it (or destroy it completely) using an external 2.5� HDD case. When the case is lying down flat, the HDD is barely working. Yet when I put it on a side the disk starts to behave as normal. Any ideas?
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Technical problems with a hard disk
Advice on what could be wrong and how to fix it
The bearings in the Disk drive have possibly colapsed or on their way out... may even need lubrication.
Umm.. How does a solid metal ball Collapse without the help of a huge hydrolic press? It's more likly the lube is bad/gone..
If it's still under garentee, you can get a new one after u get your stuff off.
If it's still under garentee, you can get a new one after u get your stuff off.
Regardless: get your data off there. NOW!
QUOTE (Darkknight @ Aug 31 2006, 8:52 pm) 
Umm.. How does a solid metal ball Collapse without the help of a huge hydrolic press? It's more likly the lube is bad/gone..
I am not familliar with construction of the disk.. but would have thought that they have either very tiny bearings, usually designed for the job in hand or they could simply be nylon or similar Bushes...
Agree with Oh For Fuck Sakes prognosis!
The laptop has 1 year warranty and its almost two years old, so the disk will probably be buried in a garden when its not working any more. I don't think I can do anything with the bearing myself . And all data is in a safe place already.
. And all data is in a safe place already.
" Sometimes the hard drive can't properly position the heads during its initialization routine, and this will cause the power supply to sense a fault and shut off." Changing orientation of the drive can help temporarily.
Old IT saying: All hard drives will fail, it's only a matter of time. Backup, backup, backup.
Just count your blessings you were able to get the data off first !
Old IT saying: All hard drives will fail, it's only a matter of time. Backup, backup, backup.
Just count your blessings you were able to get the data off first !
My external hard drive has shat itself.
I have a back-up of most of the files, but not all of them and would really like the rest. I tried taking out the actual drive from it's case and adding it as a 'slave' to my PC, but the drive cannot be read.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to who might be able to get the remaining data off the drive - or if it is still even going to be possible to do this?
Obviously, I am willing to pay for this.
I have a back-up of most of the files, but not all of them and would really like the rest. I tried taking out the actual drive from it's case and adding it as a 'slave' to my PC, but the drive cannot be read.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to who might be able to get the remaining data off the drive - or if it is still even going to be possible to do this?
Obviously, I am willing to pay for this.
QUOTE (Spookyfella @ Aug 31 2006, 9:09 pm)
" Sometimes the hard drive can't properly position the heads during its initialization routine, and this will cause the power supply to sense a fault and shut off." Changing orientation of the drive can help temporarily.
Old IT saying: All hard drives will fail, it's only a matter of time. Backup, backup, backup.
Just count your blessings you were able to get the data off first !
Old IT saying: All hard drives will fail, it's only a matter of time. Backup, backup, backup.
Just count your blessings you were able to get the data off first !
I got nearly 1 TerraByte of hard drive, what do I back that onto ?
@Hazza
Depends on how much you want to spend and how badly you need the data on the drive recovered. If it's super important/valuable, then contact VOGON (There DE office is in Munich) They charge based on IF your data is recoverable and how many Megs your data to be restored is. These guys are the Uber Pro's and it will be $$ well spent.
If its something that isn't so Important, you can try one of the many file recover programs, but it sounds like your HD is just dead/dying. Also keep in mind the more you screw with it after now the more chance you will loose everything.
@Astro Rabbit
If you have $$$ to spend on a backup solution for 1TB then you have 2 options.
1. A LTO-2/3 Drive, 5-6 tapes, and lots of time. To make the entire process automatic Look into getting an Autoloader/Tape library.
CONS: Can be very expensive. Backups/Restores will take a long time.
PROS: It will cover your 1TB requirement just fine, perhaps even more.
2. A mirrored HD setup of what you have now. Whatever you have installed, DOUBLE IT!! and configure the two RAID systems to mirror each other.
Do a google search for RAID5+1 (Mirrored Raid 5). If your really paranoid Look into RAID 6+1.
CON: Can be very expensive.
PRO: Uses cheaper mediem (Harddrives) and is a faster backup solution as all file backup is done in realtime.
Depends on how much you want to spend and how badly you need the data on the drive recovered. If it's super important/valuable, then contact VOGON (There DE office is in Munich) They charge based on IF your data is recoverable and how many Megs your data to be restored is. These guys are the Uber Pro's and it will be $$ well spent.
If its something that isn't so Important, you can try one of the many file recover programs, but it sounds like your HD is just dead/dying. Also keep in mind the more you screw with it after now the more chance you will loose everything.
@Astro Rabbit
If you have $$$ to spend on a backup solution for 1TB then you have 2 options.
1. A LTO-2/3 Drive, 5-6 tapes, and lots of time. To make the entire process automatic Look into getting an Autoloader/Tape library.
CONS: Can be very expensive. Backups/Restores will take a long time.
PROS: It will cover your 1TB requirement just fine, perhaps even more.
2. A mirrored HD setup of what you have now. Whatever you have installed, DOUBLE IT!! and configure the two RAID systems to mirror each other.
Do a google search for RAID5+1 (Mirrored Raid 5). If your really paranoid Look into RAID 6+1.
CON: Can be very expensive.
PRO: Uses cheaper mediem (Harddrives) and is a faster backup solution as all file backup is done in realtime.
I've managed to get it working again (for now). I read the start of the thread, so thought I'd put the drive on it's side - with success!! It's slow and cutting out every once in a while, but I'm in the process of copying the relevant data onto another drive.
Thanks for the response though, Darkknight - I'm sure it'll be helpful to someone else in future!!
Thanks for the response though, Darkknight - I'm sure it'll be helpful to someone else in future!!
Once you get your data off, you might want to see if it's still under warrentee and if it is get it replaced. If not, Bin it...
I think I voided the warranty when I opened it. The seal is well and truly broken.
Still, the data is a lot more valuable than the drive itself.
Still, the data is a lot more valuable than the drive itself.
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