My 1TB EHD is acting up (symptoms inside); Can you help identify the problem/solution?

September 3, 2009

Hi, TLDR below.

Hard drive took a little spill off the desk the other day. I plugged it in, a few beep noises came FROM the HD, not the computer, and now it isn’t loading up when I try going into it. I hear the disc(s) inside running smoothly and there isn’t any abnormal sounds (other than the beeping when I first plugged it in).

Every once in awhile, it will boot up very, very slowly. Other times, it will show the make shift directories I made inside the Terabyte but nothing inside them. And as of now, it will say it is unable to find or load up the HD.

So what sort of problems am I looking at here? Is there any way I can back up some of the criteria on the HD? Is there a type of diagnostic software I can use, buy, download to scan for problem and solutions?

It is under warranty, but I would hate for me to ship it out and lose all my files without at least doing my best to fix it myself. I plan on reformatting it if I can get an unfortunate solid answer of not being able to salvage my stuff. If that doesn’t work, then I suppose I’ll just send it in.

TLDR version: HD is beeping, discs sounds like they’re running fine. HD not booting up. Has weird nature to it, sometimes it loads (very slowly) sometimes directory doesn’t exist. Need help

+10 to best answer

I have a dell computer with a 3 years warranty. How can I clean out the dust, if I can’t open it up?

September 1, 2009

I have a dell computer with a 3 years warranty. if i open it up, then i void the warranty. How can I clean out the dust, if I can’t open it up?

Where is the toughest computer problem…it’s right here!?

August 23, 2009

Now I’m no rookie, but I’m no guru either, but this problem will stomp even pc veterans. What is wrong: computer goes straight into BSOD before loading windows. What caused it: I went to "start" >> "run" >> "msconfig" then "safeboot" now it goes straight to the BSOD and its says video driver failed to initialize. What’s funny is that I can run other software programs just fine (like windows repair/recovery software) and the video is just fine. I’ve even ran Ubuntu over it just to see if the video works and it does. But this is the kicker, Dell wont even help because the laptops’s out of warranty as of two years ago, I know I can do a fresh install, but I’m trying to save all my pics, music, movies etc…So my question is this: how do you return it to normal mode if you can’t boot windows, what boot software can I obtain to troubleshoot/repair from outside windows, or how to get into Windows period, I can handle it from there, just gotta get in.

P.S. BSOD=blue screen of death (if you didn’t know that then maybe this question isn’t for you to try and answer…but go for it anyhow 😉
Thanx Kobra, but I know the ram is good. Steve, I thought of fixmbr, but I was afraid of the warning it gives me about partitions may not being accessable later. However i did mention the error message on bsod(video driver failed to initialize.) DJ maxx I recall seeing that option before, but neve had a chance to use it. I have a "Super XP" disk so I’m pretty sure I can copy, but if I use Steve’s method and it does render my partitions useless, can I still install windows as you’ve indicated to retrieve my data, then format and install once I’m finished? (and Steve when I start to run fixmbr, it does say: "This computer appears to have a non-standard or invalid mbr" so you may be onto something. I’m just being so cautions, because this isnt my computer, I’m fixing it for a friend, otherwise I’d just play around with everything.

Hard Drive Failure-out of warranty-should I use manufacturer or buy hard drive and install windows?

July 10, 2009

I have a HP Pavillion DV8000T notebook that i purchased from HP directly. The notebook is 13 months old and out of warranty. My hard drive failed and I will need to have it replaced. This is the second time my hard drive has failed (previous instance was during the warranty period) My options are:
(1) Use HP and pay 0 – this includes a new hard drive and installation of MS Windows XP Media edition. It comes with only 90 day warranty.
(2) Buy the hard drive myself – I have Windows XP software. I would have my office IT desk install the hard drive and the Operating System. Cost 0.
My Concern is:Will I be able to get all the drivers that I need to get the most of my machine. This is a high end machine but I am extremely disappointed with HP service. There is only a 90 day warranty on a 0 repair which represents over 33% of what I paid for the entire machine. Since the hard drive has failed twice already-I figure if it fails again, I will buy new notebook.