Signs of a failing drive?

[Quattro]

What are the tell tale signs that a hard drive is on it's way out?

 

[mdcomp]

Buzzing noise.
Constant data corruption (sometimes requiring you to install windows over and over again).

Those are two signs of it. Also, remember to use the diagnostic software from the drive manufacturer to scan the drive. It will tell you if there are any problems with it.

Matt

 

[Quattro]

Oh right.

Thanks Matt.

What would be other signs of data corruption? Files dissapearing?

 

[Mr.Radar]

Also, clicking noises are a sign the drives going to go.

The files wouldn't dissapear most of the time because the file names and locations are stored at the beginning of the drive in the FAT or MTF (I think) so the FAT or MTF would have to get corrupted for the file to dissapear, and in that case Windows would probably make you reformat the drive.

 

[mdcomp]

What would be other signs of data corruption?

Like if the computer wouldn't boot and you kept getting errors when windows was trying to load. In fact, I had a customer with that problem recently. Or other types of frequent file errors...can't save to file, can't open certain files. Things like that.

Matt

 

[Mr.Radar]

A few weeks before my old WD drive died one of my audio files started skipping and wouldn't playback beyond a certain point.

 

[kfunk]

Last night when I tried to boot my computer, I heard a continuous clicking noise. My computer would not detect my drive. So I restarted my computer and it booted fine. This morning, same thing is happening; makes continuous clicking noise and screen gets stuck at detecting drives screen. Is my HD dead?

 

[Sjaak]

if it still works sometimes, its not yet dead, but it certainly is dying...backup fast and get a replacement.

 

[kfunk]

I can't even boot to windows. I have 2 drives right now and I'm hoping it's my Windows HD and not my backup HD. Any idea on what I should do?

 

[Sjaak]

do you have another system where you can test them? or a bootdisk with a HDD-diagnostics utility (look at the website of your HDD manufacturer, maxtor, for example has Maxblast to see whats wrong with the drive)

 

[kfunk]

Yea I have another system I can test the HD. Just install it as a slave on my other computer? They are both Maxtor drives.

 

[unreal]

also if when booting it doesnt seem to startup everytime,,, the motor may be dieing

 

[Sjaak]

Yea I have another system I can test the HD. Just install it as a slave on my other computer? They are both Maxtor drives.

then download maxtor maxblast, put it on a floppy and test the hdd as he is now, in the current system. Read the report carefully, and see if it can be saved. then put it in your other rig to backup the data.

You will need the maxblast report before you can RMA it.

 

[kfunk]

I didn't see any maxblast but I ssee PowerMax diagnostic program.

 

[RJARRRPCGP]

Symptoms often are the following:

Spotty bad sectors. Thus a common symptom would be if you're defragging the HDD, you will get an error message. Usually when you get an error message, it will be about being unable to write to cluster xxxxxxxx. Also, clicking, pinging and clinking sounds.

 

[kfunk]

I can't use any diagnostic program because window still locks up during detecting drive screen and I can't even go into Bios setup

 

[Sjaak]

I didn't see any maxblast but I ssee PowerMax diagnostic program.

whatever..long time since i used it. name change i guess, just get that one

 

[kfunk]

Is there a data retrieving service of some sort?

 

[Mr.Radar]

Is there a data retrieving service of some sort?

There are professional data recovery services, but they're very expensive (thousands of $$ per drive) and at this point it seems like that's the only way you're getting the data off your drive.