Bios Hangs with Samsung HDD *Serial ATA* :(

[jrew]

Hello:

Ive been using a 200GB Samsung Hard drive to store Music, its been working great for about a month. I got it from an old IBM computer and gave it good use. I noticed nearly right away that the drive would get hot so I added a extra fan to the bottom of my computer case near the HDD cage. Yesterday I noticed that the drive would stop responding on the network *I share the drive across many computers* I first thought the drive overheated so I disconnected it from the computer and left it to cool down. Later the next day I plugged it back in and Windows loaded fine this first time but every few seconds it would freeze up entirely. I thought this could be a faulty ram connection so I disconnected the ram modules and cleaned the contacts and placed them back in. I turned the PC on and it stood at the bios screen. I decided to have a go with the one drive unplugged since it was giving me issues before. BING Bios worked and Windows loaded. No freezes that time. I thought possibly the specific computer didn't like the drive so I placed it in another computer and it did exactly the same thing. The manufactures and bios were different *dell and Asus* so I suspect Bios isn't a problem. Any guesses? I kinda really want to get the files off of the drive since I didn't have a chance to back them up yet. 🙁
Thanks and sorry for the big read.

 

[avjguy2362]

I would put it in an external USB drive enclosure with its own PS, leave the top off and put a fan on it to keep it as cool as possible. It is probably on its last legs. Perhaps there is a problem with the power connector that is creating a short. The external drive's power supply will now see the short instead of your computers PS and if you are lucky you may be able to get the data copied to another drive in you computer! You may damage the external drive if I am right, so it may be at your own risk!

 

[jrew]

I would put it in an external USB drive enclosure with its own PS, leave the top off and put a fan on it to keep it as cool as possible. It is probably on its last legs. Perhaps there is a problem with the power connector that is creating a short. The external drive's power supply will now see the short instead of your computers PS and if you are lucky you may be able to get the data copied to another drive in you computer! You may damage the external drive if I am right, so it may be at your own risk!

]

I used two different computers though and I know for a fact that the power cable works, since I am currently using it to power the DVD drive. As for enclosures I don't have one sadly nor do I have the money to get one. 🙁

 

[avjguy2362]

Sorry, I lacked clarity on the power cable. I am referring to the power input on the bad drive itself. The hard drive has a small power supply itself that regulates the correct power for the platter and reading head/arm assembly and that is probably what is failing. That is why using an external enclosure would separate the short from your computer power supply to the external brick PS and would likely work long enough to get the data off.

 

[jrew]

Sorry, I lacked clarity on the power cable. I am referring to the power input on the bad drive itself. The hard drive has a small power supply itself that regulates the correct power for the platter and reading head/arm assembly and that is probably what is failing. That is why using an external enclosure would separate the short from your computer power supply to the external brick PS and would likely work long enough to get the data off.

I do not think that is the problem. I hear the drive spin up and read. I think the drive is just bricked and my music library has to be rebuilt 🙁