Two drives failed. No idea why or if they're recoverable.

[hardwarenoob_92]

I returned home last weekend to find that my PC would not boot. I did some typical troubleshooting, such as checking cables and removing components, but I couldn't resolve the issue so I figured the power supply was faulty. I received the new one today and I had the same problem.

I've done more troubleshooting and I noticed that when I plugged in either of my 1TB Western Digital Black, the PC wouldn't boot*. I did the same with the SSD's in my system but used the power cables previously plugged into the HDD's, and that also resulted in no boot, so I changed to new cables; the SSDs will boot and the PC function as normal, but the HDD's won't; they don't make a sound, they're not visible in BIOS. As far as I'm concerned, they're dead.

I'm completely baffled but what may have caused this. I don't understand why both HDD's have gone but the SSD's haven't. Both of those WD's were already replacements from previous purchases and they had all my photos, videos etc on them, which I've now lost (one was the backup drive, I hadn't gotten around to doing one off-system).

Advice? I could also do with tips on how to handle WD when I tell them both replacement drives they've given me have failed, and data recovery (if that's at all possible).



*I say "wouldn't boot". The light next to the power supply would flash for a brief second, almost as if the power had shorted out. The motherboard light remains on for a little while after disconnecting the power, and although I know capacitors hold charge it seems to be the only scenario which does this. I have to wait for the light to go out before trying again.

 

[ArtPog]

So when you you boot to the OS with either one of the SSDs and the WD HDDs are connected as secondary drives in the system, are you indicating that both HDDs are not detected in the system...neither one is listed in Device Manager nor listed in Disk Management?

Or are you actually indicating that when you boot to the OS with the SSD boot drive and the WD HDDs are both connected as secondary drives in the system, the system will NOT boot to the OS? It's only if both are disconnected?

You've used the term "boot" to the WD HDDs which infers each has an OS installed on the drive. Is that the case or are each simply utilized normally as storage drives, NOT containing an OS?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Bad psu may have killed your drives.
What's the model name of old and new psu?

 

[ingtar33]

I returned home last weekend to find that my PC would not boot. I did some typical troubleshooting, such as checking cables and removing components, but I couldn't resolve the issue so I figured the power supply was faulty. I received the new one today and I had the same problem.

I've done more troubleshooting and I noticed that when I plugged in either of my 1TB Western Digital Black, the PC wouldn't boot*. I did the same with the SSD's in my system but used the power cables previously plugged into the HDD's, and that also resulted in no boot, so I changed to new cables; the SSDs will boot and the PC function as normal, but the HDD's won't; they don't make a sound, they're not visible in BIOS. As far as I'm concerned, they're dead.

I'm completely baffled but what may have caused this. I don't understand why both HDD's have gone but the SSD's haven't. Both of those WD's were already replacements from previous purchases and they had all my photos, videos etc on them, which I've now lost (one was the backup drive, I hadn't gotten around to doing one off-system).

Advice? I could also do with tips on how to handle WD when I tell them both replacement drives they've given me have failed, and data recovery (if that's at all possible).



*I say "wouldn't boot". The light next to the power supply would flash for a brief second, almost as if the power had shorted out. The motherboard light remains on for a little while after disconnecting the power, and although I know capacitors hold charge it seems to be the only scenario which does this. I have to wait for the light to go out before trying again.

When a power supply dies it can take hardware with them. It looks like it took your two hard drives with it.

get yourself a SATA to USB adapter, wait for the pc to boot into windows, and see if there is anything you can recover from those two drives. from the sound it it, it won't be likely, but you can try.

Hope you have backups somewhere.

 

[hardwarenoob_92]

So when you you boot to the OS with either one of the SSDs and the WD HDDs are connected as secondary drives in the system, are you indicating that both HDDs are not detected in the system...neither one is listed in Device Manager nor listed in Disk Management?

Or are you actually indicating that when you boot to the OS with the SSD boot drive and the WD HDDs are both connected as secondary drives in the system, the system will NOT boot to the OS? It's only if both are disconnected?

You've used the term "boot" to the WD HDDs which infers each has an OS installed on the drive. Is that the case or are each simply utilized normally as storage drives, NOT containing an OS?

Sorry, might be my way of speaking.

My OS is installed on one SSD (OCZ Agilty). The two hard drives are used for storage ONLY.

- No drives = Power On

- SSD's only = Power On

- Any HDD connected (with / without SSDs) with OLD cables = Light flicker, no power on. Mobo light stays on and WILL NOT power on again regardless of which drives are plugged in until it goes off.

- Any HDD connected (with / without SSDs) with NEW cables = Power On, but drives are not recognized anywhere (BIOS, Disk Management etc).

So from what I can determine, whatever caused my hard drives to fail also took out the cables I was using, which is when I get the "light flicker" next to the power button as if it were shorting out. When I replace the cables, the system will power on as normal but because the drives are also damaged, they don't show up.

Bad psu may have killed your drives.
What's the model name of old and new psu?

https://www.amazon.com/XFX-PRO1050W-Compatible-Certified-P11050BEFX/dp/B0066AH46G

The new one is;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CP-9020056-UK-RM850-Modular-Supply/dp/B00FG9FZS2

 

[ingtar33]

the old psu was a top end model though old, which is why it's important to change your psu out every 4-5 years. the new one, not so much. but still my point still stands.

Get yourself a usb to sata adapter, they're really cheap. After you boot into windows check the old drives and see if you can recover your data with the adapter. other then that, not much you can do.

 

[SkyNetRising]

1250W and 850W PSUs?
Do you have multiple graphics cards in your system? If not, then this is absolute overkill.

 

[ArtPog]

1. Frankly it's difficult for me to precisely undertand exactly what the problem is with your system, let alone its cause.

2. As best I can determine, your boot drive is the OCZ Agility; apparently there's another SSD in the system that serves as a secondary drive. I guess I've got that right!

3. Setting aside the problems with both HDDS; if the only drives connected in the system are the two SSDs - one of which is the boot drive - there's NO problem booting to the OS and the system functioning. That's right, isn't it?

4. Now forget about "old cables", "new cables" and such. We're referrring to SATA data cables, right? And we'll presume that the SATA data cables you're using are non-defective insofar as their connection to either HDD.

5. And forget about "lights flickering" next to the PC case's power button.

6. Now...when you connect one of the HDDs to the system and you boot up to the OS with only the other two SSDs connected...is the HDD detected in the system? Or is it not listed in Device Manager & Disk Management?

7. And when you disconnect that HDD and connect the OTHER HDD to the system and boot the system as in 6. above, is it the same situation?

8. And both HDDs are not detected by the BIOS?

9. If so, any chance of installing each in another PC? Or connecting them as USB external drives?

 

[hardwarenoob_92]

the old psu was a top end model though old, which is why it's important to change your psu out every 4-5 years. the new one, not so much. but still my point still stands.

Get yourself a usb to sata adapter, they're really cheap. After you boot into windows check the old drives and see if you can recover your data with the adapter. other then that, not much you can do.

I got the PSU about two years ago.

Noted, thank you.

1250W and 850W PSUs?
Do you have multiple graphics cards in your system? If not, then this is absolute overkill.

Currently, no. Future-proofing.

1. Frankly it's difficult for me to precisely undertand exactly what the problem is with your system, let alone its cause.

2. As best I can determine, your boot drive is the OCZ Agility; apparently there's another SSD in the system that serves as a secondary drive. I guess I've got that right!

3. Setting aside the problems with both HDDS; if the only drives connected in the system are the two SSDs - one of which is the boot drive - there's NO problem booting to the OS and the system functioning. That's right, isn't it?

4. Now forget about "old cables", "new cables" and such. We're referrring to SATA data cables, right? And we'll presume that the SATA data cables you're using are non-defective insofar as their connection to either HDD.

5. And forget about "lights flickering" next to the PC case's power button.

6. Now...when you connect one of the HDDs to the system and you boot up to the OS with only the other two SSDs connected...is the HDD detected in the system? Or is it not listed in Device Manager & Disk Management?

7. And when you disconnect that HDD and connect the OTHER HDD to the system and boot the system as in 6. above, is it the same situation?

8. And both HDDs are not detected by the BIOS?

9. If so, any chance of installing each in another PC? Or connecting them as USB external drives?

I think you've misread something along the lines. I'll clarify a few things.

FOUR (4) SSD's.
TWO (2) HDD's.
ONE of the SSD's has my operating system installed (Windows 10). The rest of the SSD's are for video games.

In answer to your points;

3) If any combination of the SSD's are installed, the system works.

4) No, we are referring to SATA power cables.

6) Neither HDD is showing on BIOS, disk management etc.

7) Yes.

8) Correct.

9) I will be at some point, yes.

 

[ArtPog]

Yes, you're correct. I did misunderstand that your reference was to the PSU's power cables and not the SATA data cables.

In any event, what this all comes down to is the fact that there seems to be two WD HDDs that apparently are defective, right? Insofar as the system booting to the OS with all the other drives (SSDs) connected, there are no problems whatsover. Do I have that right?

And you apparently attribute one or more defective power supply cables (or the PSU itself) as the cause of the problem with the HDDs. Is that the gist of this thing?

Obviously, if it's possible, it's necessary to test the drives with a HDD diagnostic program - preferably WD's Data Lifeguard program. Of course that can only be done if the drives are detected in the system, either internally in another PC or as USB external drives. If undetected through those means it's time to start RMA proceedings assuming the drives are still under warranty. But I'm sure you know all those things.