Did I kill my HDD? I pulled it out while logging off Windows...

[lektrix]

I thought HOT SWAPPABLE meant that I could swap HDDs while the PC was on, so I did exactly that while I was logging off Windows... well I put the HDD back on and now it takes 10 minutes to boot/enter Windows.. I can't open MY COMPUTER either..this HDD must be causing delays because it's unreadable... When I go to the Logical Disk Manager, it shows the drive there but it's unformatted.....

Is the drive dead?

 

[C1]

Hot swappable doesnt mean pulling it off the controller, particularly while it is R/W-ing.
For example, if you pulled the USB connector on an enclosure that is designed & specified as hot swappable, AFTER THE ACTIVITY LIGHT INDICATES THAT R/W IS COMPLETED, then that would be OK.

YOU ARE ALWAYS WARNED TO NEVER PHYSICALLY DISCONNECT ANY DEVICE WHILE IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING ACCESSED !!!!! (Goes for printers, flash drives, etc.)

 

[GlacierFreeze]

Hot swappable means you don't have to shut the computer off to replace a device (ie: a dead hard drive that needs replaced in a server you need up 24/7). It doesn't mean you won't lose anything. A RAID setup with redundancy may have allowed you to do this without losing anything but I may be wrong on that assumption. Someone correct me if I'm wrong there. Anyway, time to reinstall.

 

[kalrith]

It doesn't mean you won't lose anything. A RAID setup with redundancy may have allowed you to do this without losing anything but I may be wrong on that assumption.

This should work fine. A failed drive in RAID 5 is the only time I've utilized hot swapping. I pull the failed drive, insert the new one, and it adds it to the array with no data loss. I would think it would be the same if replacing a drive that hadn't failed.

 

[lektrix]

It's a data drive, not OS. I had finished copying 300GB onto it. I did not pull it out while it was reading/copying. It was idle....bahhhhhhhhhhhhh 🙁

 

[Russwinters]

Does the drive still power on, and make "normal" sounds?

IE: a couple quick clicks is ok, but if it is clicking repeatedly in a pattern, or non stop, then there is an issue.


Does it show up in the bios? Does it show up in Device manager?


Usually this wont kill a drive, but CAN damage MBR/EBR and/or Partition table

 

[GlacierFreeze]

This should work fine. A failed drive in RAID 5 is the only time I've utilized hot swapping. I pull the failed drive, insert the new one, and it adds it to the array with no data loss. I would think it would be the same if replacing a drive that hadn't failed.

That's exactly what I was thinking, but I wanted to verify it was correct since I've never had actual hands on experience with it myself. Thanks.

 

[lektrix]

Does the drive still power on, and make "normal" sounds?

IE: a couple quick clicks is ok, but if it is clicking repeatedly in a pattern, or non stop, then there is an issue.


Does it show up in the bios? Does it show up in Device manager?


Usually this wont kill a drive, but CAN damage MBR/EBR and/or Partition table

Powers on, makes normal sounds. I see it in BIOS with HDD SMART enabled, etc. I see it in Disk Manager but it shows as unformatted. It takes my PC 5-10 minutes to view MY COMPUTER or DISK MANAGER though.

 

[Russwinters]

It's the boot record

Try this:

http://findandmount.com/


My friend Dmitry made it; works well on partitions that only have some damage.


If that doesnt work you can pull your data off with software like R-Studio or Getdataback with little hastle.

Once you have gotten the data off you can try to use some partition repair programs, or even try FIXMBR with windows boot disc.


Regards,

 

[lektrix]

It's the boot record

Try this:

http://findandmount.com/


My friend Dmitry made it; works well on partitions that only have some damage.


If that doesnt work you can pull your data off with software like R-Studio or Getdataback with little hastle.

Once you have gotten the data off you can try to use some partition repair programs, or even try FIXMBR with windows boot disc.


Regards,

The PFM program refuses to scan anything on the drive....I will have to try the other software.

 

[lektrix]

R-Studio refuses to scan. I hear a distinct loud clicking noise every 8-9 seconds everytime a program tries to scan the drive. I think it's bricked for good.

 

[Russwinters]

Alright, if it's clicking now when attempting to access data then there def is some physical problem with the drive.


What brand drive is it?

If the data is important I can probably take a look at it for you.

for more info PM me.

 

[tweakboy]

If your in idle thats good your fine. Just run a disk checkup make sure you have no bad sectors. You can use hd app and see what it's health is. Run test if theres any bad sectors. I doubt it tho your fine and your drive is fine.

 

[Russwinters]

If your in idle thats good your fine. Just run a disk checkup make sure you have no bad sectors. You can use hd app and see what it's health is. Run test if theres any bad sectors. I doubt it tho your fine and your drive is fine.

I'm not sure where your getting the idea that his drive is fine if it is clicking when you attempt to access it...

Just because a drive can ID does not mean it's fine; If he can't even scan the drive using R-Studio then there is 100% something wrong with the drive.

 

[RebateMonger]

R-Studio refuses to scan. I hear a distinct loud clicking noise every 8-9 seconds everytime a program tries to scan the drive. I think it's bricked for good.

Unfortunately, I think you are right. Out of curiosity, what does R-Studio say when it refuses to scan?

 

[faxon]

if you copied the data to the drive then why dont you just try formatting the drive again and copying the data back?

 

[tingedace]

I have the same problem. I'm constantly flashing lots of SATA DVD drive firmware by connecting and disconnecting the DVD drives and powering them off an on while the computer is switched on.

I had a WD 500GB (Caviar) and after about 3-4 months it started to exhibit the slow response, clicking (followed by a sound like the motor restarting) and boot failures, blue screens the lot.

I replaced this with a new identical drive and now, after a similar period of a few months it is doing the same thing as the first drive. I can only assume that the drive is intolerant of all the hot swapping and it is slowly killing it.

I've now bought another new drive, seagate this time so we'll see if it's any better. I'm not so bothered about saving the old drives but it would be good to know what's causing the problems so I can avoid them in the future. But I still need to be able to do the hot swapping.