Is my hard drive DOA?

[awott10]

I recently purchased a WD10EZEX from Amazon and today I installed Windows 7 on it without any problem whatsoever. I got the drivers installed, computer rebooted fine, etc. Then I went to check my email real quick, but the screen froze. I could still move the cursor, but couldn't use the keyboard to bring up anything like the task manager. I waited awhile but then decided to force a restart

When I restarted, I could not get past the starting windows part of windows 7 where the colored balls fly in. I waited again but no change.

So then I booted off my Windows 7 disc, which I could do, and tried to do a repair / fresh install. Whenever I chose one of the two, the system would just stay on loading forever.

So I then checked the BIOS which showed the hard drive there as recognized and I could set it up in the boot menu. When I tried to boot off the Hard Drive I was met with a black screen, which I have not been able to get past yet.

Do I need to send it back?

 

[C1]

Most likely "early failure" so exchange the drive.

Count yourself somewhat lucky in the sense that it didnt fail at a later date after you had ALL your file stuff on it plus you then being out of the direct exchange/swap window with Amazon.

 

[Harvey]

If you want to be sure, connect the drive to another machine as a slave.

1. If the system recognizes the drive, but it is not initialized, the system should ask if you want to initialize it. If successful, see if you can format. If either of those fails, you have your answer, and the info will be useful when you RMA it.

2. Open "Computer," and check to see if the drive is recognized. If so, see if you can access it. If you cannot open it to view the contents, see if you can format it. If that fails, again, you have your answer.

Good luck.

 

[awott10]

I tried what you suggested but got no prompt to initialize the disk myself, so I went into the disk management where it showed the drive as there, but any time I attempt to initialize it, I get a window saying the drive is not connected. So I restarted and tried a few times, but got the same thing each time.

So I could never even see it in "computer."

I'm assuming that means its done.

 

[Elixer]

Yeah, sounds like it.
Most likely, the SMART data of the drive will also show it has issues.
Use the portable version of Crystaldiskinfo (free) to see what that shows...)

Curious, how did Amazon pack your HD anyway ?

 

[awott10]

I have the drive unplugged at the moment but I'll look at it in a moment, if the software will even be able to see it.

But Amazon had it in a small box with two plastic holders on the end. It was in the box quite snugly and did not move around at all when I had a hold of it but that was all that was inside.

 

[awott10]

Yeah I can't even get it recognized at all now.

 

[Doomer]

Check your memory