Western Digital WD800JB failure?

[RussianSensation]

I had my computer running 24/7 since June 2003. Never had any problems with the HDD.
Today, I wake up and my monitor shows a black screen with white font - at the bottom says System Disk Not Found. Restarted the computer and under bootable devices the HDD is no longer present. Went into the BIOS and pressed Auto a couple times to detect it nothing. Restarted many times with jumpers in difference positions on the HDD. Finally it showed up as WD800LB??? But my version always rad WD800JB..with some other numbers and letters beside it in the BIOS. Ok np. Next under size it says 8455MB yet # of cylinders is 16383 as should be (landing zone is 16382 - 1 less??) Sectors 63. I went to the western digital website...thats what is should be so why is it showing 8.5gb vs. 80gb????

Finally when i restart the computer, the HDD keeps clicking and clicking....and then nothing happens. The initial screen telling my cpu speed, etc is shown and Atapi devices loading........

Did my western digital wd800jb fail? I bought it in May 2003, do I still have a warranty? (i remember WD has 3 year warranty not sure?)

thanks.

 

[powerMarkymark]

You should run the WD diagnostic software to verify your suspicions.

Available from their website.

M@rc

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: powerMarkymark
You should run the WD diagnostic software to verify your suspicions.

Available from their website.

M@rc

For me to run this software...I need another working HDD though right? Because this one will not boot into windows or anything. I am typing this message from school -- that is the problem.

 

[bocamojo]

Sounds like you're drive is definitely failing. I had some similar issues with a Western Digital 800JB. I would hear a clicking noise, then my computer would freeze. I would reboot and it would say system disk not found. I would turn it off for a few minutes, boot up, and it would find the disk and load the OS. It was a sporadic issue. I decided to just replace the drive with a Seagate 80 GB drive I had in another system, and that fixed the problems. I still have the Western Digital drive in my system, but just as a data drive (no OS installed on it), and it still works fine. However, if you have the option, go ahead and get it replaced under the warranty.

 

[imported_fatal]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: powerMarkymark
You should run the WD diagnostic software to verify your suspicions.

Available from their website.

M@rc

For me to run this software...I need another working HDD though right? Because this one will not boot into windows or anything. I am typing this message from school -- that is the problem.

It make a bootable floppy, so you dont need to boot into windows. It does sound like time for a new HD

 

[bluestrobe]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: powerMarkymark
You should run the WD diagnostic software to verify your suspicions.

Available from their website.

M@rc

For me to run this software...I need another working HDD though right? Because this one will not boot into windows or anything. I am typing this message from school -- that is the problem.

If you can type this from school, you can make a diag diskette to take home with you.

 

[RussianSensation]

Ok guys update on the issue. Brought the HDD to my friends house. Plugged it in as a secondary drive. Primary Slave Drive 1 Error message pops up. Ok booted into windows anyways the HDD isnt there. Restarted the computer again. Now this time no error the HDD is detected in windows for the first time as WDC WD800JD - 00ETA0. this is what showed up in my BIOS before. The problem of WD800LB is fixed then. Downloaded WD Diagnostic tool, ran Quick and Extended tests - both passed. Just brought it home and connected it to my computer. It's working. Restarted the computer again a couple times - no problems. Ran Sisoftware Sandra File System benchmark test...in the middle of it the drive started clicking again. Then 3 seconds later it gave me a BSOD - saying dumping physical memory - make sure to connect new hardware properly. Restarted the computer one more time. This time ran PCMark02 with its cpu memory and HDD tests. HDD scored 1100 points which is where is should be based on all my old scores. Here I am sitting..typing on it...don't know if it's still having a problem since WD Diagnostic says no, but all these issues are in the air. System CMOS has been reset so everything is running at stock.

What other tests can I do to check if something is wrong with it?

 

[mechBgon]

Advice: back up your data as soon as possible.

 

[airfoil]

Before you do any more testing, back up the data on the drive.

 

[RussianSensation]

Well my last exam for school is tomorrow. I printed all the documents I need for the exam so there is nothing on there except for games movies and songs that is important. I can just redownload those. Unfortunately I do not have a 2nd drive to backup my data for another week until I go home and use my dad's computer.

Just started Prime 95 Blend everything test and 2 instances of SETI@Home to test for overall system stability. I just dont want this drive to be half dead. I'd rather it die so I know.

Does WD have the 3 year warranty on OEM drives? Also since it passed the WD Diagnostic Windows test, should I tell the technical support aht the drive keeps making clicking noises when I call? Because I dont see any other way to justify that it is failing.

 

[erwos]

"What other tests can I do to check if something is wrong with it?"

Don't bother. Just RMA it. I had something similar to this happen to the same model of hard drive, and the drive failed shortly after "recovery". This sort of idiocy why I never buy hard drives with less than 3 years of warranty coverage.

-Erwos