Carputer Hard Drive Crashed..help

**Rocky388** · 04-16-2006, 12:40 AM

This is the second time this has happened..

the first time (about a week ago) the drive made a clicking noise and locked up the computer, then it would click again, and the computer would work fine. This went on for about 2 days, until I started it up one day and it went to the BSOD, then each time I would turn the machine on after that it would say "disk boot failure, insert system disk and press enter"

To fix it, I formatted the drive and did a clean installed of everything.

Well, that brings me to now..earlier today I was listening to a song, and the same clicking situation happened..the computer locked up, then went to the BSOD. Now, each time I turn it on it goes to that "disk boot failure" message.

What's weird, is that if I plug the drive into a computer via a IDE to USB cable, I can read all the data off the drive fine.

Does anyone have any ideas/thoughts on this? This is the harddrive for my carputer, could the fact that I mounted it vertically, with no shock protection have had an effect on the drive? I went with the approach of mounting the drive as solid to the case as possible, and the case is mounted to my truck pretty solid as well.

What sucks even more, is that the drive was made in 2003, with a 1 year warantee..which, obviously expired in 2004. Well, I bought the drive "new" from newegg in 2005 (I'll have the drive for 1 year in a couple months). Being that the warantee has expired, I'm sure western digital won't help me at all. Hopefully newegg will stand behind the product they sold me (that had the 1 year warantee already expired before I even purchased it).

**RedTibby04** · 04-16-2006, 12:44 AM

They should honor the warranty. I would assume so. However, sounds to me you need some shock protection?

**DarquePervert** · 04-16-2006, 08:39 AM

1) Connect that drive to regular IDE and start pulling data off it ASAP.
2) The warranty is from the date of purchase, not from the date of manufacture.
3) YOur truck has suspension which reduce shock loads on the drive to within tolerable ranges.

Drives fail. It happens. Backup the data, get it replaced and move on.

**Kevin22** · 04-16-2006, 10:01 AM

I had the same problem with western digital drives. i personally lost 2 drives with all my data,music,etc.. what power supply are you using?

**Rocky388** · 04-16-2006, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

1) Connect that drive to regular IDE and start pulling data off it ASAP.
2) The warranty is from the date of purchase, not from the date of manufacture.
3) YOur truck has suspension which reduce shock loads on the drive to within tolerable ranges.

Drives fail. It happens. Backup the data, get it replaced and move on.

Thanks. That's exactly what I wanted to hear, especially #3. The way I designed my case, there's really no room to add any kind of shock protection to the drive.

I'm gunna call newegg monday and straighten it out, being that the drive is less then a year old. But, worst comes to worst, I have my eye on a seagate 160 gig for $30 (after rebate)..

I should probably mention I'm using a 3.5" drive...any reason I should switch over to a more expensive laptop drive?

**DarquePervert** · 04-16-2006, 11:14 AM

I picked up a 400GB drive at Fry's for $160 yesterday.
Seagate 3.5" model with 16MB buffer and a 5 year warranty

**Rocky388** · 04-16-2006, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Kevin22

I had the same problem with western digital drives. i personally lost 2 drives with all my data,music,etc.. what power supply are you using?

I've never had a western digital fail before. I have had 2 or 3 seagates, and an IBM.

I have an inverter in my system, so I'm using a normal ATX powersupply..a Raidmax 380watt.

**TruckinMP3** · 04-16-2006, 12:24 PM

The clicking noise makes me think this is a mechanical failure, this would have likely failed on your desk.

RMA the drive, see how the replacement does.

**84RegalRider** · 04-16-2006, 03:25 PM

yea no shock protection, use some rubber washers if it makes u feel better.
but yea harddrives fail.

**e30_droptop** · 04-16-2006, 03:35 PM

The hard drive is on the way out. Track 0 sensor cannot determine where track 0 is and the FAT (File Allocation Table) so the hard drive heads begin to "hunt" back and forth. Thats the clicking you hear. Hard drive heads are constantly seeking out and then back in.

Not good!

Get the data if its important as the drives days are numbered.