Stop Press: Faulty Hard Drive Fails to Work

phatbenny · 12-23-2004, 07:45 AM

Hi all,
I've recently bought a broken hard drive off ebay, it was sold as broken. This might sound like a very stupid idea. It might be, but let me explain my thinking. The people selling them sell tonnes of them all the time. They get them from hardware suppliers technical departments. They don't check them and sell them as faulty with the idea being that some of them are not faulty, because the technical departments will quite often just plug in a new drive rather than waste time trying to fix the old one. So therefore you buy a cheap drive, that may need a little fixing. Here's where you guys come in.
It arrived this morning so I duly plugged the drive in as a primary master, and the only drive connected on the IDE channel. I think I can hear it spin up and stay spinning. However when I go into the bios to detect it, it doesn't appear. Not only does it not appear, the bit where it usually says [None] next to where it says Primary Master in the bios is totally blank, not even [ ].

I was wondering if anyone had any bright ideas, as it's quite a good drive other than the not working thing. 40Gb 5400rpm.
Cheers
Ben

Enforcer · 12-23-2004, 07:51 AM

quelle surprise

phatbenny · 12-23-2004, 07:54 AM

I know, I know.
It was a bad idea to start with, but I had just been caught up in a load of auction excitement, and before I knew what I'd done I' convinced myself and made a bid.

Rob Withey · 12-23-2004, 07:55 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by phatbenny

it's quite a good drive other than the not working thing.

Good in what way then? As a door stop, or a paperweight?

If it won't detect in the bios, chances are that it's hosed. Sounds like you got exactly what you bought.

phatbenny · 12-23-2004, 07:58 AM

Good as in, if the drive worked it would be a good one.

Or good as in, if you don't mind the fact it doesn't work then it would a good one.
Open to your own interpretation.

Enforcer · 12-23-2004, 08:01 AM

could strip it down and use for spare parts

Engram · 12-23-2004, 08:18 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by phatbenny

I duly plugged the drive in as a primary master, and the only drive connected on the IDE channel. I think I can hear it spin up and stay spinning. However when I go into the bios to detect it, it doesn't appear. Not only does it not appear, the bit where it usually says [None] next to where it says Primary Master in the bios is totally blank, not even [ ].

Gee.. it sounds like it's faulty!!

Sonicxtacy02 · 12-23-2004, 09:27 AM

check the johnson rod for proper lubrication

Seth · 12-23-2004, 02:43 PM

Tell us what model it is and maybe there is someone with a good controller PCB to help you. Those things are not the easiest to troubleshoot you know....

phatbenny · 12-23-2004, 03:23 PM

Hitachi 40Gb 5400rpm. Sorry, i don`t have any more details. I`ve left the drive at work.

blazinlow · 12-23-2004, 05:13 PM

some of those drives have good warrantys with the manufacturer. Ive replaced a few hard drives for customers who want their systems up immediately and they told me to throw out the old one...instead I call the manufacturer and get it replaced for free and keep it.

goosey2099 · 12-23-2004, 06:28 PM

Call Hitachi and see if you can exchange it, since it probably has 3 year warranty.

phatbenny · 12-23-2004, 06:36 PM

Nice idea, if this works i think I've found a cheap source of laptop drives.

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