A Problem?

randf118 · 12-01-2006, 07:57 AM

Hi!

Recently I have been having problems with my Western Digital 20gig hard drive. Now it doesn’t do it all the time...... but I thought I might as well get it checked out just in case.

Basically when I leave my computer on for about 5 hours or more (sometimes even less than an hour!) it makes a very weird sound. It sounds like it boots up again even though im in windows already and makes a beeping sound... like it’s skipping. After the 1st beeping sound I have about 5-10 sec's before my computer crashes and I have to power it off by the plug. I think that it’s over heating so I just leave my sides of my case off but when I touch it is RED hot so im confused. Another weird thing is that after I power off I wait till my HDD is cold before powering back on. Some times it works and some times it just starts back up doing the beeping sound......so the thing that I found out is that I have to disconnect the power supply and data cable to the HDD and plug it back in and then power on and then it works with out fail again till the next time.......

Is it an early sign of the HDD failing?
Or is it just over heating like im thinking?
Or maybe dust gets into the cable connections?
*Sigh*

If it is failing id like to know because if it is id like to save the files before it dose finally bite the dust!

thanks in advance!

crazijoe · 12-01-2006, 09:22 AM

Being it is a 20GB drive it is probably old as manufacturer do not make them that small anymore. I would backup any data and run the diagnostic program form Western Digital's Data LifeGuard Tools. You can get it from the link in my sig.

**linderman** · 12-01-2006, 11:33 AM

I would not run the drive other than for diagnostic and back-up purposes

get another drive and dont doddle about it, unless your data is not important

get your black suit cleaned and pressed; you will be attending a hard dive funeral soon.

randf118 · 12-01-2006, 12:21 PM

i see.....
well iv ran the WD diagnostics and this is what iv got

Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number: WDC WD200EB-00BHF0
Unit Serial Number: WD-WMA6K2381645
Firmware Number: 15.15M15
Capacity: 20.02 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: PASS
Test Time: 20:11:27, December 01, 2006

well it says PASS but i take its wrong?
maybe i should run a Extended test?

but in anycase i have got my eye on a HDD.....
not sure if you have seen it on TV? on one of the PC world adverts?

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/240892

and well yea seeing its christmas soon i was going to add that on my wish list

do you think that i should?
or should i buy somthing else?

crazijoe · 12-01-2006, 12:24 PM

Is this drive for your operating system or just for data backup?

randf118 · 12-01-2006, 12:32 PM

it would most probably be storage and data back up
but seeing that my HDD could fail could i put it as my OS?
or would that be unwise seeing its an external HDD?
but then again i could just take my slave HDD and change it to the master setting external drive to slave?

meh i dont know what would be best?

crazijoe · 12-01-2006, 12:40 PM

Since it is an external drive, you will not be able to put your OS on it.

randf118 · 12-01-2006, 12:45 PM

i was just wondering that!
well that leaves only one option
ill just change my drive from slave to master
but in the mean time ill just prey my HDD lasts untill i can get the new one!

just finished the Extended test this is what iv got.....
Test Option: EXTENDED TEST
Model Number: WDC WD200EB-00BHF0
Unit Serial Number: WD-WMA6K2381645
Firmware Number: 15.15M15
Capacity: 20.02 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: PASS
Test Time: 20:44:20, December 01, 2006

its still saying pass.....

crazijoe · 12-01-2006, 12:49 PM

I would think about replacing that drive soon. 5 years on a HDD is pushing it. Failure could be imminent.

randf118 · 12-01-2006, 12:57 PM

yea will do!
thanks alot for the help

12-01-2006, 07:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
randf118 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UK, Wales Posts: 88 OS: Windows XP Pro My System	A Problem? Hi! Recently I have been having problems with my Western Digital 20gig hard drive. Now it doesn’t do it all the time...... but I thought I might as well get it checked out just in case. Basically when I leave my computer on for about 5 hours or more (sometimes even less than an hour!) it makes a very weird sound. It sounds like it boots up again even though im in windows already and makes a beeping sound... like it’s skipping. After the 1st beeping sound I have about 5-10 sec's before my computer crashes and I have to power it off by the plug. I think that it’s over heating so I just leave my sides of my case off but when I touch it is RED hot so im confused. Another weird thing is that after I power off I wait till my HDD is cold before powering back on. Some times it works and some times it just starts back up doing the beeping sound......so the thing that I found out is that I have to disconnect the power supply and data cable to the HDD and plug it back in and then power on and then it works with out fail again till the next time....... Is it an early sign of the HDD failing? Or is it just over heating like im thinking? Or maybe dust gets into the cable connections? Sigh If it is failing id like to know because if it is id like to save the files before it dose finally bite the dust! thanks in advance! __________________ *Rob*

12-01-2006, 09:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	Being it is a 20GB drive it is probably old as manufacturer do not make them that small anymore. I would backup any data and run the diagnostic program form Western Digital's Data LifeGuard Tools. You can get it from the link in my sig. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

12-01-2006, 11:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 19,391 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	I would not run the drive other than for diagnostic and back-up purposes get another drive and dont doddle about it, unless your data is not important get your black suit cleaned and pressed; you will be attending a hard dive funeral soon. __________________ Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day ! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

12-01-2006, 12:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
randf118 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UK, Wales Posts: 88 OS: Windows XP Pro My System	i see..... well iv ran the WD diagnostics and this is what iv got Test Option: QUICK TEST Model Number: WDC WD200EB-00BHF0 Unit Serial Number: WD-WMA6K2381645 Firmware Number: 15.15M15 Capacity: 20.02 GB SMART Status: PASS Test Result: PASS Test Time: 20:11:27, December 01, 2006 well it says PASS but i take its wrong? maybe i should run a Extended test? but in anycase i have got my eye on a HDD..... not sure if you have seen it on TV? on one of the PC world adverts? http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/240892 and well yea seeing its christmas soon i was going to add that on my wish list do you think that i should? or should i buy somthing else? __________________ *Rob*

12-01-2006, 12:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	Is this drive for your operating system or just for data backup? __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

12-01-2006, 12:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
randf118 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UK, Wales Posts: 88 OS: Windows XP Pro My System	it would most probably be storage and data back up but seeing that my HDD could fail could i put it as my OS? or would that be unwise seeing its an external HDD? but then again i could just take my slave HDD and change it to the master setting external drive to slave? meh i dont know what would be best? __________________ *Rob*

12-01-2006, 12:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	Since it is an external drive, you will not be able to put your OS on it. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

12-01-2006, 12:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
randf118 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UK, Wales Posts: 88 OS: Windows XP Pro My System	i was just wondering that! well that leaves only one option ill just change my drive from slave to master but in the mean time ill just prey my HDD lasts untill i can get the new one! just finished the Extended test this is what iv got..... Test Option: EXTENDED TEST Model Number: WDC WD200EB-00BHF0 Unit Serial Number: WD-WMA6K2381645 Firmware Number: 15.15M15 Capacity: 20.02 GB SMART Status: PASS Test Result: PASS Test Time: 20:44:20, December 01, 2006 its still saying pass..... __________________ *Rob*

12-01-2006, 12:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	I would think about replacing that drive soon. 5 years on a HDD is pushing it. Failure could be imminent. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

12-01-2006, 12:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
randf118 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UK, Wales Posts: 88 OS: Windows XP Pro My System	yea will do! thanks alot for the help __________________ *Rob*