Hard drive clicking / not being recognized!

tranquility2k4 · 11-14-2007, 06:09 AM

I have been having reoccuring problems with my western digital hard drive. I seem to have solved most of them but one still exists which is whenever I start up my PC when it hasn't been on for several hours, usually the first boot up of the day, I hear 2 or 3 loud clicking noises which is the same kind of noise the hard drive makes just before your PC shuts down. Whenever this happens the hard drive isnt recognized and therefore it trys to boot up from the network. However if I restart the PC then it always boots up fine.

This always seems to happen just like once a day the first time I boot it up, once im actually in windows it has no problems. I heard something about a hard / soft boot and maybe it's just doing it after a hard boot. But ive tried turning all power off and rebooting and it doesn't do it, if ive just been on the computer for a while? Someone also said maybe it doesnt happen while the hard drive is still spinning.

This is all obviously sceptimisn. I have tried reconnecting the sata cable and changing the power cable which it uses, for a while sometimes this fixes it but now it happens whatever combination I use, although more frequently with the molex power connector than with the sata power connector.

To me the possible candidates are either HARDRIVE, POWER SUPPLY or MOTHERBOARD.

Anyone had any simular experiences or have any advice for me, im reluctant to buy a new hard drive if it isn't actually that as im going to be getting a new PC next year and don't really want to spend much more money on this one unless I have to.

If I missed out any information needed just say.. thanks in advance

-Luke

**Deleted090308** · 11-14-2007, 07:01 AM

Hi,

The HDD needs more power when it starts, so it could be a PSU problem.
What are the system specifications?

Tumbleweed36 · 11-14-2007, 07:03 AM

The first step would be to go to the manufacturer's website and download the "Data Lifeguard" utility and test the drive against that utility.

tranquility2k4 · 11-14-2007, 08:14 AM

System spec is:

Pentium 4, 2800Ghz
2x 512MB DDR ram PC3200
Radeon X850 Pro Gfx card
500 Watt power supply
250GB Western Digital Cavier SE 16MB Casch Hard drive

In reply to the query of the system using the most power when first starting up. Yes I agree but surely if that was the case it would happen everytime I start the PC where as the symptons only happen (if there going to) the first time I boot up my PC all day, after its been switched off all night. I can restart it / reboot it as many times as I like after that and it seems fine.

In reply to tumbleweed, I have all the data lifegaurd / diagnostic tools from the western digital website and have already used them on many occasions, it doesn't pick up anything though.

So yeah any other ideas? Thanks for the replies btw guys. :)

-Luke

**Deleted090308** · 11-14-2007, 08:31 AM

What make/model is the PSU? How many +12V rails?

11-14-2007, 06:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
tranquility2k4 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 9 OS: Win XP Home Edition SP2	Hard drive clicking / not being recognized! I have been having reoccuring problems with my western digital hard drive. I seem to have solved most of them but one still exists which is whenever I start up my PC when it hasn't been on for several hours, usually the first boot up of the day, I hear 2 or 3 loud clicking noises which is the same kind of noise the hard drive makes just before your PC shuts down. Whenever this happens the hard drive isnt recognized and therefore it trys to boot up from the network. However if I restart the PC then it always boots up fine. This always seems to happen just like once a day the first time I boot it up, once im actually in windows it has no problems. I heard something about a hard / soft boot and maybe it's just doing it after a hard boot. But ive tried turning all power off and rebooting and it doesn't do it, if ive just been on the computer for a while? Someone also said maybe it doesnt happen while the hard drive is still spinning. This is all obviously sceptimisn. I have tried reconnecting the sata cable and changing the power cable which it uses, for a while sometimes this fixes it but now it happens whatever combination I use, although more frequently with the molex power connector than with the sata power connector. To me the possible candidates are either HARDRIVE, POWER SUPPLY or MOTHERBOARD. Anyone had any simular experiences or have any advice for me, im reluctant to buy a new hard drive if it isn't actually that as im going to be getting a new PC next year and don't really want to spend much more money on this one unless I have to. If I missed out any information needed just say.. thanks in advance -Luke

11-14-2007, 07:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard drive clicking / not being recognized! Hi, The HDD needs more power when it starts, so it could be a PSU problem. What are the system specifications?

11-14-2007, 07:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,640 OS: XP Professional	Re: Hard drive clicking / not being recognized! The first step would be to go to the manufacturer's website and download the "Data Lifeguard" utility and test the drive against that utility. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

11-14-2007, 08:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
tranquility2k4 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 9 OS: Win XP Home Edition SP2	Re: Hard drive clicking / not being recognized! System spec is: Pentium 4, 2800Ghz 2x 512MB DDR ram PC3200 Radeon X850 Pro Gfx card 500 Watt power supply 250GB Western Digital Cavier SE 16MB Casch Hard drive In reply to the query of the system using the most power when first starting up. Yes I agree but surely if that was the case it would happen everytime I start the PC where as the symptons only happen (if there going to) the first time I boot up my PC all day, after its been switched off all night. I can restart it / reboot it as many times as I like after that and it seems fine. In reply to tumbleweed, I have all the data lifegaurd / diagnostic tools from the western digital website and have already used them on many occasions, it doesn't pick up anything though. So yeah any other ideas? Thanks for the replies btw guys. :) -Luke

11-14-2007, 08:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard drive clicking / not being recognized! What make/model is the PSU? How many +12V rails?