No power = Failure?

Equi1 · 08-05-2009, 01:36 PM

Is it possible? A few months back i turned off my computer to move it from one side of my room to another. After turning it back on the HDD failed and i had to re-write it. Is it possible due to loss of power the HDD will fail and you'll have to reinstall a new OS, and the whole works. I'm asking because i have to unplug my computer(Its not on) from its power cable and i don't wanna lose my data or anything. Any ideas?

**raptor_pa** · 08-05-2009, 02:46 PM

Not likely if it was shutdown correctly, when you powered it down, did you shutdown the system or pull the plug while it was up and running? Always shutdown from teh start menu shutdown option to ensure windows closes out all it's file writes correctly.

Equi1 · 08-05-2009, 04:39 PM

I have a power switch on the back of the computer. I flipped it. Then after i flipped it back and plugged it in it got messed up.

**raptor_pa** · 08-05-2009, 05:31 PM

So you didn't do a clean shutdown from teh start menu before you dumped the power switch on the back? In that case, yeah, you probably hosed the file system, particularly if the drive was set for write caching, or optimize for performance - the MFT probably didn't get updated appropriately. Best situation is to do a start - shutdown and wait for the machine to power itself down, or until the safe to power off prompt. Dumping power will often cause issues with the filesystem.

Equi1 · 08-05-2009, 06:15 PM

It was completely off when i flipped the switch. And unplugged. =/ And now my Keyboard and Mouse aren't working after i just installed my new Graphics card..
(I'm on a Laptop)

**raptor_pa** · 08-05-2009, 06:45 PM

Double check the keyboard ribbon is reattached correctly. Usually you have to remove the KB to get to the graphics card on a laptop.

Equi1 · 08-05-2009, 07:03 PM

I'm sorry, i guess i wasn't clear. I'm typing on a laptop to post on this thread. I guess we can close this though, i had to reinstall the OS. Nothing worked for my desktop. Thanks for your help though. =)

08-05-2009, 01:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Equi1 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 40 OS: Windows XP Pro SP3	No power = Failure? Is it possible? A few months back i turned off my computer to move it from one side of my room to another. After turning it back on the HDD failed and i had to re-write it. Is it possible due to loss of power the HDD will fail and you'll have to reinstall a new OS, and the whole works. I'm asking because i have to unplug my computer(Its not on) from its power cable and i don't wanna lose my data or anything. Any ideas?

08-05-2009, 02:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,843 OS: XP	Re: No power = Failure? Not likely if it was shutdown correctly, when you powered it down, did you shutdown the system or pull the plug while it was up and running? Always shutdown from teh start menu shutdown option to ensure windows closes out all it's file writes correctly. __________________

08-05-2009, 04:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
Equi1 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 40 OS: Windows XP Pro SP3	Re: No power = Failure? I have a power switch on the back of the computer. I flipped it. Then after i flipped it back and plugged it in it got messed up.

08-05-2009, 05:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,843 OS: XP	Re: No power = Failure? So you didn't do a clean shutdown from teh start menu before you dumped the power switch on the back? In that case, yeah, you probably hosed the file system, particularly if the drive was set for write caching, or optimize for performance - the MFT probably didn't get updated appropriately. Best situation is to do a start - shutdown and wait for the machine to power itself down, or until the safe to power off prompt. Dumping power will often cause issues with the filesystem. __________________

08-05-2009, 06:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Equi1 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 40 OS: Windows XP Pro SP3	Re: No power = Failure? It was completely off when i flipped the switch. And unplugged. =/ And now my Keyboard and Mouse aren't working after i just installed my new Graphics card.. (I'm on a Laptop)

08-05-2009, 06:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,843 OS: XP	Re: No power = Failure? Double check the keyboard ribbon is reattached correctly. Usually you have to remove the KB to get to the graphics card on a laptop. __________________

08-05-2009, 07:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
Equi1 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 40 OS: Windows XP Pro SP3	Re: No power = Failure? I'm sorry, i guess i wasn't clear. I'm typing on a laptop to post on this thread. I guess we can close this though, i had to reinstall the OS. Nothing worked for my desktop. Thanks for your help though. =)