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    Old Gateway HDD Problem

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Greg, Aug 5, 2006.

  1. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Hey all,

    Turns out a friend came to me with her old M305CRV Gateway computer after it said that the computer could not find an OS. Here are the steps I've taken to ID the problem, but I'm starting to think that the motherboard HDD IDE connector has gone bad. Does anyone have any ideas?

    Steps
    =====
    1) Reset BIOS
    2) Re-seat HDD
    3) In BIOS, could not get it to recognize that an IDE Channel 0 exists (option lists NONE). I cannot even manually set the HDD configuration (to CD-ROM, ATAPI, or OTHER) because the laptop rejects the changes.
    4) While in BIOS, there is an option to set the HDD password. That option disappears when I pull the HDD (and reappears if I reseat the drive and reboot).
    5) That same option also disappears about 75% of the time without my help.

    I'm getting ready to install the HDD in another notebook just to see if it can be detected, but I'm seriously starting to wonder if this notebook just met its maker...

    Thanks,
    night_2004
     
    Greg, Aug 5, 2006
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  2. hydra

    hydra Breaks Laptops

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    Can you tell if the HD is spinning up? It looks like BIOS is detecting the electronics on the drive and nothing else.

    As you said, installing in another notebook is a good option.
     
    hydra, Aug 5, 2006
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  3. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I'm backing up my current notebook as I speak, so if inserting the old HDD causes problems my data is still safe. How can I tell if it is spinning up? I've been trying to tell, but I'm not too sure what clues I should be looking for...
     
    Greg, Aug 5, 2006
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  4. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Well, I can't HEAR anything different between when the HDD is in or not...

    I do notice that the HDD LED isn't lighting up though...

    As soon as my computer is backed up I'll swap the drive and post what I can.
     
    Greg, Aug 5, 2006
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  5. hydra

    hydra Breaks Laptops

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    You'll know once you swap notebooks if its the controller or the HD.

    Backing up is good idea, but i would not try your good drive, with data, in the other notebook. Your data will be safe if you just want to try the Gateway drive in your laptop for a check.
     
    hydra, Aug 5, 2006
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  6. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Yup...it was the HDD. I swapped the drive and my computer did not recognize it.
     
    Greg, Aug 6, 2006
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  7. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    BTW, the old drive that failed was a Hitachi!
     
    Greg, Aug 6, 2006
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  8. hydra

    hydra Breaks Laptops

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    It happens. The Hitachi's are a good drive. When you put them in a hot notebook or drop them, they get a bit fussy.

    I've lost 2 of my personal 2.5" drives in the last 4 years using notebooks ;)

    Shop around; you can get a 30 or 40 gig drive for fairly cheap.
     
    hydra, Aug 6, 2006
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