Please help with Seagate Momentus 5400.3 160GB

[r300zx]

I was wondering if anyone can help me on this site. My laptop is only 4 months old and has not moved from the day it came out of the box.

I shut down windows one night and computer never rebooted. Bios will not detect the drive, i know there is no problem with BIOS because I put a new drive in to make sure it will detect any drive.

The hard drive does not make any noises, I took the drive out and put it in a 2.5 enclosure but I am still getting nothing. I can hear the drive powering up and spinning but I can't seem to read anything. I am being told the Seagate's are known for this problem and I was wondering if anyone here might have any tips. I don't have the money to pay 1500 to recover the drive, but would like to the photos and docs on the drive.

Anyone here who can give some advice I would greatly appreciate it or anyone in the CT, NY, or MA area that can do it for $500 please let me know.

Thanks

[pepe]

Hi,

please provide complete model number.
pepe

[BlackST]

I think it's more a logical issue than physical, but need some more detail. The fact you can't see the files doen't mean data is gone : everything can make a disk "unrecognizable" (virus, bad shutdown etc.) ... need to know something more seeing the drive or some more detail from accurate diagnose.

[falther]

1. A system 4 to 5 months old is still under warranty.
2. 15 years ago nobody was aware about data backup
- now even my 4 year old nice knows about that...!?
3. Where did you buy? Why not contacting them?
4. Are there no PC repair shops around where you could get help?
5. Do you know "yellow pages"?

If one is sick - would he look for a doctor - or send a message
to a doctors website like "PLEEEZE HEELP MEEEE"

What do users expect sending such dum messages into the internet?
An answer like...."hello my dear, I will phone you immediately at my
costs and give you the full service and I guarantee you will get your
computer running at no costs like it was before...."?

It wont happen in any other business, certainly not on a doctors
web site. Why shhould it work in computer business?

Why behave "users / people" like brainless / unlogical zoombies
with anything what has to do with computers or laptops?

In future I suggest for any of such requests a standard reply:
"If you still have warranty, ask where you baught the system,
otherwise look into yellow pages for computer repair or data
recovery service"

[pepe]

He is looking for DR service ... Not warranty replacement. And in fact he does it in a right manner not demanding anything, so your answer is rather strange...

pepe

[Doomer]

As far as I know there are 3 families of 5400.3 drives
Let's make this a bidding game until we know diagnosis

I bet on Laramie SA problem

Last edited by Doomer on January 2nd, 2009, 14:16, edited 1 time in total.

[dick]

The user has already said the drive is not detected in the bios so although it could still be a simple recovery one has to presume the worst.

Next week life should go back to normal in most places except where the Kings are due to arrive. I would have thought somebody could do something for 500 bucks.

[pepe]

@ doomer:

That's why I asked for the exact model number

pepe

[Doomer]

@ doomer:

That's why I asked for the exact model number

Make a bet
Don't ruin the fun

[BlackST]

Sorry i have read NOW detect the drive instead of NOT. That's why I thought about a logical issue. In this case the drive needs to be serviced for DR or replaced, under warranty or not. Back from start.

[falther]

@pepe

He is under warranty with his system. Should keep his finger off opening
a laptop at all. Might loose the warranty for laptop immediately.

Company where he baught the system can either help or agree to change
and test hdd. Secondly they perhaps can recommend a good local DR
company.

Finally - if there is/was no assistance - then use yellow pages.....

The only solution or answer is:
Either one of this forum works with or knowns and recommends a local DR
- or "dear user, look for a local DR company"

Whats strange about that advice?

[pepe]

It seems to me He needs the data, not the drive.

pepe

[r300zx]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the help yeah I am more worried about that data, Acer already told me they would replace the drive for free once I get that data off it.

The model number is ST9160821AS any other info would be greatly appreciated.

I had a couple people offer to repair the drive on this forums just not sure if I feel comfortable sending it to someone I don't know and not a company.

Thanks again everyone for all the help

[hddguy]

Most DR companies are able to offer a free diagnostic with no obligation. This should give you a good idea of the fault before any work is done, and also your data will be in safe hands.

As you can see here, a lot of this is guesswork until the drive can be physically diagnosed with the correct equipment.

Would be helpful if you could connect disk externally to a second machine, not through a USB box, and give more detail as to whether disk clicks, powers, initialises etc

[pepe]

Not Laramie

pepe

[Doomer]

Not Laramie

pepe

Damn, I lost my bet

[pepe]

[drc]

The Apple warranty side of my company is able to send drives to DriveSavers through an Apple arrangement for free diags and 10-15% off total price, preserving Apple warranty status. Their standard quote is like $1200-$2200.

[jono-ats]

The Apple Warranty side of my company is able to recover the data and replace the drive under warranty for $349 or $649, depending upon the nature of the failure. Most Hitachi J9SA00 recoveries are $349, for example, unless a head swap is needed.

[drc]

The Apple Warranty side of my company is able to recover the data and replace the drive under warranty for $349 or $649, depending upon the nature of the failure. Most Hitachi J9SA00 recoveries are $349, for example, unless a head swap is needed.

Your company is approved by Apple to take drives apart without voiding Apple warranty?