HDD Undetected

[chrini]

I recently got an 80 gig Seagate U6 ST380020A (firmware: 3.90) HDD for free from a local computer shop (why, because it doesn't work of course!). The problem is that it will spin up, but the computer will not detect it. I have also put it in my external enclosure and hooked it into my lap top via USB. My laptop acknowledges that there is a drive there, but it will not allow me to make a new folder or copy files to it (it gives me a specified path doesn't exist type of error). I have tried it on master, slave, and cable select jumpers, still nothing.

One thing that I have noticed is that there is a potentially bad noise when the HDD spins up (the reason I say potentially is because I am 98% sure that I have heard the noise in working HDD's). It's kind of a muffled cliking noise, but after it gets spinning it stops and sounds like a normal quiet HDD.

Anyone have any ideas as to how to get my computer to acknowledge it? Is there any way to fix the HDD? I have thought about getting an identical HDD and switching out the logic boards, but I'd rather spend my money on a new, larger, and better (WD) HDD. Thanks!

[EzyStvy]

for free from a local computer shop (why, because it doesn't work of course

Why do you think the drive will work when the shop said its dead?

Use it for a paper weight or if you've never taken one apart - nows your chance.

[Kuch]

EzyStvy - I don't think the shop told him the HDD is dead; I think he figured that out for himself and said that as a joke.
But yeah, your right; it will probably only make a good paperweight.

[freakitchen]

Am sure that a shop wouldn't have given you a hard drive if they thought that it worked! The fact that it spins up doesn't indicate that it 'works' - indeed, clicking is often the sign of a dying (or in this case, dead) hard drive. If the BIOS of a desktop PC won't recognise it (and you cabled/jumpered it correctly), then it's safe to assume it's dead. Certainly, it's not possible to fix it. Get yourself a modern hard drive that works!!

[chrini]

Ok, thanks for the replies.... Thought I'd give it a try since I really don't have the money to buy a new one at this time and it was FREE.

And to clear things up, yes the shop said they were having trouble getting it to pick up on their computers... so they said I could have it for free (because I was going to buy as a used hard drive). So I took it (as anyone probably would) and thought I'd try to get it to work.

[chrini]

Also, I intially thought that it wasn't spinning up... that is why I mentioned that it is spinning, which is better than it not spinning..... isn't it?

[EzyStvy]

For grins, click on Start->Run and type: diskmgmt.msc

If the drive happens to show up there, right click on it and Delete the partition(s).

Right click again and create a partition.