I removed a Seagate Barracuda 120 GB hard drive from a computer I was getting rid of, planning to install it in another computer as a secondary hard drive for storage. I wiped the disk using Active @ Killdisk, then set up a primary DOS partition with fdisk and formatted the drive. When I try to connect to the hard drive using an SATA to USB bridge, the computer does not see it - the drive emits a random beep or beeps and slowing down then speeding up again. I put the disk back in the old computer and it works fine (I even re-formatted it using format c: /s, and it boots to a DOS prompt). I ran Sea Tools from Seagate, and the drive checks out fine. I tested the bridge with another SATA drive and it works fine. Any suggestions?
Solution
2Be_or_Not2Be
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- Aug 23, 2013
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Sounds like the power is failing on the SATA-to-USB bridge, or the connection needs to be cleaned. I use a Thermaltake Blac-X SATA dock myself, and I know it can get dust and the like in it since it's not a sealed connection.
On a related note, I also find that keeping old drives isn't worth it. So if the drive already has years of usage, then it is much more likely to fail in the future. Thus, using it again as secondary storage might contribute to problems down the line. You're better off just cleaning the drive like you did, and then recycling it.
On a related note, I also find that keeping old drives isn't worth it. So if the drive already has years of usage, then it is much more likely to fail in the future. Thus, using it again as secondary storage might contribute to problems down the line. You're better off just cleaning the drive like you did, and then recycling it.
Hi
What operating system ?
What format (fat 32 or NTFS ) ?
What partition size ?
( normally fat 32 format would not work on 120 GB partition )
What do you mean by a dos partition ?
It is partition type which is important primary or secondary
If really set to dos how did you do it ?
If you can put disk inside a desktop PC or externally on esata
Use hard disk diagnostics such as WD data life guard (for Windows) to check disk for damage
If it passes test
Use disk management ( Windows XP or latter)
Remove all partitions, create new partition full size of disk
Format as NTFS
Then try again in USB tray
I don't know if drive is 3.5" or 2.5". If sata both have same connectors for power & data
2.5" in USB tray may well run on USB power aloan
3.5" in USB tray will require additional power supply
Regards
Mike Barnes
What operating system ?
What format (fat 32 or NTFS ) ?
What partition size ?
( normally fat 32 format would not work on 120 GB partition )
What do you mean by a dos partition ?
It is partition type which is important primary or secondary
If really set to dos how did you do it ?
If you can put disk inside a desktop PC or externally on esata
Use hard disk diagnostics such as WD data life guard (for Windows) to check disk for damage
If it passes test
Use disk management ( Windows XP or latter)
Remove all partitions, create new partition full size of disk
Format as NTFS
Then try again in USB tray
I don't know if drive is 3.5" or 2.5". If sata both have same connectors for power & data
2.5" in USB tray may well run on USB power aloan
3.5" in USB tray will require additional power supply
Regards
Mike Barnes
Hi 2Be_or_Not2Be,
Thanks for your feedback. I think I'm down to the SATA to USB bridge having issues. It's a combination unit for IDE and SATA drives. It works fine on IDE drives (even on an old 5 1/4" Quantum) and on SATA laptop drives, but this is the first time I tried it on a 3 1/2" SATA desktop drive. It may be the power supply, though I did try a second power supply with the same results. The contacts appear to be clean - no dust, but I don't want to do any mechanical cleaning. Anyways, I put the old drive in the newer computer to test it, and it does see it. Just have to finish setting it up, if I do decide to go with it. Good point on using an old drive for a backup. I use an external hard drive for back-up, I'm thinking that using this spare hard drive will give me some versatility. Still not sure I'll end up doing this.
Thanks again for you help.
Hi mbarnes86,
Thanks for your feedback. To make a long story short, I think I narrowed the problem down to the SATA to USB bridge. It's a combination unit for IDE and SATA drives. It works fine with IDE drives, both laptop and desktop, and also with laptop SATA drives, but it did not work with this desktop SATA hard drive. My plan was to clean the drive except for the operating system (XP), then remove that while using the USB bridge. When my computers (I tried it on 2 different machines) did not see the hard drive using the bridge, I wiped the drive completely. That didn't work, so I tried setting up a partition, formatting, etc., all with the same results. Then I left the drive in the old computer - it worked fine. Finally, I connected it to the newer computer (internally instead of using the bridge) and it does see it. So, it looks like the problem is in the SATA to USB bridge after all.
Thanks again for your help.
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