my 2tb hdd stopped working after replacing case fan

[avidgamer121]

so i removed 2 of my old case fans (side and rear) and replaced them a single fan (rear), the fan is a 2-pin molex, the computer was working fine when i removed older fans, although i didn't have monitor connected at that time but i am pretty sure it did because i tried shutting it down after few sec of boot and it didn't so i had to wait a little for it boot into windows then i hit the power button. I am also wondering if trying to mess up with cables to manage them could have caused any issue which i did after replacing the fan. I should have probably avoided it as it doesn't make sense in this cheapo case. During that process one of the HDD sata cable came out so i won't be surprised.

My PSU (CX550) has only 3 sata connectors and i was using a molex to sata adapter for my 4th drive (the drive that failed), after closing down the installation of a game from task manager few months ago my hdd also developed some bad sectors, even event viewer used to regularly warn about bad blocks on the hdd, i tried repairing it with hdd regenerator but it was only a temporary fix and they kept coming back regularly especially after unexpected shutdown abd i used to repeat the repair process.

Symptoms:
Initially there was no display after replacing the fan but after i reconnected the molex cable it was fine.
HDD causes PC to be stuck at bios screen, although it doesn't freeze because i can see the KB responding.

Things i have tried:
Using a sata splitter instead, both connectors would result in same problem. Both ends same issue.
Swapping sata cable (data), made no difference.

I think HDD is on it's way out but i am trying my last resort as freezer trick, hopefully it works like a miracle i have fixed my 1tb hdd with this method before, ever since it's been fine for several years.

 

[SPDIF]

Please provide a screenshot with CrystalDiskInfo or similar, so we can see here what's going on with that HDD. otherwise an answer becomes guesswork.
It can tell us more about what's wrong.

 

[avidgamer121]

Please provide a screenshot with CrystalDiskInfo or similar, so we can see here what's going on with that HDD. otherwise an answer becomes guesswork.
It can tell us more about what's wrong.

it wasn't even loading into windows with hdd plugged in so i can't check, i was thinking about checking it on my brother's pc but i forgot. I kept the HDD in freezer for roughly 6 hours, just took it out about an hour ago, waiting it to dry up the condensation though there seem to be none i want to wait to be safe and currently i am watching something to so i will check it in a little while.

 

[SPDIF]

you can start up from another HDD or SSD with that disk connected to see what happens. Most of time you can see if CDI works and windows detect it.

It should also be visible in the bios start-up screen at boot time. But the logo at boot should be disabled in bios to be able to see that.

 

[avidgamer121]

you can start up from another HDD or SSD with that disk connected to see what happens. Most of time you can see if CDI works and windows detect it.

It should also be visible in the bios start-up screen at boot time. But the logo at boot should be disabled in bios to be able to see that.

i don't understand, it's my primary drive in first place, i have 120gb ssd as boot drive, btw do you mean i should plug it later after booting into windows? sata hot plug or that kinda stuff

 

[SPDIF]

i mean boot up from another drive SSD or HDD, you know is working good. The bad HDD you also connect but not as boot drive but visible as storage in windows. It also should show up in the Bios boot-up screen if it still works. You do not need another computer to test it. Just boot from another drive with windows or linux installed. Then you will know if this drive is bad or not.

It is known that bad drives can make the computer does not boot up, because the bios is waiting for the HDD to respond.

If it's not showing in Bios or windows, i think it's dead. Maybe a shortened capacitor or TVS diode on the circuit board.

With a multimeter you can see if there are no shorts between +5V and +12V to ground. if so this drive is dead.

You also could try this bad drive in an external enclosure with usb to test it.
IMHO, i think this drive is toast...

Does the motor spin-up from your HDD? If not it's officially dead. It's possible it is spinning up, but is not visible in bios or windows. Then there's a problem with the HDD platters or electronics.

 

[avidgamer121]

You also could try this bad drive in an external enclosure with usb to test it.

will have to buy one, i don't have 3.5" hdd enclosure rn

With a multimeter you can see if there are no shorts between +5V and +12V to ground. if so this drive is dead.

this is a good idea, i think my brother has one, i will look on youtube tutorial how to go on about it

If it's not showing in Bios or windows, i think it's dead. Maybe a shortened capacitor or TVS diode on the circuit board.

if it was dead or shorted i don't think pc would even the first bios logo screen

i mean boot up from another drive SSD or HDD, you know is working good. The bad HDD you also connect but not as boot drive but visible as storage in windows. It also should show up in the Bios boot-up screen if it still works. You do not need another computer to test it. Just boot from another drive with windows or linux installed. Then you will know if this drive is bad or not.

as i told you before it is not my primary storage and my boot drive is different, i mean bios logo screen doesn't either get past to windows or when i press del to enter bios nothing happens either

Does the motor spin-up from your HDD? If not it's officially dead. It's possible it is spinning up, but is not visible in bios or windows. Then there's a problem with the HDD platters or electronics.

this is an important thing i missed out on, will check this time around

 

[SPDIF]

If it is still spinning up, as a last thing you could try to Secure Erase it. This will make the HDD as it was new and put aside all bad sectors. If this works then keep in mind that this drive is still bad, and should not be used for important data. Hope you have no important data on this drive and you have a backup from it.

But if you can not get past the Bios screen at boot time when it is connected, then i think this drive is dead. A real dead drive that even does not spin up, will go past the bios as the bios does not see anything connected without power. But as i said there are cases where the HDD is spinning up and the bios is waiting for the HDD to respond. Then your pc hangs in the bios and nothing happens.

 

[avidgamer121]

If it is still spinning up, as a last thing you could try to Secure Erase it. This will make the HDD as it was new and put aside all bad sectors. If this works then keep in mind that this drive is still bad, and should not be used for important data. Hope you have no important data on this drive and you have a backup from it.

But if you can not get past the Bios screen at boot time when it is connected, then i think this drive is dead. A real dead drive that even does not spin up, will go past the bios as the bios does not see anything connected without power. But as i said there are cases where the HDD is spinning up and the bios is waiting for the HDD to respond. Then your pc hangs in the bios and nothing happens.

something really strange happened, i plugged back the hdd a little while ago and it showed up, atleast 4 times, twice in bios and twice in windows including the occasion when i checked it in file explorer and found all my data intact, then i put back the side panel and boom, same problem was back again, this was such a bizarre thing. I have no clue what wrong i did as usual i tried different sata cables and for sata power, splitter / molex / direct psu connector.

I know it sounds strange but can bend cpu pins or motherboard damage cause this issue? i slightly mishandled my pc while doing that stuff so i am skeptical.

 

[SPDIF]

Very strange thing indeed, so that means the HDD is still okay, best to try on another pc to be sure. Most likely you have somewhere a SATA connection on the MOBO or HDD with bend or bad contacts.
It also could be the power cables that have bend pins internally. The cpu or Mobo can't cause this issue, only a bad contact somewhere. The only solution right now is to try it on another computer. If there is all okay, then there is some hardware issues with you computer. Or as said an external case with USB is also something to try. Also if possible try another Power Supply.

I have all that kind of stuff lying down here, i wish i could help you with this. I have spare cable, PSU, HDD or SSD, CPU and GPU to try out things. Even a lot of older Mobo that still work. I could find the fault in minutes that way.

Anyway by closing the case you have problems again, for me there is somewhere a bad contact between Power Cables, SATA Cables or bad connections on Mobo,HDD. To sort things out another Computer or external USB Case is what you need now.

Seeking this problems on computer's is the most bad with symptoms like you have. Sometimes it works or not, it can be a dose of things causing this and can be very difficult to find out. Only with spare parts will you be able to find the real fault fast.

If you are willing to do some work, you could take all hardware out and connect everything on a table to see what happens. If all okay then put everything back in the case slowly and see that all is good connected. Install everything followed by the book! I know a lot of work but that how you can find the solution sometimes. By not having another computer or spare part's it's the only thing left over to find the problem.

 

[avidgamer121]

Very strange thing indeed, so that means the HDD is still okay, best to try on another pc to be sure. Most likely you have somewhere a SATA connection on the MOBO or HDD with bend or bad contacts.
It also could be the power cables that have bend pins internally. The cpu or Mobo can't cause this issue, only a bad contact somewhere. The only solution right now is to try it on another computer. If there is all okay, then there is some hardware issues with you computer. Or as said an external case with USB is also something to try. Also if possible try another Power Supply.

I have all that kind of stuff lying down here, i wish i could help you with this. I have spare cable, PSU, HDD or SSD, CPU and GPU to try out things. Even a lot of older Mobo that still work. I could find the fault in minutes that way.

Anyway by closing the case you have problems again, for me there is somewhere a bad contact between Power Cables, SATA Cables or bad connections on Mobo,HDD. To sort things out another Computer or external USB Case is what you need now.

Seeking this problems on computer's is the most bad with symptoms like you have. Sometimes it works or not, it can be a dose of things causing this and can be very difficult to find out. Only with spare parts will you be able to find the real fault fast.

If you are willing to do some work, you could take all hardware out and connect everything on a table to see what happens. If all okay then put everything back in the case slowly and see that all is good connected. Install everything followed by the book! I know a lot of work but that how you can find the solution sometimes. By not having another computer or spare part's it's the only thing left over to find the problem.

i am going to order a new usb enclosure tomorrow, it's very late at night and i am tired. I did a little more troubleshooting and honestly i am exhausted, bro 1 thing i seriously want to say, i don't want to take apart my pc, i have a never ending trauma of busting up my legendary z170 motherboard, my brother can do that but he's not even allowing me to check hdd on his computer. I know it's rude but maybe when he goes to work i can check nn his pc, but the way handle things i am not so confident about so my best bet would be an enclosure.

Very strange thing indeed, so that means the HDD is still okay, best to try on another pc to be sure. Most likely you have somewhere a SATA connection on the MOBO or HDD with bend or bad contacts.
It also could be the power cables that have bend pins internally. The cpu or Mobo can't cause this issue, only a bad contact somewhere. The only solution right now is to try it on another computer. If there is all okay, then there is some hardware issues with you computer. Or as said an external case with USB is also something to try. Also if possible try another Power Supply.

I have all that kind of stuff lying down here, i wish i could help you with this. I have spare cable, PSU, HDD or SSD, CPU and GPU to try out things. Even a lot of older Mobo that still work. I could find the fault in minutes that way.

Anyway by closing the case you have problems again, for me there is somewhere a bad contact between Power Cables, SATA Cables or bad connections on Mobo,HDD. To sort things out another Computer or external USB Case is what you need now.

Seeking this problems on computer's is the most bad with symptoms like you have. Sometimes it works or not, it can be a dose of things causing this and can be very difficult to find out. Only with spare parts will you be able to find the real fault fast.

If you are willing to do some work, you could take all hardware out and connect everything on a table to see what happens. If all okay then put everything back in the case slowly and see that all is good connected. Install everything followed by the book! I know a lot of work but that how you can find the solution sometimes. By not having another computer or spare part's it's the only thing left over to find the problem.

i am buying a docking station for the hdd in a bit, it seems slightly expensive even for the cheapest local branded one, but i have no other option, it might take couple of days to arrive but i think it will be worth it. You were really helpful, thanks for your support. BTW, the disk does spin up, and one thing i forgot to tell that when hdd worked it was not mounted in the case, i had it laying on the hdd bay (old style case).

 

[SPDIF]

Yes it's your best chance to find out what is wrong, you also can buy usb to sata converters without a case, maybe cheaper. With a bit luck your HDD are good to use further.
And external docking station you always can use for copy, or data storage, it can become handy for many things in the future.

 

[avidgamer121]

Yes it's your best chance to find out what is wrong, you also can buy usb to sata converters without a case, maybe cheaper. With a bit luck your HDD are good to use further.
And external docking station you always can use for copy, or data storage, it can become handy for many things in the future.

not much price difference between them, so i think case is worth it, especially since it will also protect the hdd. My motherboard has only 2 usb 3.0 ports and both are being used by my external drives, in case the hdd works i will put the ssd inside my pc which will leave a spare usb port for my hdd beside my backup drive.

 

[SPDIF]

Yes it surely will become handy once you have it at home for many things! Even connect to another computer and you can share or view photo and many other things if you want. I also have an external one for Data storage. I only use it when needed, for the other time it just stays OFF. No need the HDD spinning the whole day for nothing. While it's off no one can write to it, even no ransom or things like that. And it's easy enough to put another HDD inside it.