Another wierd PC fix

Author	Message
Murasaki Send message Joined: 22 Jul 03 Posts: 702 Credit: 62,902 RAC: 0	Message 70609 - Posted: 17 Jan 2005, 9:33:29 UTC Last modified: 17 Jan 2005, 9:35:30 UTC Here's a wierd fix. I've been offline the past day and a half because my Maxtor 120GB SATA drive, which has only been in-system for about two months, suddenly locked up. From the sounds, it appeared the heads wouldn't load. This of course made me very despondent, mainly because I took the last drive and reformatted it for my TiVo, and I hadn't yet procured another drive to back up all the data I've collected the past fifteen years. Honestly, I've never before had a drive fail in so short a time, and since I'm unemployed (I actually bought the drive many months ago when I had a job) I didn't want to spend the money. Stupid me. In any case, after dozens of power cycles trying to get the heads to load, jar loose, or whatever, I took off the drive controller and took a good hard look at the entire case. I noticed a silver disc that, upon closer inspection, looked to be right under the bump in the top of the case where the stepper motor for the heads has to be. This disc appeared to be the end of the motor's spindle. Figuring I had nothing to lose at this point, I took some pliers, got a real firm grasp on what little of the metal pokes through the case, and gave an ever-so-slight turn. I powered up the drive, and voila it worked. Evidently the heads were stuck, possibly by a bit of moisture or excess lubrication in the "landing zone" where they park on shutdowns. The drive still doesn't work well, but it was enough to recover all my data onto another drive bought with the Christmas money my parents sent me, and even better I didn't lose my SETI or Climate Predictor work. Fortune favors the foolish. :) ID: 70609 ·

7822531 Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 820 Credit: 692 RAC: 0	Message 70613 - Posted: 17 Jan 2005, 10:05:25 UTC - in response to Message 70609. Last modified: 17 Jan 2005, 10:05:47 UTC Let's hope that fortune favors you enough to get a replacement drive! It shouldn't have malfunctioned that soon. ID: 70613 ·

Carl Cuseo Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 18 Jan 02 Posts: 652 Credit: 34,312 RAC: 0	Message 70617 - Posted: 17 Jan 2005, 10:29:46 UTC - in response to Message 70609. Twisting things with pliers is too mechanical Remove the carousel plate from your microwave oven Stand the drive on end precisely in the middle in line with the magnetron On either side place a D battery and a plastic jesus 5 seconds on HIGH and your troubles are over ID: 70617 ·

John Hunt Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 514 Credit: 501,438 RAC: 0	Message 70905 - Posted: 17 Jan 2005, 23:00:43 UTC Interesting! Pliers - an essential item in your 'System Tools'! Like your suggestion, Carl! Should produce spectacular fireworks! ID: 70905 ·

Darth Dogbytes™ Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 30 Jul 03 Posts: 7512 Credit: 2,021,148 RAC: 0	Message 70953 - Posted: 17 Jan 2005, 23:49:24 UTC - in response to Message 70617. > Twisting things with pliers is too mechanical > Remove the carousel plate from your microwave oven > Stand the drive on end precisely in the middle in line with the magnetron > On either side place a D battery and a plastic jesus > 5 seconds on HIGH and your troubles are over > > Fell off chair, [b]LMAO! Account frozen... ID: 70953 ·

7822531 Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 820 Credit: 692 RAC: 0	Message 70959 - Posted: 17 Jan 2005, 23:52:25 UTC - in response to Message 70953. For some real fun, use a CD-RW... ID: 70959 ·

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