Indeed!! Good for u!
But u still lost all the data & proggies or were u able to save some of it?

yeah!

Yesterday I finally got my replacement 320 GB hard drive that I sent back to Western Digital, hooked it up, after vacuuming and blowing out the tower, and it didn't show as being there! DUH! Called Western Digital tech support earlier and it had to be 'initialized' which he told me how to do, and voila, I'm back in business again! Case closed!

FYI: Just found this link in an email someone just sent me:
http://tech.yahoo.com/blog/null/71852;_ylt=Ar1_e8tBi4NYgfm7mwPxM6EFLZA5

[an OS has to be installed on a drive designated C]

actually NT-XP can put most of itself elsewhere. My wife boots win2k from e:

But it is a stone bear to rearrange if the boot partition gets et.

RM.. I guess that does make sense. No, I'm not planning to make it my primary drive, and I guess if my current C: drive dies I can always make the spare one the main one and then install WinXP, etc. You're right.. there have been SO many updates since I first got this machine, it's 2-1/2 years old!! But, since it works and does everything I need I'm not complaining!!

Copmom Copmom, whatcha gonna do when your HD stews?

Sorry, I almost missed your direct request for a mind meld, and I'm not really the techie you should consult about matters involving OS installs.

My gut tells me you shouldn't do that unless you plan to make it your primary drive immediately, and that may (I think) mean losing all your GAOTD keys; maybe not since the pointers may still look at the old drive's Registry if you leave it alone... maybe)

Another reason not to install it is that the way MSFT issues patches and fixes, anything you installed would now will require major renovations next week, much less 6 months from now.

Finally, (I think) an OS has to be installed on a drive designated C:, so you probably can't install the OS now if the new drive will be designated as a different letter, and then reassign the new HD as "C:" down the road.

RM.. I do already have an external HD for 'just in case'.. at least things are much cheaper now.
I have a new question for all of you .. when I get the new HD from Western Digital, (or should I say 'refurbished'?), since it will be totally empty, should I install my WinXP on it as if there were nothing on my machine to cover all bases if my current C: drive goes on me??

I called Western digital and asked what their policy was on my drive getting restocked with all my data still on it! He said once a drive was tested, everything on it is deleted... so guess all I can do is take their word on it. At least it doesn't contain my social security number or anything personal like that, and I don't do any of the tax programs online, so guess I have a tad of privacy?? Also, when they replace it they will send out a refurbished one and the warranty on that would continue to the end of the current warranty which is June.

That 60 minute window to edit a post just ain't enough for us garrulous types. I need a minimum of 24-hours. :-)

This was enlightening, in a depressing way- http://ask.metafilter.com/74942/How-to-wipe-a-dead-hard-drive

Moral - either encrypt everything, or eat the warranty and destroy the drive yourself, or ask the manufacturer for written verification that their in-house policy includes auto-formmating/degaussing all incoming drives... and keep your fingers crossed.

PS - I even called a Best Buy up here to see if they offered that service, and that was depressing, too. The first clown I spoke with in their much-touted GeekSquad Repair section didn't even know what degaussing meant.

CopMom, methinks you really should consider degaussing that thing before sending it back. Call around to your local computer shops/stores (even local hospital, considering the new privacy regs they have to operate under) to see if any of them have one and if they'll do it as a courtesy.

http://redtape.msnbc.com/2006/06/one_year_ago_ha.html

UPDATE: Check with the manufacturer... degaussing might void warranty

sorry, not a clue- dunno how your system finds sata drives, ain't got none.

is that the cmos scan or the os?

if the os, try hitting delete at startup and see if the cmos setup can find the drive- I only wonder because of that "Can't find drive with fat 32" line, cmos shouldn't care...

Forgot something.. GoodGOTD.. your suggestion on using test disk is great except for one thing. If that drive isn't even showing up as being there, I don't see how I could test it.. it's like it's invisible???

Good morning/afternoon all, depending on where you are. I went to the Western Digital site, typed in the SN# and it's guranteed until July 2008, so already printed out an RMA* and a shipping label, and will send to them for replacement. Not that I'm paranoid or anything, but what if the new one doesn't work! Arggggggggh!

What really bothers me is that I do have personal stuff on it, like the back up for my invoice program for our business and my documents, and all the stuff for our web site! Not counting, of course, all the avi's I have on there that I hadn't burned yet! *-(

Luckily that was my back up hard drive, so now do I have to worry about my C: drive going? Eeeks. Then I'm really in a mess! I think when I get the new one I'm going to install WinXP on it and make it an independent drive that would work if my C: goes! Does that sound right??

here's an item I just ran across, might be worth a spin?

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

TestDisk is OpenSource software and is licensed under the terms of the GNU Public License (GPL).

TestDisk is a powerful free data recovery software! It was primarily designed to help recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again when these symptoms are caused by faulty software, certain types of viruses or human error (such as accidentally deleting a Partition Table). Partition table recovery using TestDisk is really easy.

TestDisk can

* Fix partition table, recover deleted partition
* Recover FAT32 boot sector from its backup
* Rebuild FAT12/FAT16/FAT32 boot sector
* Fix FAT tables
* Rebuild NTFS boot sector
* Recover NTFS boot sector from its backup
* Fix MFT using MFT mirror
* Locate ext2/ext3 Backup SuperBlock

TestDisk has features for both novices and experts. For those who know little or nothing about data recovery techniques, TestDisk can be used to collect detailed information about a non-booting drive which can then be sent to a tech for further analysis. Those more familiar with such procedures should find TestDisk a handy tool in performing onsite recovery.
Operating

ooooh- snarky.

It just so happens that at the same time you deleted drive F:, that it goes "kaput"??

How's that for an 'Outer Limits' moment, eh?

OK everybody.. yesterday I disconnected the C: and connected the invisible F: drive as if it were the C: drive and the only drive. My message said:
Drive 0 not found; Serial ATA, Sata 0
Drive 1 not found: Serial ATA, Sata 2
Can't find drive with fat 32
**Drives 1-8 NO hard drive detected

So it's kaput!! Gone, dead. Next I reconnected the C: and all worked fine for that drive. Next I'm going to remove it, get the serial # off of it, and go to Western Digitals web site and enter the serial # and see if it's still guaranteed. Found my original invoice, dated 8/2/05, and I believe these are supposed to be guaranteed for 3 years! Will let you know what I find out.

Copmom, I am sure there are some real computer-pros here in the forum (no one named - no one forgotten), but if I were in place of you, I would like a geek alongside me, with his hands at the PC, and after the total crash with his hands on mine. I am still hoping for you !

OK, I wish you well! If you ever want to continue where we left off, just let me know.

Best of luck, copmom. :-)

much luck ! sorry can't help

I'm afraid now I'm overwhelmed with all the lists of resources.. will have to follow them one at a time, and like you said, maybe I need a computer geek to undo the damage I've done.

don't mean to stick my nose into a thread where it really doesn't belong, but i'm going to anyway.

freewarefan that is an excellent suggestion. that's why i didn't join the foray, there was already so much advice from people who know a lot more than me.

Don't pick me. I know just enough to be dangerous. :)

Hello, copmom. Listen, you're getting all kinds of suggestions from well meaning folks here, and all those ideas are valid, in one form or another. You know what's going to happen if you try to follow everyone? You're going to get confused, and then frustrated . I'm not downing anyone here at all, you all know me better than that. But what I am going to suggest is that you pick one person, and stick with that one person, until they exhaust all avenues and ideas.

If you then haven't solved your problem, then you say " Thank you", and you then pick someone else who has given you suggestions, and stick with them all the way. The reason I suggest you do this, is because you really need to go down a list of possible causes, one at time, to solve your problem. Jumping all over, from cables to bios is just going to frustrate you, and even very likely add to the problem you started out with.

So, here's what I advocate. Go back through this thread, and pick just one person, who has given you a suggestion, and ask them to walk you through what they think you should do. Stick with them until the end, when the problem is either solved, or you still need more help, and they have run out of ideas.

Again, I say that everyone who has suggested something in this thread makes sense, in one way or another. You just need to pick one, and stick with 'em, rather than jumping from idea to idea.

You WILL figure this out, it's just a matter of procedure.. :-)

Hi Violet, can't click the disk drive since that drive isn't showing as being here. Did scan for changes but nothing came up there. I really think it's something controlled by the bios and when I go to set up (F1) the part that shows bios also says cannot be changed or altered!! GRRRRRRR
How can I get into my bios?

Looks like I slept through a train wreck, and I won't be around much of today, not that I'd dare try to walk someone through a data recovery.
I believe it is important not to save/write anything to the "deleted" disk or reformat it until you've tried a few free software recovery appls and see if you can reaccess it. You risk overwriting files.

Links to freeware that might help you restablish contact with the F drive, recover data and partition the drive (in no particular order) -
http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/system/fwdatarecovery.html
http://mirror.href.com/thestarman/tool/FreeTools.html
http://mirror.href.com/thestarman/tool/FreeTools.html#PARTINFO

Mostly shareware, some freeware though (scroll down look on right for "FREEWARE"): http://pcwin.com/result/freeware_file_recovery/index1.htm
http://pcwin.com/Utilities/FreeUndelete/index.htm
Sounds like baloogaware... http://pcwin.com/Utilities/Myplaycity_Data_Recovery/index.htm
This is shareware, but scroll down to "Related Software" - http://pcwin.com/Utilities/File___Disk_Management/NT_File_Recovery/index.htm

http://www.s2services.com/partitionmgrsfreeware.htm
http://www.download32.com/cute-partition-manager-i30238.html
http://www.download32.com/visual-subst-i34998.html

IMHO, you should head to a real tech/geek site and post a help request (along with as many system specifics and details of what you did as possible)

http://www.castlecops.com/
http://computing.net/forums/
http://www.d-a-l.com/index.php
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/index.php
http://techrepublic.com.com/5221-6230-0.html
http://forums.cnet.com/
http://www.geekforum.org/
http://forums.techguy.org/
http://www.opentechsupport.net/forums/
http://help.lockergnome.com/general/index.php
http://forum.mopo.ca/
http://www.daniweb.com/forums/

At the very least, it may be possible to recover files off your F drive a little at a time and migrate them to a new drive. I bot a large external plus an HD enclosure - #3 from here - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?Nav=|c:2779|;
My next purchase will be - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2204144&sku=W10-3110 (though most likely via a Best Buy or Office Depot during another deep discount holiday sale)
Good luck, copmom.

UPDATE: I forgot to add this since you say the system's not recognizing the drive -
http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all&q=%22hard+drive%22+isn%27t+recognized

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Hard-Drive-Problems-2113/
http://www.wimsbios.com/phpBB2/topic9714.html

I would of looked in the last place one would think it was hiding.

Under it's bed.

Just out of curiosity, can you post a full screenshot of the Disk Management Console window?

If you need a place to upload it you can use http://www.topsecretgovernment.info/

hi, copmom...
did you try going to the Device Manager...right click on your computer, or just the disk drive...then click on scan for hardware changes?...
it may show your drive as an unknown, or something similar (ex: unrecognized), so you can right click for properties & troubleshoot or enable?...