[lucky_indian]

Hi,

I have a internal HDD secondary in a external closure, a segate barracuda 7200 rpm 400GB hdd. It is completely fried at the moment. Before i return it to seagate i want to wipe all the data of it. It wont' show up in management, device manager or in BIOS. What software and procedure's do you guys recommend?


Thanks

[midders]

Have you tried removing the drive from its enclosure and connecting it directly to a desktop PC? If the drive itself is faulty, then you may not be able to wipe it using software. A very powerful magnetic field could be used to wipe the data in this case, but this might void your warranty.

Slainte

midders

[rainforest123]

L I:
Verify that the jumper, if the drive is IDE, is set properly. Sometimes, inside a computer, the manufacturer uses "CS" , cable select, but when the drive is connected externally, it has to be "master" or "single". Check the instructions of the HDD enclosure.

If SATA, never mind.

Are you connecting the Seagate via USB, 1394 / firewire, external SATA port or other?

Have you gone into the BIOS. There might be a setting you need to adjust.

Which brand, model, model # PC or of the motherboard?

RF123

[lucky_indian]

Hi,

I have tried connecting it to other PC still no luck. I have gone into bios for both the pc and the laptop but it can't be detected. I have an acer T300 for desktop PC and dell xps m1530


Cheers for the replies

[Squashman]

You are pretty much SOL.

[rainforest123]

I would be foolish to argue w/ Squashman.

Can you feel the drive spin up when power goes to the HDD? If so, there is some hope.

Do you feel or hear a clicking? If not, the chances of recovering data has diminished.

Do you have another drive of the same brand, model & model #? If so, you could swap controller cards [ printed circuit on the bottom of the HDD ].

If you can't access the HDD, chances of identity thieves accessing your data is also low. If your HDD contains information such as your Soc Sec #, passport #, banking / investment account information, tax information, other information you consider vital. You have few good choices.

I don't know and don't need to know your financial situation. Were this my HDD, which it is not, with personally identifying data, I would drill a hold from top to bottom, through the disks in 2 or more places, or use thermite to melt the HDD.

Lazarus, www.lazarus.com might be able to help you. I trust them with my personal data. This type of service is not inexpensive.

Best of success.

RF123

[lucky_indian]

Hey,

Thanks for the replies. I think the disks do spin but then it makes a beep and then it start spinning again. I think its pretty much done ay. I can try opening it but i m afraid that might void the warranty. I don't want seagate messing around with my data. I don't have any social sec, passport no etc in there. I haven't opened up a hdd before like i got screw driver i can open it up the sticker regarding the warranty is on that side so if the sticker rips then warranty will be void. But if i open it, dust might get collected on the magnetic plates and that might ensure the destruction of most of the data.

What do you guys think?

[midders]

Seagate won't give a cr*p about your data; the drive will most likely go straight in the bin, unless they first disassemble it to find out why it failed. If you're that paranoid about the data on the drive, then hit it with a big hammer and go and buy a new one. Otherwise, send it back and wait for the warranty replacement.

[lucky_indian]

LOL

Cheers on its way now.

Thanks heaps for all your help guys

[rainforest123]

L _ I:
Thanks for the update.

It will be interesting to me, to learn if Seagate honors your warranty.

I suspect that opening the HDD enclosure will voide your warrnaty. At present, I do not have a Seagate HDD. On my Hitachi & Western Digital HDDs, there is a label that informs me that opening the case will void the warranty.

In addition to a big hammer, drilling a hole, top through bottom, in the disk area will make the data unrecoverable to all except agencies such as [ but not limited to, in the United States ] the NSA. Also, thermite http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite will destroy your HDD, if you use enough thermite. I don't know if a license is needed to purchase thermite.

Please reply to this thead, to let us know the outcome.

Best of success.

RF123

[rainforest123]

L I:
And ?

RF123