How to test a misbehaving computer hard disk drive?

[Nomad]

Hi. Do we have any PC experts around?
I have a spare hard disk drive HDD (capacity 1Tb, 3.5" Sata as used in desktop & tower PC's, not sure where I got it but suspect it's from a PVR recorder that died).
Normally when I connect a new HDD to my computer it shows up in disk manager, from there I can format & partition it etc..
This one spins up (I can feel the vibrations - sometimes it seems to "cycle" the speed up & down as if it's hunting) but doesn't show up any screen - hardware manager / disk manager / file explorer...

So far I've tried it wired direct via a Sata cable on a tower pc, also in 2 different disk caddys on 3 different PCs: an XP tower / Win7 laptop / Ubunto laptop. No joy on any

Am I missing anything obvious or it is dead?
The size would be handy as a backup drive, I know I could just go any buy a new drive but where's the fun in that

 

[Seadog]

If it's cycling it's likely to be dead. It should spin up and then wait for commands. It's not coming ready (up to speed), so explorer can't see it.

 

[Mark 5]

The size would be handy as a backup drive, I know I could just go any buy a new drive but where's the fun in that

Indeed.

The only thing which comes to mind as you have tried everything else is making sure HD is either Fat32 or NTFS and not Raw and at an absolute stretch it's not a knackered SATA cable connection.

Other then those it looks like you might be buying a new HD.

EDIT, no jumpers on the back of HD that need removing.

 

[graffian]

Does it show up in the bios?

 

[gaz1]

if its not seen in bios and not seen in disk manager then its a dead or dud hard drive

just a note here cctv are heavy users of hard drives so they are prone to fail more

i got a returned item it claimed to have been tested or so called tested from ccl so should have been fine to use also with reduced price attached

it was faulty didnt show up on bios and didnt show up in any test performed on it

i also had a loverly convo with them and made it clear whoever performed the test didnt test the item and had stuck a tested sticker on it when it shouldnt have been sold

ive bought returrned items before and theyve been ok to use

 

[gaz1]

i have this as a transfere drive and its as fast as a samsung

512GB Lexar NS100 2.5" SATA III SSD - LNS100-512RB

Cheap SSD with a capacity of 512GB With Super Fast performance due to it's SATA III interface and super Rapid 550Mbps read speed ., Mfg Code: LNS100-512RB

www.cclonline.com

but at 1tb there is this

960GB Lexar NQ100 2.5" SATA III SSD - LNQ100X960G-RNNNG

Low cost SSD with a capacity of 960GB With Super Rapid performance due to it's SATA III interface and super Fluid 550Mbps read speed ., Mfg Code: LNQ100X960G-RNNNG

www.cclonline.com

but i have backup hard drives of this

2tb and 4tb

4TB Seagate BarraCuda 3.5" SATA III HDD - ST4000DM004

Enormous 4TB HDD Drive Capacity, Mfg Code: ST4000DM004

www.cclonline.com

now i will be honest here i hate the 5200rpm hard drives that 4tb is 5200rpm there slow to transfer too i prefer the 7200rpm but there getting scarce

its got to the stage im looking at a das storage system instead there is nas but i dont want network storage

a das system is much better with full capacity of space and a raid system

note here im looking at a das nvme system

you can get that via raspberry pi 5 with nvme cards if your curious or an alternative system

 

[Mark 5]

i have this as a transfere drive and its as fast as a samsung

512GB Lexar NS100 2.5" SATA III SSD - LNS100-512RB

Cheap SSD with a capacity of 512GB With Super Fast performance due to it's SATA III interface and super Rapid 550Mbps read speed ., Mfg Code: LNS100-512RB

www.cclonline.com

How do you rate the Lexar brand, have you found it reliable?

I'm a Samsung/Sandisk fan although I have a couple WD SSDs and a Crucial.

I avoid Kingston, for me at least, nothing but a pain.

 

[gaz1]

i posted this when i installed it on pc and its still going strong as i bought 3 of them

Calling any/all PC builders..

I'd be looking at samething like this + a SSD + a pair of 30" HD tellies. Spend the other 300 if you need to - extra ram, or another HD (or rum. I like rum) No link

www.mig-welding.co.uk

there good ive also posted lexar vs samsung evo stats



to say im writing data often and clear then redo the same it should give you an answer as im a heavy user

 

[Mark 5]

i posted this when i installed it on pc and its still going strong as i bought 3 of them

Calling any/all PC builders..

I'd be looking at samething like this + a SSD + a pair of 30" HD tellies. Spend the other 300 if you need to - extra ram, or another HD (or rum. I like rum) No link

www.mig-welding.co.uk

there good ive also posted lexar vs samsung evo stats

View attachment 469939

to say im writing data often and clear then redo the same it should give you an answer as im a heavy user

Thanks, so performance wise pretty close.

I need to buy a couple of 2TB SSDs so looking at options.

 

[fizzy]

Crystal disk info is invaluable!

https://sourceforge.net/projects/crystaldiskinfo/files/9.4.4/CrystalDiskInfo9_4_4.exe/download

 

[gaz1]

Thanks, so performance wise pretty close.

I need to buy a couple of 2TB SSDs so looking at options.

it depends on what your after storage or main use

storage id drop back down and go for a standared spin drive as cost is 90.00 for 4tb

compared to 100.00 for 2tb ssd

its the transfer speed that does my tree in on standared spin drives the 7200rpm drives was better

for main use and if i had the slots its nvme at 100.00

2TB Western Digital Green SN350 M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD - WDS200T3G0C

Popularly priced SSD with a capacity of 2TB With Super Fluid performance due to it's PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe interface and super Fast 3200Mbps read speed ., Mfg Code: WDS200T3G0C

www.cclonline.com

the lexar nq drops the speed again on the third bar so check its stats

 

[sako243]

Thanks, so performance wise pretty close.

I need to buy a couple of 2TB SSDs so looking at options.

Spinning disks can still sustain massive read and write speeds if they're sequential. Where SSDs win hands down is lots of random reads and writes across the whole disk.

If its backup / storage of big files etc., then spinning disks are still very much a contender. If you're reading / writing lots of small files then SSDs are the go to. E.g. My small office server runs virtual machines and boots off SSDs but the main bulk storage is on 5400rpm seagate drives but they are striped in a raid array. To build similar storage out of SSDs was going to quadruple the cost for marginal performance gain.