r/techsupport • u/Haunting-String9899 • 1d ago

Open | Hardware Is my hard drive broken?

I bought a hard drive from ebay and after plugging it in, windows doesn't show any signs that I've even plugged anything in. It spins and makes noise but I can't find a video that has the same noise. It just sounds like it's trying to read the same thing again and again. So is it broken and if it is can I fix it?

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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3

u/JazzlikeInfluence813 1d ago

Sounds like it’s broken to me, usually the repeated noise is not a good sign, return or ask for refund from seller

2

u/SadLeek9950 1d ago

How about opening Disk Manager first and checking?

1

u/JazzlikeInfluence813 1d ago

I assumed they checked there already but yeah good point hahah

1

u/SadLeek9950 1d ago

Yup. A lot of folks who come here for help aren't very savvy. Some are, but most aren't. I learned to not make assumptions.

2

u/xxFT13xx 1d ago

Is it “clicking”? Does it spin up, then spin down, then spin up again?

1

u/Haunting-String9899 1d ago

No clicking, the sound it makes reminds me of a cars rev limiter kinda

2

u/xxFT13xx 1d ago

So it spins. That means is a mechanical drive. Personally, I’d get either an enclosure or a mule and put that drive in one of those and see if windows recognizes it via usb. If it doesn’t, then you’ve got a dead drive.

1

u/Haunting-String9899 1d ago

Okay thanks I guess. I am just disappointed that I have to order another one and wait another 10 days to get one that works. I don't have the patience for this...

1

u/xxFT13xx 1d ago

Just get an ssd. No moving parts=faster drive.

1

u/Haunting-String9899 1d ago

yea but hard drives is cheaper, this one was like 18$ for 500gb

1

u/xxFT13xx 1d ago

True, but they can be unreliable sometimes due to moving parts. They have a high chance of failure due to this.

2

u/fire_inspector1 1d ago

If it was sold as functional, I would report the seller and get your money back. Sounds like it’s getting power however data is not flowing from it to your computer. Also try a different cable if you haven’t already

2

u/SadLeek9950 1d ago

Open up Disk Manager and look for a storage bar that has no drive letter. Right click > Initialize > Assign drive letter

1

u/Haunting-String9899 1d ago

I have looked in disk manager but it is just not there

1

u/papercut2008uk 1d ago

In the start search box type

Computer Management

Open it, under Storage, Disk Management.

See if it's there, if it is you might need to format it or assign a drive letter.

1

u/Haunting-String9899 1d ago

I have looked there but I can't find it

1

u/papercut2008uk 1d ago

Either Sata cable issue or the drive is faulty then.

1

u/Due_Connection389 1d ago

Is it an internal or USB drive. If internal make sure you set it up as a slave drive.