I have 40 GB Seagate HDD which is quite new. All of sudden it
is not detecting at boot-up. It was working perfectly til last
midnite and got HDD fail message in morning. I do not keep PC
on all times as Power failure is big problem in India. I think
that it is something with Flash EEProm in HDD which has failed.

could be just about anything especially if you have a lot of pwr failuors?
Have you removed any programs lately if so it could be one of your system files is corrupt or deleted. Boot from a
system disk and sys C: This will reinstall your system files. If you don't have a boot disk take a blank disk to a friends with the same operating system on it and make one.
you create one by going to the C:\ and typing format a: /s This
will format the disk and transfer the system files. If the diskette is
already formatted type sys a:

Is it showing up in bios?
Have you tried this HDD in another system?

don't know if this is the prob.??

Hello psdayama.

1. Are [all] your drives set to “auto” [“Dynamic Auto-Detection”] in the BIOS Setup’s hardware configuration settings?
2. Do you see the results of the auto-detection being displayed on screen immediately after the memory check during startup?
3. Does it display a warning message when it tries to boot from the HDD and if so what does it say?

4. You may have a boot sector virus.
If you do then you need to have anti-virus software installed on your PC.
You should have made a “Rescue Disk” which should have made a backup copy of your Partition/Boot Sectors.
You should boot to this disk and use the programme on it to restore the above backup.
You should also scan all your files for viruses.
If this was the problem your HDD should now boot successfully.

5. If possible, get a system of backup and use it. You’ll need it one day and when you do you’ll be grateful you got it.
6. I presume you’ve checked it’s not just a loose cable.

Dear Sylvander
I have already checked that on 2-3 systems but nowhere the
the HDD gets detected in Auto or manual mode ie setting the sectors,
head and bytes manualy. Now How can I check it with rescue disk
when it is not possible to get it operational by BIOS?
I didn't had made rescue disk with Norton AV as it was operating in
stand alone system and all floppies were checked for virus.
regards,

Dear YODA74,
well situation is not so simple as I am supposed to know
all the things suggested by U. I am quite capable of writing
boot sector with 55 & AA s to make it bootable. This is the
ultimate situation in which HDD is not getting detected by
BIOS. U need not act but really can get surprised.
I am looking for reply from someone who has faced such situation
and overcome it.
Thanx for sugextion anyway,

Did You HDD come with a diagnostics disk?? If so put it in the drive and run the tests available.

Good Luck,

Olie

Hello psdayama

START UP TEST
1. Is the PC dead? No.
2. Did POST appear to run? Yes.
3. Is the monitor display correct? Yes.
4. Is there an error code? No.
5. You have a BOOT UP problem.

BOOT UP TEST
1. Does the system boot fron the HDD? No.
2. You have a HARD DISK DRIVE problem.

HARD DISK DRIVE TEST
1. System does not boot from HDD.
2. Does the system boot from a floppy? I'll assume it does.
3. Run advanced diagnostics programme from a floppy disk to check the HDD.
Get "TuffTest-Lite" for free from http://www.tufftest.com/free.htm
It only tests the beginning of the drive but that's enough for your purposes. Get a programme that does more extensive tests if necessary.
4. Does the testing software indicate the problem appears to be software or hardware related? I'll assume it's hardware.
5. Is the signal cable ok? Test and replace if faulty.
Replace the drive with a known good drive and re-test with diagnostics.
6. Does the new drive test ok? If it does the original drive was faulty.
If it does not then the system board or an adaptor is faulty.

The above approach is the one given by my diagnostic charts.
I'm pretty certain your HDD has a hardware problem since it cannot be detected by the BIOS, even on other PC's.
Unless you're using your own [faulty] signal cable or power cable in these other PC's, or your master/slave jumper has fallen off.

Read this http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/comp/hdd/fail_BootDetect.htm

Ok, the drives not being detected. Sometimes the power cable socket in the HDD gets broken so HDD won't work. SO check if the tiny LED on the circuit board on the HDD lights up or not after startting the PC. If the LED doesn't light up, and if there is no sound or noise from the HDD, push the power cable to the socket very hard, move it sideways. Doing so if the LED gets active and HDD begins to give sound(motor spining inside), then the problem is as I mentioned. Check the soldered joints and resolder them if needed. Be sure to remove the controller circuit board from the HDD firsta by unscrewing and removing the cable that goes inside the Disk Drive from the controller circuit board.

If the LED is lighting ok and the HDD is giving sound, it maybe that motor failure has occured. Just listen to the sound very carefully and compare it with the sound given by other working HDD's. If the sound is not proper or if it sounds like it is constantly trying to gain the proper motor speed, motor failure has occured. Theres noway that u can fix it. Just bid the HDD good-bye and ur precious data too. I have fixed motor failures with 80% success but what a pity, u can't send it to me. I can't teach u how to do it as well. A lot of precaution, concentration, special skills, dust free environment, vacuum, tools are needed.

Dear aussieolie2,
my drive or any drive doesn't come with sort
of disk mentioned by U.Now a days Drive makers are
penny wise so they don't even give the little pamphlet
as some time ago.Although they give now 3yrs warantee
U have to send the drive to Mfrs' service centre and
not the dealer from whom U purchase.
Who says there are no advantages of drive getting cheaper?
---------------------
Dear Sylvander
U are right to conclude that there is hardware problem in drive
which I also had stated at the start.There is no faulty cable or
shorting jumper problem.There is a motor noise but no other
noise like when heads come from resting place to on the
platter.I have checked that drive on 4-5 systems and everywhere
it is not detected and existing drive gets detected.Im sure that
there is problem with the PCB which is mounted on the drive.
Does anybody know know where to get it as manufacturers don't
respond.
------------
Dear CuratoR
thanx for the advice. The motor runs noiselesly but there
is no little LED on drives of 10GB onwards. Also no solenoid
noise is heard at any times.I think that the media,motor and
solenoids are OK but signals to them are not reaching due failure
of Eprom due to some surge or spike.(or EEPROM/FLASH memory
which is erased by virus ) As such no drive info is presented
at the time of interrogation during POST by BIOS which reports
of failed drive.
As such I am not presently interested in learning in
motor repair/s. May be I will ask U sometime and would get
all things to do that.