Question : Problem: Hard Drive fell 3ft

Removable HD fell on the floor. The computer was shut down at that moment. When I put the HD back, it spins, but BIOS does not recognise it. "Secondary slave not found, hit DEL to access BIOS" or "secondary slave failed" - I cannot recall exactly - it tells me this after about a minute [if I set BIOS to "manual"].

I really need to recover the data, but don't have enough money for a data recovery service. Is there any thing to try in my despair?

The HD is Quantum Fireball, removable, as secondary, slave. Win 98. I have checked the circuitry, nothing seems to be damaged. Cables are attached. When I set BIOS to "automatic", I get a message "slave not found", windows load, but if I click on "My computer", I get a blue screen.

I think it is a mechanical damage... can I open it and just slightly poke the arm that holds the reading heads? Shake it? Tap on the HD?

Thanks a lot for any advice... Petr

Answer : Problem: Hard Drive fell 3ft

Is your Hard Drive Dead?

Can it be seen in BIOS? (If it can it might still be beyond repair)

See if the BIOS has the S.M.A.R.T hard drive function, if its on trn it off, if its off turn it on.

Is there any other device on the same IDE controller/ (look on the ribbon cable that connect it to the motherboard) If There is disconnect any other devices to see if it works.

Try connecting it to another IDE controller; most motherboards have two IDE controllers swap the end of the ribbon cable to the other IDE socket on the motherboard.

Try the Hard Drive in another PC

Still no joy?

If this fails you may want to completely flatten the drive and remove all info, if so use one of these


Wipe Out http://www.lurkhere.com/~nicefiles/
KILLDISK http://www.killdisk.com/

Still no joy?

Make a decision, you can..

1. Loose all the information on the drive and try to repartition/format or low level format it (This will require software from the HDD manufacturer)


Still no joy?

Accept that (unfortunately) mechanical things break, I sympathise I’ve been there myself.