Question : Problem: Multiple Problems - external drive noise, PC system applications won't function, etc

Not sure where to begin here, I'll just report some events and wait for what info is required next by EE:

First, I noticed a quiet repeating noise pattern from one of my external hard drives. I shut it off, and then performing a START > SEARCH would hang (not responding). Same for opening My Computer.

I restarted and in an attempt to get to the Event Viewer, any systems applications would not work, although my internet browser would.

I restarted several times, each time taking about 4 times longer to come up than is typical. Finally, I disconnected the suspect drive and restarted again.

This time, speed of reboot much more normal, and both search function and my computer worked. In looking at Event Viewer,  there were several "Event 7000" and one "event 52225" error messages.

After double clicking them, going to Microsoft's site and trying to get more info, I could not understand at all what had been going on.

Bottom line, if my external drive died, does it sound like it might or would cause the problems I've experienced?

Is there a way to determine this through Event Viewer?

When rebooting while the suspect drive was ON, I wanted to get to where I could see some drive diagnostics, but everything was unavailable, so that's out.

The suspect drive is a 250GB Western Digital that is probably between 2 - 3 years old.

How can I determine what is wrong?

Thanks.

Answer : Problem: Multiple Problems - external drive noise, PC system applications won't function, etc

The Drive would not necessarily fail to show as a USB mass storage device if the controller had failed, I wouldnt just call it a lost cause just because nothing worked and toss it to the side. I would pull it out of the enclosture and test it.

although noise coming out of the drive is almost a Sure thing that the drive failed, a bad controller could also instruct the drive to continue to do something such as swing the arm in and out trying to Initialize... ive seen wierder things.

I would suggest following my steps first before you bang your head into a wall trying to recover data.