Primary Master Hard Drive fail

kreation · August 1st, 2003

I turned my PC on this morning and the message "Primary Master Hard Drive Fail" appeared whilst booting up.

I have gone into the BIOS and although the drive is displayed it is reporting the wrong size.

I have tried to put in in another PC to slave it hoping I could retrieve some data from it but it won't show up at all.

The Drive spins ok and the arm also moves ok.

Same old story I have stuff on the drive that I really need, is there anyway I can get any data from this drive, or is it dead.

Does the fact that it spins ok mean anything.

Any help is appreciated as I am now stuck with no PC.

The Drive is a Fujitsu.

August 1st, 2003

I know it's not what you want hear, but it sounds like the electronics on the drive are the culprit. We deal with quite a lot of hard drive problems where I work, and it sure sounds like yours went south.
Modern bios', even if they lose power, will not normally misreport a hard disks size, and I don't think a bad cable would, either. It is possible to get data off the hard drive, but it would require getting the pcb from the same model drive and hope that was the only problem(sounds like the drive is okay mechanically from what you described).
Keep in mind, this little trick doesn't always work, but we have had success with it in the past. The only other way is to pay someone an arm and a leg to get the data off.
Hope this helped!

August 1st, 2003

I agree it sounds like an electronics problem. Just by chance when you put it in the other computer did you also reset the jumper for the slave setting?

August 1st, 2003

Also, check and make sure the BIOS has the slave IDE port set to AUTO.

kreation · August 1st, 2003

Originally posted by ThePman
I know it's not what you want hear, but it sounds like the electronics on the drive are the culprit. We deal with quite a lot of hard drive problems where I work, and it sure sounds like yours went south.
Modern bios', even if they lose power, will not normally misreport a hard disks size, and I don't think a bad cable would, either. It is possible to get data off the hard drive, but it would require getting the pcb from the same model drive and hope that was the only problem(sounds like the drive is okay mechanically from what you described).
Keep in mind, this little trick doesn't always work, but we have had success with it in the past. The only other way is to pay someone an arm and a leg to get the data off.
Hope this helped!

I do have an identical drive to this one, how would i swap the bits over?

kreation · August 1st, 2003

I changed the Drive to slave when I tried it on the other machine.

BIOS has slave checked for auto.

Thanks.

August 1st, 2003

There are normally some torx-type screws that hold the pcb onto the drive. Carefully unscrew them, and genly pry the pcb off the drive assembly, there is usually only a pin-and-socket type interface between them. KEEP IN MIND, if things go bad, and the mechanical part of the drive is causing the electronics to short, you will have two unusable drives.

Good luck!

kreation · August 1st, 2003

Many thanks, I 'll give it a try.

If all fails I will buy another Hard Drive, any makes to avoid?

Any in particular to go for? IBM/Hitachi, Maxtor, WD, Seagate?

August 1st, 2003

I can't say I recommend one brand over another. We buy and work with a large brand name PC at work, and it seems they put whatever drives are the deal of the week in them! :-) Mostly WD, Seagate and Maxtor. None seem to be problematic. See what Best Buy has on sale, I'd say!

Best of luck!

August 1st, 2003	Top \| #1
kreation OSNN Junior Addict Joined: February 2003 Posts: 30 Reputation: 0 Power: 110	Primary Master Hard Drive fail I turned my PC on this morning and the message "Primary Master Hard Drive Fail" appeared whilst booting up. I have gone into the BIOS and although the drive is displayed it is reporting the wrong size. I have tried to put in in another PC to slave it hoping I could retrieve some data from it but it won't show up at all. The Drive spins ok and the arm also moves ok. Same old story I have stuff on the drive that I really need, is there anyway I can get any data from this drive, or is it dead. Does the fact that it spins ok mean anything. Any help is appreciated as I am now stuck with no PC. The Drive is a Fujitsu.

August 1st, 2003	Top \| #5
kreation OSNN Junior Addict Joined: February 2003 Posts: 30 Reputation: 0 Power: 110	Originally posted by ThePman I know it's not what you want hear, but it sounds like the electronics on the drive are the culprit. We deal with quite a lot of hard drive problems where I work, and it sure sounds like yours went south. Modern bios', even if they lose power, will not normally misreport a hard disks size, and I don't think a bad cable would, either. It is possible to get data off the hard drive, but it would require getting the pcb from the same model drive and hope that was the only problem(sounds like the drive is okay mechanically from what you described). Keep in mind, this little trick doesn't always work, but we have had success with it in the past. The only other way is to pay someone an arm and a leg to get the data off. Hope this helped! I do have an identical drive to this one, how would i swap the bits over?

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August 1st, 2003	Top \| #2
ThePman Unregistered Posts: n/a	I know it's not what you want hear, but it sounds like the electronics on the drive are the culprit. We deal with quite a lot of hard drive problems where I work, and it sure sounds like yours went south. Modern bios', even if they lose power, will not normally misreport a hard disks size, and I don't think a bad cable would, either. It is possible to get data off the hard drive, but it would require getting the pcb from the same model drive and hope that was the only problem(sounds like the drive is okay mechanically from what you described). Keep in mind, this little trick doesn't always work, but we have had success with it in the past. The only other way is to pay someone an arm and a leg to get the data off. Hope this helped!

August 1st, 2003	Top \| #3
SmkyB Unregistered Posts: n/a	I agree it sounds like an electronics problem. Just by chance when you put it in the other computer did you also reset the jumper for the slave setting?

August 1st, 2003	Top \| #4
SmkyB Unregistered Posts: n/a	Also, check and make sure the BIOS has the slave IDE port set to AUTO.

August 1st, 2003	Top \| #6
kreation OSNN Junior Addict Joined: February 2003 Posts: 30 Reputation: 0 Power: 110	I changed the Drive to slave when I tried it on the other machine. BIOS has slave checked for auto. Thanks.

August 1st, 2003	Top \| #7
ThePman Unregistered Posts: n/a	There are normally some torx-type screws that hold the pcb onto the drive. Carefully unscrew them, and genly pry the pcb off the drive assembly, there is usually only a pin-and-socket type interface between them. KEEP IN MIND, if things go bad, and the mechanical part of the drive is causing the electronics to short, you will have two unusable drives. Good luck!

August 1st, 2003	Top \| #8
kreation OSNN Junior Addict Joined: February 2003 Posts: 30 Reputation: 0 Power: 110	Many thanks, I 'll give it a try. If all fails I will buy another Hard Drive, any makes to avoid? Any in particular to go for? IBM/Hitachi, Maxtor, WD, Seagate?

August 1st, 2003	Top \| #9
ThePman Unregistered Posts: n/a	I can't say I recommend one brand over another. We buy and work with a large brand name PC at work, and it seems they put whatever drives are the deal of the week in them! :-) Mostly WD, Seagate and Maxtor. None seem to be problematic. See what Best Buy has on sale, I'd say! Best of luck!