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Question

Trying to get data off of an old hard drive

Jul 18, 2016 3:47PM PDT

I have a new computer. It is:

Intel Core i3-2120. 3.30 GHz (it's a 2x2 core, not 4 separate chips).
8 GB. 64 bit Windows 7 professional with SP-1.
The installed HD has 232GB, and is listed as
ST325031 8AS SCSI Disk Device.
This has a SATA connector to it and that's how it is connected to the motherboard and how it gets its power.

I have several old hard drives that I would like to get data off of. The first one is from a computer I bought several years ago. It has both the SATA and IDE connectors on it. In the old computer, it had used the IDE connector. I looked, and I do not see an IDE connector on the i3 computer's motherboard.

I pulled the power and SATA connector off of the CDRW drive in the new computer and put them onto the old drive.

Here is some info off the cover of the old drive.

Western Digital
WD800JD
WD Caviar SE
80 GB

There is a picture of the 8 pins, but there is no picture showing how to configure it as a slave drive.

The first time I turned the i3 on with the old HD connected, I had no jumper on it. The computer did not see the old drive.

The second time I turned the i3 on, I put the jumper between pins 7 and 8, the left most pins as I am looking at it. The i3 computer did not see the drive this time either.

I'm not sure what else to try. I do not have any old working computers to turn on (I recently moved and left them all behind).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

- S

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Since SATA drives are all masters
Jul 18, 2016 4:03PM PDT

What lead you to ask how to make it a slave?

Return the jumpers to their stock position then:

1. Does the drive show up in the BIOS screen?
2. Does it show in Device Manager?
3. Does it show in Disk Management?

RULE 1. DO NOT WRITE OR FIX A DRIVE YOU WANT TO RECOVER DATA FROM.

Nod to RECUVA if you see the drive in questions 1, to 3.

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My Three Answers
Jul 18, 2016 10:55PM PDT

1. No
2. No
3. No

I'm a teacher on summer vacation right now. When I get back to work, I can borrow one of those SATA/IDE adapters from our (big) IT department.

What do I do next to try to get this spare SATA drive working? It's been about four years and two moves since it was last turned on. How can I tell if it's dead? I'm handy with a multimeter, if that helps.

Thanks,

S

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If it's dead
Jul 18, 2016 11:23PM PDT

Hold the hdd in your hand and power up the machine.
You should be able to feel if the hdd spins.

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If it's not showing in this PC
Jul 19, 2016 7:47AM PDT

I'd try the spin test noted by Bob_B then try it in some enclosure or other PCs.

Dead drives are other that. Dead and not coming back.

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Answer
Old hdd
Jul 18, 2016 9:51PM PDT