Home > Articles > Networking > Storage

Troubleshooting Storage Devices

Your "personal confuser’s" hard disk is one of the most important parts of your PC. If the hard disk built into your system stops working, you can’t load your operating system, you can’t surf the Web, you can’t play a game...well, you get the idea. This no nonsense chapter will help you to troubleshoot problems with your storage media, from hard drives to DVD-Rs.
This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Fast Track to Solutions (Symptom table)

Symptom

Flowchart or Book Section

See Page

I can’t prepare the hard disk for use with any version of Windows.

Can’t Prepare ATA/IDE Hard Drive After Installation

680

I can’t copy files to an ATA/IDE hard drive.

Can’t Change Contents of ATA/IDE Hard Drive

682

I can’t partition an ATA/IDE drive.

Can’t Change Contents of ATA/IDE Hard Drive

682

I can’t delete or change files on an ATA/IDE drive.

Can’t Change Contents of ATA/IDE Hard Drive

680

I can’t format a floppy disk.

Can’t Change Contents of Floppy Disk

695

I can’t erase files from a floppy disk.

Can’t Change Contents of Floppy Disk

695

I can’t read a disk in the floppy drive.

Floppy Drive Problems

694

I can’t save files to a floppy disk.

Can’t Change Contents of Floppy Disk

695

I can’t boot from the ATA/IDE hard disk.

Hard Drive Doesn’t Boot

681

I can’t access a newly installed ATA/IDE hard drive.

ATA/IDE Disk Drive Installation Troubleshooting

679

I can’t use any drive connected to the ATA/IDE interface in my computer.

ATA/IDE Disk Drive and Device Troubleshooting

679

I can’t read optical media.

General Optical Drive Problems

683

I can’t erase, format, or save files to a removable-media disk (LS-120/240 SuperDisk, Zip Disk, Jaz, Orb, or others).

Removable Media Drive Problems

693

I’m having problems writing to CD-R or CD-RW media.

Troubleshooting CD-R and CD-RW Drives and Media

686

I can’t read recordable (CD-R) media in the target drive.

Can’t Read Recordable (CD-R) Media

690

I’m getting a buffer-underrun error when I try to create a recordable CD (CD-R).

Buffer Underrun Problems

685

I can’t copy (drag and drop) files to a CD-R or CD-RW disc.

Can’t Copy or Drag and Drop Files to CD-R or CD-RW Media

689

I can’t read CD-RW media in the target computer.

Rewriteable (CD-RW) Media Problems

688

I can’t delete files from a CD-RW disc.

Can’t Delete Files from a CD-RW Disc

691

I can’t read a particular recordable or rewriteable DVD disc with my DVD drive.

DVD Media Compatibility

684

I installed Y-splitters to power additional drives, and now I’m having problems.

Checking the Hard Disk Connection to the Power Supply

172

I just installed a new ATA/IDE drive, and the screen is blank when I turn on the computer.

Checking the Drive and Host Adapter Connection to the Data Cable

174

I’ve lost the documentation for my drive and need information about jumpers and other settings.

Sidebar: Got Questions? Ask the Drive Vendor.

178

I think my hard disk has failed.

Determining Actual Drive Failure Has Occurred

193

My IEEE-1394a or USB drive is detected when I plug it into the rear of the computer, but not when I plug it into a port on the front of the computer.

Sidebar: Connecting Front-Mounted Header Cables Is Trial by Error

429

My PC Card slots work, but a new PC Card drive I just plugged in isn’t recognized.

Troubleshooting a PC Card/CardBus Drive

192

Windows XP recognizes my new hard disk, but Windows 98 can’t read it.

Sidebar: Choosing the Right File System in Windows XP/2000

196

I keep running Disk Management but it can’t partition the disk.

Troubleshooting Disk Partitioning Problems

205

My new CD-mastering program doesn’t recognize my writeable drive.

Troubleshooting CD-Mastering Drive Support Problems

223

I’m not sure which connectors to use for master and slave ATA/IDE drives.

Table 3.2

179

I’m not sure how to jumper my ATA/IDE drives.

Table 3.2

179

I keep having buffer underruns with my rewritable CD or DVD drive.

Troubleshooting Buffer Underruns

234

I want to reuse CD-RW media written with Windows XP’s CD Writing Wizard.

Erasing CD-RW Media Created with Windows XP’s CD-Writing Wizard

231

I want to upgrade the hard disk in my portable computer to a larger, faster drive.

Upgrading a Portable Hard Disk

210

How can I help an existing DVD drive to read DL media?

Troubleshooting Incorrect Media and Media Usage Problems

219


Your "personal confuser’s" hard disk is one of the most important parts of your PC. If the hard disk built into your system stops working, you can’t load your operating system, you can’t surf the Web, you can’t play a game...well, you get the idea.

You might be using an external hard disk for additional storage or backup. If it stops working, whatever you stored on it isn’t accessible. If that happens to be your collection of MP3 or WMA CD rips, it’s going to be very quiet at your home or office until you get that hard disk back on line again and working.

Your CPU might be the fastest on your block and your memory might be smokin’ fast, but if your hard disk decides not to wake up in the morning, your computer’s nothing but a great big paperweight. Frankly, when I need a paperweight, a nicely polished rock works a lot better—and it’s easier to lift besides!

Let’s be honest—hard disk failures don’t happen nearly as often as they did when the IBM PC was a newbie, but they still happen. It’s not much consolation to find out that you’re the only one in your circle of PC users with a sick hard disk. In this chapter, we’ll help you find the reasons for hard disk problems, find the solutions, and show you how to get advance notice of problems before a sick hard disk dies and takes your data away.

If you’re reading this book after your old hard disk has been packed off to the manufacturer for replacement, we can still help. You’ve got to get the new one installed, so let us help you with that process, too.

Troubleshooting Installed Hard Disk Drives

When you turn on your computer, you expect the system to start, load the operating system from the hard disk, and display the usual desktop or sign-on screen. If the screen comes on but the system never displays any activity from the hard disk, your system (boot) hard disk isn’t working. If the hard disk that starts your computer isn’t working correctly, you’ll see an error message referring to a missing "boot device." Although the computer industry likes to use the term booting to refer to starting a computer, you’re much more likely to want to "boot" your misbehaving PC in the general direction of the trash can!

If the ailing hard disk is an additional drive, such as an external hard disk, it won’t show up in My Computer or Windows Explorer and you’ll see a "Missing Shortcut" error when you try to access files or programs stored on it.

Instead of getting mad, or getting even, it’s time to get smart. What happened? Before you get gloomy and decide that today’s the day that your hard disk has really failed, cheer up! There are plenty of other reasons why your computer and your hard disk might not be talking to each other.

A few problems are the leading causes of apparent hard disk failure; they’re so common that we like to call them the "usual suspects":

  • Nonbootable floppy disk in drive A:

  • Loose or missing power or data cables

  • Incorrect hardware configuration

  • Incorrect BIOS configuration

Whenever we have hard disks that don’t want to work, it’s useful to look at this list and note that there are many reasons other than actual hard disk failure for your hard disk to seem to "disappear" at startup time or not work properly.

To start your research, check out Table 3.1, where we present, in lineup form, the "usual suspects" that cause hard disks to disappear (as far as your PC is concerned) or not work correctly.

Table 3.1 The Usual Suspects in Apparent Hard Disk Failures

Type of Drive

Why Hard Disk Doesn’t Work

Solution

IDE/ATA, Serial ATA

Unbootable floppy disk in drive A:.

Remove the floppy disk and reboot.

 

System power supply might not be connected to drive.

Shut down the system, attach the power connectors to the drive, and restart.

 

Data cable is not connected at all or not connected properly.

Shut down the system and then reconnect the cable to the drive and ATA/IDE or SATA interface.

IEEE-1394 (FireWire, i.Link)

Port disabled.

Verify that the port is working by using Device Manager.

 

Drive not powered on.

Check the power going to the drive.

 

Port can’t provide power to drive.

Check that you are using a 6-wire 1394a port. Only 6-wire 1394a ports can power a 1394 drive; 4-wire ports do not provide power.

USB

Port disabled.

Verify that the port is working by using Device Manager.

 

Drive not powered on.

Check the power going to the drive.


Table 3.1 gives you an overview of the "usual suspects" and their solutions. If you’re an ace hardware detective, Table 3.1 and the cross-references that follow may be all you need to apprehend the culprit.

But if you're a novice at tracking down a troublesome component, keep reading.

For more information about the ATA/IDE interface, see "The ATA/IDE Interface," Chapter 1.

For more information about the Serial ATA (SATA) interface, see "The Serial ATA (SATA) Interface," Chapter 1.

For more information about USB, see "USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 Ports," Chapter 7, and "Troubleshooting USB Ports and Hubs," Chapter 7.

For more information about IEEE-1394 (Fire/Wire, i.Link), see "IEEE-1394a (FireWire 400) Ports," Chapter 7, and "Troubleshooting IEEE-1394 Ports and Hubs," Chapter 7.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020