Computer turns off, two harddisks dead?

[carceri]

Last night my computer suddenly turned off all by itself. I tried to start it again, but nothing happened. I disconnected everything except the ATX power connector and the system turned on, although I didn't even get into BIOS. I found out by trial and error that if I didn't connect the 8 pin power connector to the motherboard, the system would turn on, but not even get into BIOS. I changed the power supply and now the system would turn on and let me into the BIOS. So far so good... apparently the PSU had died (Seasonic S-12 500W)

I still couldn't boot the OS, but then I noticed that my harddisks didn't spin up (two WD5000KS in a RAID-0 array). I disconnected the harddrives, put them on my desk attached to a new PSU and turned the PSU on with my ear to the harddisks. Not a sound, they are not even trying to spin up. I took a spare harddisk and tried, just to check the SATA power connector on the new PSU, and it started up fine, so apparently the PSU is good.

Now I can't find any other explaination, than that the PSU died and took everything on the SATA power connectors with it. However, I have the feeling that I'm missing something. I mean... It's a Seasonic PSU and it killed two harddisks at the same time (and left all other components working), despite the problem being with the 8 pin connector to the motherboard. It just doesn't sound right to me.

I tried removing the print from one of the harddisks and checking it, but it doesn't look like anything is burned on it. At least nothing obvious by looking at it.

Any ideas, suggestions, ...?

[f1y]

you try and boot them up with the other power connector? The non sata power..

[carceri]

I tried that, same result (i.e. no result at all)

[carceri]

Okay, I found the problem... the disks are definitely fried. One of them does not show any sign of damage, but I just tried removing the PCB on the second drive, and I immediately recognized the smell. A chip on the PCB (SMOOTH L6284) was black on one side, and had scorched the PCB as well.

I assume that the second drive suffered the same fate, even though it was not violent enough to cause any visible damage - but they were connected to the same SATA power cable.

Since I need to get replacement drives anyway, would it be possible to just swap the circuit board from a new disk to the old one if I get the same model? I assume that all my data are still intact on the disks... I just need to find a way to get to it.

[Nenu]

If you must not lose your data then you have little choice but to try the electronics from another drive.

I have 2 scenarios for you at the moment:
1) the PSU died and overvolted the hard drives (and the rest of the PC), causing too much power to be dissipated in the drives, burning the circuits..

2) the hard drives became too hot causing thermal runaway and excess current flow in their circuits. This could have overloaded the PSU which damaged it as well.

Option 1) is most likely unless you know the hard drives could have been very hot, in which case option 2) is just as likely.


When things die, all manner of weird behaviour can result so its not surprising that the PSU acts oddly now.
The fact that anything survived is a bonus.

There is a danger that the hard drives have suffered more damage than just the external electronics.
You wont know until you try them though.

I wouldnt plug the old PSU into anything now!

[carceri]

The old PSU is in a box, and it's not coming near any of my hardware again. The disks reported temperatures of around 45 degrees C, which to me doesn't sound very hot.

[drizzt81]

The old PSU is in a box, and it's not coming near any of my hardware again. The disks reported temperatures of around 45 degrees C, which to me doesn't sound very hot.

I have disks running at 45C, that should not be a problem. With concurrent multi-disk failures, I would think that the PSU is the pulprit.

[NeGrusti]

SMOOTHs burn all the time due to crap power supplies. Damage is not always visible.
Prognosis for the rest of the drive is good, unless heads crashed badly when the blowout occurred. But that happens not often.
About a PCB swap -
You might not get exactly the same disks as yours. Even if the model string match, that's not enough. How long ago did you buy them? If about a month or two, chances are good the replacement drives will be same, but there is no 100% guarantee.

[f1y]

rma time

[Warl0rd]

I have 2 scenarios for you at the moment:
1) the PSU died and overvolted the hard drives (and the rest of the PC), causing too much power to be dissipated in the drives, burning the circuits..

2) the hard drives became too hot causing thermal runaway and excess current flow in their circuits. This could have overloaded the PSU which damaged it as well.IMO 2) would be a bit weird aswell, what are the chances that BOTH disks overheat at the exact same time? i know they are the same model, and probably working at the same time since they were boight, but chips quality isn't 100% exact, same way 1 CPU/VGA/RAM might overclock more then others. Its also strange that the PSU didn't shutdown/burn fuse before damaging the HDDs, i've seen many PSUs shutting down due to short circuits in the mobo and everything survived.

[Nenu]

IMO 2) would be a bit weird aswell, what are the chances that BOTH disks overheat at the exact same time? i know they are the same model, and probably working at the same time since they were boight, but chips quality isn't 100% exact, same way 1 CPU/VGA/RAM might overclock more then others. Its also strange that the PSU didn't shutdown/burn fuse before damaging the HDDs, i've seen many PSUs shutting down due to short circuits in the mobo and everything survived.

If there is little airflow around the hard drives, the environment is very warm or if they are fitted tightly together, they could both overheat.

A PSU will shut down if its rated current and a bit extra is exceeded (for a new PSU, older PSU's may not be able to supply as much).
If the current needed to fry the hard drives was under the max the PSU can supply it may not have shut down before destroying the drives.

[carceri]

How long ago did you buy them? If about a month or two, chances are good the replacement drives will be same, but there is no 100% guarantee.

I bought them about 5 months ago, so I'm probably out of luck. I think a friend of mine has some similar drives laying around bought about the same time as mine, so that might be worth a try.