HTFC Forums

H.T.F.C.

How To Fix Computers





Go Back   HTFC Forums > Hardware Newsgroups > Storage

Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
  #1  
Old 03-19-2008, 01:17 AM
cl999@comcast.net
 
Posts: n/a
Default Fujitsu MHU2100 laptop drive failure

Coffee was spilled on the laptop keyboard. When I opened it up to
clean, I found coffee between the harddrive carrier and the drive PCB.
After everything was put back, the computer won't boot. The drive
wasn't recognized in BIOS. I put it in a USB external enclosure, and
Windows XP didn't recognize it either. The drive was working after the
spill prior to shutdown.

I thought the problem may be electrical as opposed to physical since
it was working great, didn't make any weird noises, and wasn't
dropped. So I got a replacement PCB off Ebay from the same model
drive. It arrived today and there is no improvement. The drive spins
up and does nothing. In the USB enclosure, the data transfer light
blinks a few times when plugged in, then the light goes off (it stays
on with a good drive). My question is does this kind of symptom sound
like physical damage and I should send it in for recovery, or should I
try another PCB since there was no guarantee the "new" PCB was good.
The seller has guarantee against DOA and was not sold as-is, but I
thought I'd ask the experts here before spending the big bucks for
recovery.
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2  
Old 03-19-2008, 03:17 PM
Jesco Lincke
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Fujitsu MHU2100 laptop drive failure

cl999@comcast.net schrieb:
> Coffee was spilled on the laptop keyboard. When I opened it up to
> clean, I found coffee between the harddrive carrier and the drive PCB.
> After everything was put back, the computer won't boot. The drive
> wasn't recognized in BIOS. I put it in a USB external enclosure, and
> Windows XP didn't recognize it either. The drive was working after the
> spill prior to shutdown.
>
> I thought the problem may be electrical as opposed to physical since
> it was working great, didn't make any weird noises, and wasn't
> dropped. So I got a replacement PCB off Ebay from the same model
> drive. It arrived today and there is no improvement. The drive spins
> up and does nothing. In the USB enclosure, the data transfer light
> blinks a few times when plugged in, then the light goes off (it stays
> on with a good drive). My question is does this kind of symptom sound
> like physical damage and I should send it in for recovery, or should I
> try another PCB since there was no guarantee the "new" PCB was good.
> The seller has guarantee against DOA and was not sold as-is, but I
> thought I'd ask the experts here before spending the big bucks for
> recovery.


I'll pass this on to you gently, since others here might be less restrained:
You wouldn't be worrying about spending big bucks on recovery, had you
previously spent little bucks and a little time on backup...

Back to the technical issue...
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-19-2008, 05:10 PM
Arno Wagner
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Fujitsu MHU2100 laptop drive failure

Previously cl999@comcast.net wrote:
> Coffee was spilled on the laptop keyboard. When I opened it up to
> clean, I found coffee between the harddrive carrier and the drive PCB.
> After everything was put back, the computer won't boot. The drive
> wasn't recognized in BIOS. I put it in a USB external enclosure, and
> Windows XP didn't recognize it either. The drive was working after the
> spill prior to shutdown.


> I thought the problem may be electrical as opposed to physical since
> it was working great, didn't make any weird noises, and wasn't
> dropped. So I got a replacement PCB off Ebay from the same model
> drive. It arrived today and there is no improvement. The drive spins
> up and does nothing. In the USB enclosure, the data transfer light
> blinks a few times when plugged in, then the light goes off (it stays
> on with a good drive). My question is does this kind of symptom sound
> like physical damage and I should send it in for recovery, or should I
> try another PCB since there was no guarantee the "new" PCB was good.
> The seller has guarantee against DOA and was not sold as-is, but I
> thought I'd ask the experts here before spending the big bucks for
> recovery.


First, get some real diagnostics. "does nothing" does not cut it.
Is it found? What is its SMART status? Any boot-up messages
about the drive when booting Linux (e.g. Knoppix from a CD)?

An then, backup, this elusive thing so overlooked in normal
times, so desparately needed occasionally...

Arno

Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-19-2008, 05:55 PM
cl999@comcast.net
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Fujitsu MHU2100 laptop drive failure

Well, it wasn't my computer and I didn't spill the coffee, but I take
care of the computers in the house so it's partly my fault. The last
backup was about 1 year ago.

As for diagnostics, it's not recognized in BIOS at all. On the HP
BIOS, there is a "HDD Self-test" option and its' not recognized there
either. That is why I figured it was an electrical problem and not a
physical problem. Haven't tried the LINUX route. I occasionally use
Puppy (not on that computer) I suppose I could try that.

Just called Ontrack, they now have a $495 photo recovery option. That
is regardless of method required for recovery. Must better than tha
$1000 I was expecting. Pretty smart business move on their part
considering how many home users mostly care about pictures and don't
backup.

On Mar 19, 7:17*am, Jesco Lincke <ichw...@keine.mail> wrote:
> cl...@comcast.net schrieb:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Coffee was spilled on the laptop keyboard. When I opened it up to
> > clean, I found coffee between the harddrive carrier and the drive PCB.
> > After everything was put back, the computer won't boot. The drive
> > wasn't recognized in BIOS. I put it in a USB external enclosure, and
> > Windows XP didn't recognize it either. The drive was working after the
> > spill prior to shutdown.

>
> > I thought the problem may be electrical as opposed to physical since
> > it was working great, didn't make any weird noises, and wasn't
> > dropped. So I got a replacement PCB off Ebay from the same model
> > drive. It arrived today and there is no improvement. The drive spins
> > up and does nothing. In the USB enclosure, the data transfer light
> > blinks a few times when plugged in, then the light goes off (it stays
> > on with a good drive). My question is does this kind of symptom sound
> > like physical damage and I should send it in for recovery, or should I
> > try another PCB since there was no guarantee the "new" PCB was good.
> > The seller has guarantee against DOA and was not sold as-is, but I
> > thought I'd ask the experts here before spending the big bucks for
> > recovery.

>
> I'll pass this on to you gently, since others here might be less restrained:
> You wouldn't be worrying about spending big bucks on recovery, had you
> previously spent little bucks and a little time on backup...
>
> Back to the technical issue...- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -


Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
what is clock generator chip on Fujitsu Siemens laptop Esprimo g f Overclocking 0 12-31-2007 06:32 PM
Fujitsu Amilo D 6500/7500 hard drive replacement Paul D.Smith Laptops 0 07-12-2007 03:27 PM
Can't dim screen on Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pro 2055 laptop Dr.Andy Perry Laptops 2 07-01-2007 05:44 PM
hard drive failure S.M.A.R.T drive errors reported. hoodcanaljim Storage 2 05-19-2007 07:23 AM
Fujitsu laptop upgrade Rick Savery Laptops 3 03-31-2007 12:45 AM


All times are GMT. The time now is 07:20 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.1.0
© 2004 - 2007 Web-S-Sense Pty. Ltd. Usenet and forums posts © their respective authors.
Ad Management by RedTyger