Thinkpad X40 hard drive can not be detected now.

[heyday]

I've used this X40 for 4 years. Today, I found I can't boot the computer, it could be because of virus, etc. since it was working yesterday.

Symptom:
When I boot the computer, it can detect memory, etc. But will stop at this step: IBM Hard Drive Active Protection Sensor Diagnostics Test", it will just show the blank screen with a blinking cursor and will stop there...

Then When I enter the BIOS and choose the Boot menu, it displays the Boot Priority Order but on the option 4, there is no plus (+) next to it:
4. IDE HDDO: HITACHI_DK13FA-40B-(PM)

Please advise if there is any option or service I can choose to get back my data on the hard drive. Many thanks!

[sjthinkpader]

The original Hitachi 1.8in drives are dual voltage 3.3V/5V so they are safe when used on most USB PATA adapters. Attached the drive to a working computer and see if you can recover your data.

If the HDD is a later ZIF type drive in a ZIF-PATA adapter/tray, then you need a ZIF to USB adapter that is 3.3V in order to examine the drive.

[heyday]

Thanks for your reply. My question is in my case, seems the BIOS can't recognize the hard disk? If this is the case, I think it's quite serious and could not recover the data with USB Adaptors? Please advise. Thanks!

[sjthinkpader]

If the computer can get the HDD model number, at least the formater is working. You will be lucky if the image won't boot but the FAT is ok. In that case, you can get the files off when connected as an external drive. If the FAT is damaged, there are software that can recover your data by reconstructing the FAT. If the head and media is damaged, only recovery companies such as Ontrack may be able to recover the data. Cost of this would be in the thousands.

We had a close call last year when our single drive NAS box overheated and destroyed the HDD. I was lucky that a backup was taken a week prior. Now I have a RAID1 NAS.

[heyday]

Thanks again. Sorry how do you know the computer can get the HDD model number?

In the STARTUP menu in BIOS, it did show:
4. IDE HDDO: HITACHI_DK_13FA-40B-(PM)
But I can't see a plus sign ("+") as described in the manual.

In the manual, it says:
"Select Boot and then press the Enter key.
1. The display should list Hard Drive with a plus (+) next to it if the drive is detected by the system BIOS.
2. Click the plus (+) to expand the hard drive branch and confirm that the Device Name (or Drive ID) appears normal (example: IC25T060ATCS05-0).
# Select Hard Drive and then press the F6 key to move it to the first boot position.
Note: The normal position is second or third after the floppy disk drive and/or CD-ROM drive."

But I can't see the plus sign here. Also, on the CONFIG option the BIOS, i could not find Hard disk is listed.

Could you advise how I can verify if the BIOS can detect the HDD model number? Thanks a lot.

[sjthinkpader]

If BIOS did show "Hitachi..." then it did get something from the drive.