Smoke billowing from WD molex connector!

[Q]

Had a happening with my main WD1000JB. My PC running XP has had the
occasional problem which I previously solved by re-inserting the cables.
The symptom this time was I couldn't switch off under XP - it just
rebooted but one or both of these WD h/d was clicking more than usual
when rebooting.

Thinking it may have been the 80 conductor round cable, I replaced it
with a ribbon version. I powered back up to discover thick smoke pouring
out by the molex socket. I pulled the power cord & plugged in a spare
molex plug & the drive worked! However, I did notice that one pin was
displaced 1mm outwards which may explain why the connector never clicked
home unlike with its partner.

Something got cooked & the drive takes forever to spin down when
switched off (no braking), despite passing WD diagnostics. Can I presume
this drive will fail imminently with this type of fault? I'll have to
install my still sealed IBM 30GB warranty replacement & use Drive Image.

 

[Rod Speed]

That's torn it. Once you let the smoke out, its doomed...

Had a happening with my main WD1000JB.

You did indeed.

My PC running XP has had the occasional problem which
I previously solved by re-inserting the cables. The symptom this
time was I couldn't switch off under XP - it just rebooted but one
or both of these WD h/d was clicking more than usual when rebooting.

Thinking it may have been the 80 conductor round cable,
I replaced it with a ribbon version. I powered back up to
discover thick smoke pouring out by the molex socket.

Urk, I've reported you to the RSPCPPWDHBB

I pulled the power cord & plugged in
a spare molex plug & the drive worked!

See, miracles do happen...

However, I did notice that one pin was displaced
1mm outwards which may explain why the connector
never clicked home unlike with its partner.

Likely the plastic melted when you were getting the copious
smoke and thats the reason the pin is misplaced now.

Something got cooked

Yeah, likely you managed to short one of the power pins
to one of the ground pins and for some reason the power
supply didnt see a bad enough short to shut down.

& the drive takes forever to spin down when switched
off (no braking), despite passing WD diagnostics.

Thats a bit odd. Most likely there was a fault which is why
you tried the different cable and you managed to bend one
of molex pins over in the process or something. I've even
seen someone force one in backwards and that killed the drive.

Can I presume this drive will fail imminently with this type of fault?

Quite likely.

I'll have to install my still sealed IBM 30GB
warranty replacement & use Drive Image.

You certainly want to at least make a safety copy
of what you'll slash your wrists if you lose, even if
you have to run out and buy a CD burner to do that with.

 

[Arno Wagner]

Had a happening with my main WD1000JB. My PC running XP has had the
occasional problem which I previously solved by re-inserting the cables.
The symptom this time was I couldn't switch off under XP - it just
rebooted but one or both of these WD h/d was clicking more than usual
when rebooting.

Thinking it may have been the 80 conductor round cable, I replaced it
with a ribbon version. I powered back up to discover thick smoke pouring
out by the molex socket. I pulled the power cord & plugged in a spare
molex plug & the drive worked! However, I did notice that one pin was
displaced 1mm outwards which may explain why the connector never clicked
home unlike with its partner.

Something got cooked & the drive takes forever to spin down when
switched off (no braking), despite passing WD diagnostics. Can I presume
this drive will fail imminently with this type of fault? I'll have to
install my still sealed IBM 30GB warranty replacement & use Drive Image.

Yery difficult to tell. The drive might continue to operate for
decades. It might also die immediately. Thet it passes WD diagnostics
does not mean anything, overheated semiconductors behave in surprising
ways. Hoewever if only a passive component was overheated, the drive
is likely to continue working. No way to tell without an intensive
analysis, which would cost several times the price of a new drive.

Advice: Replace the drive a.s.a.p. and be suspicious of the
mainboard, since that is likely to be the source of the current
that was running through you short-circuit.

Arno

 

[_]

Yery difficult to tell. The drive might continue to operate for
decades. It might also die immediately. Thet it passes WD diagnostics
does not mean anything, overheated semiconductors behave in surprising
ways. Hoewever if only a passive component was overheated, the drive
is likely to continue working. No way to tell without an intensive
analysis, which would cost several times the price of a new drive.

Advice: Replace the drive a.s.a.p. and be suspicious of the
mainboard, since that is likely to be the source of the current
that was running through you short-circuit.

Arno

Ah, the modern power supply in action

Eyes open, boys; when they go, they'll go HARD.

Guess it's time for a fire extinguisher.