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    G74SX HDD just disappeared :(

    Discussion in 'ASUS Gaming Notebook Forum' started by squawks, May 9, 2012.

  1. squawks

    squawks Notebook Consultant

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    Hmm, today, my computer locked up (everything paused for about 15 seconds) but then it resumed activity. But then I noticed that my HDD disappeared, as in won't be recognized in either Windows Explorer or Disk Management. My SSD, which I use to boot up and contains the OS install, is still functional. This is pretty strange, because my HDD, which I've been using as a secondary, has been working perfectly fine for over 6 months. Any suggestions?

    I think I will try to make sure it's still seated properly to the SATA connector but I doubt that could be the issue considering it's been fine to me for 6 months already. I wouldn't suspect that the HDD failed on me, either, considering it's only 6 months.

    On a possibly related matter, I noticed that booting up the laptop now takes about 10-15 seconds longer, as the screen pauses unusually longer on the "ASUS" splash screen...

    I just checked my BIOS and it too didn't even detect the HDD :(

    ________________________________________________________________

    Well, I opened up the computer, checked the cables. I'm not sure what was wrong, the cable didn't appear loose or incorrectly seated on either end (the HDD was moved from the primary SATA connector bay to the expansion bay) but I did nonetheless reseat each end of the SATA cable. The SATA-HDD connector itself was perfectly snug and flush with the HDD. But now, the HDD is detected and works fine.

    I did notice that on a very small part of the SATA cable ribbon that a part of the shiny metallic side was separated from the other half of the cable ribbon (e.g. where one side of the ribbon is metallic and the other is white, there was a small part where the two sides were separated). I don't know if they need to be touching in order to function, but now I am getting paranoid that the ribbon is about to fail.

    Anybody know where I can buy one of these replacement SATA ribbons?

    Thanks

    EDIT: It's here, apparently: https://us.estore.asus.com Hard Drive FFC (G74SX); Part Number: 14G124080160; G74SX HDD FFC 16P,0.5MM,L:85MM
     
    squawks, May 9, 2012
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  2. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    You can order a replacement ribbon, but it is possible that the cable just go a bit loose.
     
    tijo, May 9, 2012
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  3. squawks

    squawks Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks, Tijo, that could be it. It's surprising a tiny ribbon cable like that will cost me about $15! That's just highway robbery.
     
    squawks, May 9, 2012
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