A hard drive not spinning up refers to when a hard drive is not detected by the system BIOS at boot up. This is a common issue that can have multiple causes and be tricky to diagnose and repair.
Some of the most common causes for a drive not spinning up include:
- Power supply problems – Not delivering enough power to the drive.
- Loose or damaged cables – Preventing a connection between the drive and motherboard.
- Drive motor failure – The spindle motor that spins the platters has failed.
- Drive controller failure – The drive’s internal controller circuitry is damaged.
- Mechanical failure – Broken or seized drive components, usually from physical damage or age.
Diagnosing and repairing a drive not spinning requires checking connections, trying the drive in another system, replacing cables/components, attempting DIY mechanical repairs, and using data recovery software. If the drive cannot be repaired, replacement is necessary.
This guide will cover step-by-step troubleshooting and repair techniques to hopefully get the drive spinning again and recover data without an expensive specialist.
Check the Power Supply
One of the most common reasons for a hard drive not spinning up is an issue with the power supply.[1] Make sure the drive is getting consistent power by checking the cable connections from the power adapter to the hard drive. Loose or faulty power cables are a frequent cause of spin up issues.[2]
Carefully examine the power adapter brick and all connecting cables – both at the drive and at the mains power outlet. Check for any loose connections, bent pins, frayed cables, or damage that could interrupt consistent power delivery. Reseat all cables securely. Try connecting to a different power outlet in case that outlet is experiencing fluctuations or poor power delivery.
For external drives, verify the adapter is well matched for the specifications of the hard drive. An underpowered adapter can sometimes cause spin up issues. Test with a known good adapter if possible. For internal drives, make sure the power supply unit (PSU) cabling and connectors are in good shape and delivering expected voltage to the drive’s interface.
If issues persist despite secure power connections, the drive itself or other components may need deeper diagnosis.
Check the Data and Power Cables
One of the most common reasons a hard drive won’t spin up is a loose or damaged cable connection. Inspect the SATA data cable and power cable for any visible damage. Look for bent or broken pins, frayed wires, cracks in the insulation, or other signs of physical damage. If damage is found, the cable will need to be replaced.
Even without visible damage, cables can work themselves loose over time. Check that both ends of each cable are properly connected. Unplug both the data and power cables completely, then carefully reinsert them into the drive and motherboard ports. Apply firm but gentle pressure to ensure full insertion. You may need to try swapping to a different SATA port on the motherboard as well.
According to StarTech.com’s SATA cable troubleshooting guide, sometimes even a working SATA cable needs to be unplugged and re-seated in order to re-establish a connection. So reseating cables is a basic troubleshooting step when dealing with hard drive spin up issues.
Test the Drive in Another System
One of the easiest ways to diagnose whether the problem is with the hard drive itself or something else is to try the drive in another computer. Connect the drive to another PC using the same cables and power supply if possible. If the drive spins up and is detected in the other system, the problem likely lies with the original PC’s power supply, cables, or motherboard. Testing the drive in another computer helps isolate whether the issue is the drive itself or other components.
According to this article, trying a potentially failed drive in another computer with diagnostic tools can help determine if the drive has truly failed or if the problem lies elsewhere. Swapping in a known good drive into the original machine can also test whether the issue is with the computer.
Try a Different Power/Data Cable
If the SATA power and data cables are faulty, it can prevent the hard drive from spinning up properly. Try substituting the existing cables with ones that are known to be working properly. Faulty or worn out cables are a common cause of drives not spinning up. Replacing the cables often fixes the issue if the drive itself is still functional. This link: https://www.amazon.com/ITTECC-923-0104-Drive-Replacment-MacBook/dp/B01N1F07ZR offers a replacement SATA cable for MacBooks that is compatible with several models. Using a high quality, undamaged SATA cable can help rule out cable issues preventing the drive from spinning up.
Check the Controller
The hard drive controller is the circuit board that allows communication between the hard drive and the computer. If the controller has failed or is having issues, it can prevent the hard drive from spinning up properly. Here are some steps to troubleshoot the controller:
First, check to make sure the controller is properly seated in the motherboard slot. Remove and reseat the controller to ensure a proper connection.
Next, update the drivers for the controller. Outdated drivers can cause conflicts and issues. Go to the manufacturer’s website to download the latest driver, then install it. This may resolve firmware or compatibility problems with the controller that are preventing operation. [1]
You can also try resetting the BIOS settings to default. Sometimes the controller settings can become configured incorrectly. Resetting clears out bad settings. Consult the motherboard manual on how to clear the CMOS. [2]
If updating drivers and resetting the BIOS does not work, the controller itself may be failing. Try replacing it with a new, compatible controller to see if that resolves the issue.
Examine the Drive
If your hard drive is not showing up or spinning up properly, it’s a good idea to open up the drive and examine it for any signs of physical damage. Look closely at the circuit board on the underside of the hard drive. Check for any burnt components or bent pins. Also inspect the read/write heads and platters. There should be no scratches or corrosion present.
Additionally, listen closely to the sounds the hard drive makes when you power it on. A healthy drive will spin up smoothly. Odd noises like clicking, grinding or screeching could indicate a mechanical failure inside the drive. According to an article on LinkedIn, unusual noises are one of the most obvious signs of physical damage on a hard drive. If the drive starts clicking or beeping abnormally, there is likely a mechanical issue preventing it from spinning up properly.
If upon close inspection there are no visible signs of damage and the drive powers on silently, the issue is likely not physical in nature. However, any noticeable physical damage or odd sounds point to a mechanical failure in the drive.
Try the Freezer Trick
One method some people try as a last resort to recover data from a hard drive that won’t spin up is known as the freezer trick. This involves placing the hard drive in a sealable plastic bag and putting it in the freezer for around 30 minutes.
The theory behind this method is that cooling the drive down could cause any stuck parts to contract slightly and break free, allowing the platters to start spinning again. Some advocates claim the freezer trick has allowed them to temporarily access drives just long enough to recover data.
However, experts warn this method could cause condensation or temperature shock damage when bringing the drive back to room temperature (Source 1). There are many anecdotal stories of drives being further damaged or having data become unrecoverable after freezing. Most data recovery professionals recommend against relying on this questionable trick and advise it should only be used as an absolute last resort if no other options are available (Source 2).
Use Data Recovery Software
If the hard drive is not physically damaged but is not being detected by your computer, data recovery software can scan the drive to try to recover your files and data. There are many free data recovery tools available to help recover deleted files from hard drives.
Some top recommended free hard drive recovery software options include:
- Disk Drill – Scans hard drives and retrieves recoverable files. Supports lost partition recovery and has different scan modes for quick or deep scanning.
- Recoverit Free – Recovers photos, videos, documents, and other file types from hard drives. Easy to use with a step-by-step recovery wizard.
- iMyFone AnyRecover – Retrieves data from crashed hard drives and overwritten partitions. Filters scan results by file type.
These programs can scan the hard drive sector-by-sector to find files that can be recovered. However, data recovery success depends on the extent of the drive failure – the less physical damage, the better chance of retrieving files.
When to Replace the Drive
At some point, troubleshooting and trying to repair a failed hard drive reaches diminishing returns. Knowing when to call it quits and replace the drive is important to avoid wasting time and potentially losing data. There are a few signs that indicate it’s time to replace the hard drive:
- The drive is making abnormal clicking or beeping noises indicating a mechanical failure.
- The drive is no longer detected in the BIOS or by the operating system.
- Extensive troubleshooting steps have been tried but the drive still does not spin up or function.
- Drive testing utilities report heavy read/write errors or bad sectors.
Before replacing the drive, it’s best to attempt recovering any important data using data recovery software like Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. If the data is unrecoverable or not important, the drive can be directly replaced.
Replacement hard drives should match the capacity, interface type (SATA, IDE, etc.), and form factor of the original drive for seamless integration. For mission critical systems, it’s best to replace with an identical make and model drive according to recommended practices. The new drive can be cloned from an existing healthy drive or have the operating system freshly installed.