Is my HDD dead?

[earth4x]

I was installing some sunbeam neons in my computer and when I tried to power up the pc.. well.. the neons didn't work.. and I heard some weird beep codes.

So.. I power off the pc, unplug the neons, try to plug it like it was before, still beeped. I take off the molex from my IDE HD. It boots up!!!!

now, I tried a different molex connector for my HD and it didn't work either.. and the one that was usually plugged in the HD works great (tried it with a case fan)

So now, I look over the molex connectors from the power cables of the neons and I notice one of them damn molex pins is loose from the female molex. Tried putting it back in and it wouldn't work.. it seems it came broken with the neons

Now.. is my HD dead? because I had some important files in it ;/

 

[KGB]

Do you have another power supply to try?
Have you tried clearing the CMOS on the MB?

Definitely leave the neons (cold cathodes?) out until you can get it sorted out.

 

[earth4x]

I don't think a change of power supply would make a difference.. since the molex connector works with other stuff I plugged in

The cathodes are not plugged in right now

I haven't tried clearing the CMOS, would that make a difference?

 

[KGB]

Plugging in a case fan only verifies the 12V line.
It is not a valid test.

Yes, clearing the BIOS is always a good start.

When you plugged in the cathodes, something happened.
Possibly damaged the power supply.

 

[earth4x]

do you think the 2 molex connectors that are plugged on the same "line" are damaged? because my LCD temp monitor still works.. does that only verify the 12v line too??

should I try plugging something else (I need to figure out what) on one or both of the connectors????

Do you think that since one of the connectors was loose on the male molex of the cathodes it damaged the PSU?

god damnit!!!

 

[earth4x]

I cleared the CMOS this morning, then when I tried to plug the cathodes only.. they lit up (both of them) but it was only a small part of the cathodes that actually worked (it's like.. half the cathode was illuminated but not the rest)

I then tried to plug in both the cathode and the HD, it would POST but when it was coming up on 3rd master.. it wouldn't detect my drive

what should I do next? does this mean my PSU is damaged? (which I doubt because the rest of my stuff wouldn't work)

 

[DetroitSportsFan]

No, it doesn't necessarily mean your PSU is damaged. We don't have enough information to pin point your PSU as the source of your troubles. At least not yet. Since I really don't have much to go on, my guess is its those new cathodes that is the source of the problem. After all, your system ran fine before you installed them.

Lets back up a bit though. A previous poster suggested you get the hard drive problem rectified BEFORE you plug those lights back in. I strongly suggest you follow that advice.

Now for a word of warning ... Cathode lights sometimes are defective. They have been known to take out other more expensive hardware. Lights (and fans) should never be plugged into the same molex as your hard drive(s). Lets hope you solve this without replacing hardware.