Hard drive and motherboard problems!!!

[flanagan]

Ok first off, I will just say I am completely stupid when it comes to computers...

That being said, my hard drive was making a loud humming sound so I went to unplug it.  Well, it was plugged in pretty good and I ended up tearing off the part on the motherboard that it plugs into.  If I do buy a new hard drive, is there any other place to plug it into?  Or do I need to buy a new motherboard too?

Like I said, I am dumb so please don't make fun of me!!

[GX1_Man]

If you removed the IDE port itself (not just the other end of the cable, but where the cable plugs in) you may be SOL. Those cannot be repaired.

Some older MB's have two IDE ports, so if you can post your make and model we can advise. If you have two and one is ruined, your options for expansion are severely limited.

You could however buy a PCI/IDE card and run up to 4 devices from it.

So let us know. I don't see that a new motherboard is required at this point.

[flanagan]

The harddrive is a Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 200GB. How do I find the make and model of the motherboard?

[GX1_Man]

It should be printed on the motherboard. I am assuming you cannot run Windows at this point so there is no easy software way to find out.

Do you have a separate cable that is going to the CDROM drive? Or is it on that same cable?

[homer]

if you are skilled with a soldering iron, you could also try soldering the part back on.

[GX1_Man]

NO !!!!  

Ok first off, I will just say I am completely stupid when it comes to computers...

[flanagan]

There are three other ports next to the one I plug my hard drive into.  The one it was in was black, then there's a blue, yellow, and white one.  Would I be able to plug it into one of the other ones?

[flanagan]

One of these is my computer... I'm not at home so I don't remember which one.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00575712&lc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=1818050&dlc=en

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00571922&lc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=1815823&dlc=en

[GX1_Man]

We would need to know which one. Post back when certain. If you have two IDE slots, they will be identical in shape and size and probably color, and labeled maybe faintly) IDE1 and IDE2. If you have a floppy, it goes in a different and smaller one. SATA connectors look totally different.

Can you post a closeup picture?

[flanagan]

Yay I got it working by plugging it into a different one.  Last time I tried I swear it didn't detect it!  Anyway, I had to use the recovery disc so I lost my stuff but it's running.  It's still making the humming sound, not as loud but it's there.

[homer]

NO !!!!  

Ok first off, I will just say I am completely stupid when it comes to computers...

i do not know if this was directed towards my advice, but one does not need to know a thing about computers to unsolder and resolder a piece of hardware.

[GX1_Man]

Yay I got it working by plugging it into a different one.  Last time I tried I swear it didn't detect it!  Anyway, I had to use the recovery disc so I lost my stuff but it's running.  It's still making the humming sound, not as loud but it's there.

Glad you are all fixed up. You may want to run the free diagnostics abailable at the drive maker's site.  

[patio]

"abailable" ? ?

 

That 1 1/2 hours a night is beginning to show...

[GX1_Man]

Start brain, engage fingers......

[patio]