Help with my HDD!!

I've been using my Dell Inspiron 600m for four years now and for being that old, it runs fairly well. However, lately it's been acting strange. Every now and then when I wake it up from sleep mode, the backlight of the screen comes on and power goes to the laptop, but the hard drive doesn't spin and the screen stays blank. This has also happened while I was in the middle of doing something too. I'm just assuming that my HD is going and that pretty soon it will just stop working. If anyone knows another reason why it can be doing this, please let me know. Also, if any of you recommend a certain brand of HD just incase this one decides to fail, that'd be great. Keep in mind I'm a 16 year old with a part time job that needs to pay for gas and car insurance, so I can't be spending too much money on other stuff. Thanks!!

Tags: dell, hard drive, hdd, inspiron 600m, laptop, mac os x, windows 7, windows vista, windows xp

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Permalink Reply by Ken on July 8, 2009 at 6:46pm: Well it seems like there is a problem with your HDD I would contact Dell to see if they could do anything for you. Right now I think Western Digital makes the best hard drives.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michael O'Rourke on July 8, 2009 at 6:49pm: OK thanks. I'll just wait and see what happens though. I'm not under warranty (obviously) anymore with Dell so I don't really know what they could do without me spending a large amount of money.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ken on July 8, 2009 at 6:59pm: Ok, I forgot to write that now is the time to back up all your stuff before its too late.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michael O'Rourke on July 8, 2009 at 7:15pm: I really don't have anything important to back up! All my music is on my iPod so I can transfer it using that, school is out so I don't need any of my documents from that, and my pictures I have on my camera (I don't take very many pictures.) so I'm not too worried about backing up.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ken on July 8, 2009 at 7:16pm: Ok, its your call.......but its better to be safe than sorry.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michael O'Rourke on July 8, 2009 at 7:19pm: I agree. I'll save everything I really think I'll need on a DVD. I'm not so good with putting parts in myself so I'll probably get a repair shop to do it for me. Do you think they'll have all the drivers I'll need for the reinstallation or do you think I should get them myself?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by reaper on July 8, 2009 at 6:51pm: i'd say 4-5 years is a good average for drives to run healthy.....then its usually on its last legs before u gotta replace it

all drives break eventually so its either replace or get another laptop

dell will probably laugh if you didn't get their extended service as the usual freebie service is only a year or so; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michael O'Rourke on July 8, 2009 at 7:16pm: Yeah, I was thinking of upgrading some stuff in my laptop anyway. My parents said that I'm stuck with this laptop until college (2 years) x_x so I need to make it last! As long as the HD isn't TOO expensive it's not a big deal. Thanks for the reply!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by reaper on July 8, 2009 at 7:23pm: u could always get a cheap drive off ebay or newegg....just depends whether its ide or sata

heres alot of listings for replacement drives compatible for your 600m

http://computers.shop.ebay.com/items/Hard-Drives__dell-600m?_trkpar...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michael O'Rourke on July 8, 2009 at 7:27pm: It's a SATA. I'd want a new one anyway (even though it may be new off ebay I'd rather see the product before I buy it.); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by reaper on July 8, 2009 at 7:33pm: you could always go to best buy or something but you'll obviously pay more for that

anyways if you're wanting to save money stick with online sales whether it be newegg ebay etc

heres some drives off newegg....if youre gonna get another drive better off going with a 7200

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=201...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michael O'Rourke on July 8, 2009 at 7:38pm: Well, my laptop gets hot as it is. I'm not sure putting a 7200RPM HD in it is such a good idea =\..; ▶ Reply to This