HDD broken or problem with the power connector?

[ta]

Since yesterday, my JBR 20 doesn't work anymore...

When I switch it on, the HDD makes a "toctoctoc" sound and in the end I get a "PANIC ata -1" message. This is the sound I get when I want to start the unit in the usual way:
http://home.arcor.de/tobal/ArchosJukeboxR/jbr_rbboot.mp3

I recorded it with the mic integrated into my computrer keyboard
First I thougt it was the power connector problem, with the unit not getting enough power to spin up the HDD...

But then I tried the old trick booting the Archos firmware by pressing F1, and plugging in the power supply while the display shows the Archos boot screen.

Result:
http://home.arcor.de/tobal/ArchosJukeboxR/jbr_archos_boot.mp3

IMHO you can hear the HDD spin up(!),
rotating for a while,
then it spins down,
and in the end you get the "toctoctoc" sound.

So in my interpretation, the unit HAS enough power to spin up the HDD, but unfortunately the HDD is broken.

But before I order a new one I'd like to hear what the experts say.

[scorche]

Ouch!  Never a good sound.  

Yeah, it definitely sounds like your hard drive is broken.  In that case, you can follow this: http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=6268.msg51556#msg51556

[ta]

Ok, I've ordered a Fujitsu MHV2120AT (120 GB) and a 3,5"->2,5" PATA adaptor now...

First I'll try to access the original HDD with the ATA controller of the PC. If it works and the player is broken, the Fujitsu will be an untouched Fernabsatzgesetz return,  the files will be backupped.

If the original HDD is broken, I'll need all parts of the delivery and I'll hopefully have a AJR with 120 GB!

I really don't know which to prefer. The last backup has been a longer time ago. If the harddisk has died, I'll be re-ripping for a day all my albums I've bought during the last months.
For 90 Euro I upgraded my AJR to the max.

If the player has died, I wouldn't know if I'm able to repair it. That nice peace of hardware...
But I could save the work of the last few months.

BTW: I don't know if it's important: somehow I came to a debug screen which displayed a voltage, and the value changed when I plugged the charger in or out.  

[ta]

Now I've opened the AJR.

The battery connectors look good.
The original Hitachi drive works fine in my computer. All data is still there and accessible, the tool Speedfan tells me that the original Hitachi drive has execellent SMART data with many green dots and a full "fitness" bar.

Hitachi's Dive Fitness Test diagnostic tool results: 0 Errors

But why doesn't my AJR boot up?

[ta]

did a few resistance measures with a multi meter.


from the critical battery "-" spring to the left metal bar: 0 Ohm
...to the three soldering points where the PCB is connected with the left bar: 0 Ohm

from the battery "+" to the right metal bar: 0 Ohm
...to the three soldering pionts where the PCB is connected with the right bar: 0 Ohm

From the "+" of the first two battery cells to the battery "-" of the last two battery cells ( the PCB labeled "MP3FRONT-8.1"):  0 Ohm

The battery part seems to be OK.

[LinusN]

Did you measure while applying a force to the terminals? Most problems arise from cracks in the PCB or the solder joints.

[ta]

Yeah it seems that I have magical forces.

I...
-recharged the battery cells with my microcontrolled quick charger
-cleaned the upper and the bottom side of the cells with "Liqui Moly Multi Spray Plus 7"
-pulled out the battery springs a little bit
-cleaned them with Liqui Moly too
-cleaned the 44 pins of the hard disk, also with that Liqui Moly spray

then I re-assembled the device. And now everything works fine and I'm listening to my root.m3u.

8-)

-Bumping the device carefully on the desktop doesn't affect anything - nice!
-next test is: playing until the batteries are empty and trying to recharge them in the player...

But what shall I do with that nice Fujitsu 120 GB drive now? If I send it back and the Jukebox works fine during the next years I would probably often be annoyed because of that 20 GB limit (somehow I filled the Hitachi with 19 GB during the last three years...).

When I decide to keep it and upgrade my AJR with it - what if the device finally dies in november? I think since it is a 4200 rpm drive it only makes sense to be used in a device like a Jukebox. For use in an external HDD case  or in a laptop I would rather take 5400 rpm drives...

What if I decide to upgrade my AJR, and after partitioning and formating the fujitsu and replacing the old HDD the AJR doesn't start up anymore?

[scorche]

Heh...that is why I suggested getting a drive from a brick-and-mortar store so that you make sure that it really is the hard drive before you go and order one.

If it were me, I would just put the upgrade that you have in anyway unless you need the money.  Having that much space on a DAP is great and is the main reason why I don't upgrade to a newer device.

What if I decide to upgrade my AJR, and after partitioning and formating the fujitsu and replacing the old HDD the AJR doesn't start up anymore?

Then come back here to get some further help