Hard drive LEDs

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Been spending all day working on my bro's PC, which looks like the HDD is RIP.

My question - why do hard drives have an LED on the underside ? You obviously don't see it when inside your PC, and even as far as I can see, inside servers as part of an array, they would still be hidden.

Can anyone answer this, or offer a reasonable explanation ?

 

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Probably the same reason some Motherboards have them so that you can see if there is any power getting to the motherboard or in this case the harddrive


even after you disconnect the power there is still power in the board and when the led goes out it is safe to work on it

Well that's what i've always thought

*awaits to be shot down in flames* LOL

 

I actually think that makes sense, as I've spent bloody hours on this now, with the PC open on my desk. Was side on to me, so with a cunningly-arranged mirror, I was able to keep track of any HDD activity.

Sounds good, but any better explanations more than welcome ...

 

what kind of hdd is that gav. Mine doesn't have one. And I"m pretty sure the one before this one didn't either.

 

Actually, maybe it was just this particular one Mitzs - an old Quantum Fireball that I had lying around available for testing. The original (newer) Maxtor that was in the machine doesn't actually.

Although I HAVE seen this on other HDD's in the past. Maybe just something they don't do any more ....

 

Jak, I am an electronics tech too (City and Guilds) and from my experience working on PCBs, you often encounter LEDs which are not visible to the user. They are usually there to provide feedback for diagnostic purposes i.e. they will indicate whether a supply voltage is present or whether a signal is present. They are not usually used as a conventional diode because they are more expensive.

So, in answer to the question. If you sent that HDD back to the manufacturer, I am sure that the status of that LED would mean something to them.

Pete

 

Thanks for all your replies Guys. Also, good to see you around again, Pete

 

Thanks Jak

I have been around but sometimes I just read and get sort of post shy for a while. Don't know why