FIXED IT!!!!!! .......well sort of.

I ran the Drive Fitness Test with the drive in my laptop and it would not see the drive (drive would not spin-up, bad drive, bad). The date on the drive says June 00, this must have been setting around a while since it was replaced by Empeg support last summer. It should have a three-year warranty so I might still be good. I will try to return it.

I then noticing I could peal up the sticker and get to the screws without messing up the sticker, so I figured what the heck. I removed all the screws and took the top off. The platter would NOT spin and would barley move with MUCH force. The heads were stuck halfway out on the platter (head crash) so I pushed them back to the side and they then moved freely. I tried not to get any fingerprints on the platter but did anyway. So I wiped it off with my shirt (definitely NOT a “Clean Room” environment). I put it back together. Hooked it to the Empeg and BAM, up it came. I then removed the drive and placed it into the laptop and ran the fitness test again. It would now see the drive but it does have issues. I will try to get a backup of the drive before I send it off or replace it.

Thanks for the help