How to know if your hdd is dead?

[100 Racks]

?

[RollinLower]

well, usually you would know this if it stops working.

plug it into your system and see if it detects it?

[Princess Luna]

You attempt to use it?

[waterjug]

welp, if windows doesn't recognise the drive or you can't view the files on it, it's dead. 

 

[Wild Penquin]

Are you asking as a general question? Or do you have a HDD that has possibly failed?

 

Use S.M.A.R.T features of the drives (i.e. enable warnings in BIOS). If it really is going to fail, you might get a pre-warning. Also some S.M.A.R.T monitoring utility for your OS might come in handy.

[Cotroneo]

I'm not sure if he's wondering what I've actually been wondering, but:
He might be asking this:

If he's in the same boat as me, he might have some old HDD's lying around, and might be wanting to reuse them in a cheaper build. He (and I) might be wondering if there's any way to test an HDD without trying to use it with a computer, itself. Kind of like how people lick the end of a battery to see if it has any charge. So if by any chance he might be wondering (and I honestly don't think there is a method like this) the same thing as me, the question could be if there's any way to identify if an HDD is working properly.

But then again, 'not working' is a very broad, vague subject. 

I'm not meaning to hijack his thread, so don't worry about my question. I just wanted to add something that he might be wanting to know for those that might know the answer. :}

[MorganO]

mine prevented windows from start up

[100 Racks]

.

[Nikolithebear]

Either non detection, loud ass clicks, no clicks at all, or you see it crying.  All are signs its dying and or dead.  (Also if its REALLY REALLY BURN YOUR FINGERS HOT)