How do I tell if it's the HD that is bad or the enclosure?

[Kiva]

Hi all

I have a Seagate 160gb drive in a FW enclosure w/ an Oxford 911 chipset. The drive/enclsoure is starting to mount slowly and make weird squeaking noises followed by clicks. I just tried to plug it in and it wouldn't mount...just made a lot os squeaks and clicks. I then opened up Disk Utility and the drive then mounted.

How do I diagnose the problem? I've never had external HD prob's before..

thanks

kiva

[mikebw]

You have to isloate the problem by separating the components. Either test the drive in another enclosure (or directly to your mac) or test the enclosure with another drive.

[Kiva]

damn...was hoping there'd be another answer :-)

thanks....will do..

kiva

[mikebw]

I should have added that you must test them with other KNOWN GOOD parts, or else you will spend probably hours trying to figure what's going on.
There's nothing like a multiple-part-failure to ruin the diagnostic process.