SATA Power Cable Caught Alight!

[Backa_]

So I was working on a clients laptop where his hard drive was corrupted and wasn't loading Windows. I went through the process of elimination and decided I'd plug it into my test bench and load Linux up. After I plugged it in I the test bench and turnt it start smoking pure white smoke from the cable and I could see a bit of fire starting. Quickly I turned it off at the PSU and went to unplug the cable from the hard drive. The cable was very warm. Any ideas I'm thinking a short somewhere?

 

[darael]

I've only seen this with an adapter before. Is it connected to an adapter or one of your PSU connectors?

 

[Backa_]

I've only seen this with an adapter before. Is it connected to an adapter or one of your PSU connectors?

No it's connected with the power supply cable no adapters

 

[BaroUK2]

Power connectors on the harddrive itself doesnt look healthy at all unless that is caused after cable is burned.

 

[Backa_]

It was definitely after

 

[Chaos666]

moisture on the power connector?

 

[Backa_]

Who knows, I'm going to attempt to recover the data tomorrow as I've been up since 4pm yesterday uk time tryna get my pattern on track

 

[hyperseven]

Maybe your mutant gene had just activated?

 

[edscdk]

Oddly I had the same issue a week ago on an all in one (fixed 100s of pc the is the first time I've seen it) it was the cable in my case - replaced cable everything ok

 

[freddie64]

Wonder if it could have been a misaligned sata pin in the connector?

If it was out of position, it could have crossed over another pin when you connected the HDD.

That connector looks like it has no blade cutting into the second cable, or is it just blackened where it got burnt.