These disks lived in an HP dv9000 laptop. Said machine with those disks had never taken a fall to the floor. The disks failed at different times, say, over a year apart. I've tried accessing them via this current laptop, an IBM T43 via usb connection. The boat's "ship's computer" is an HP s7727c with the 3.5" drive removed and a 500G 2.5" installed. I have had occasion to take out this 500G and put it into an external case then read/write with a usb connection via the T43.
Doug

Hi,
There are two disks in question. They are in 2.5" external enclosures now. The other hard disks in my possession all work as they should.