Author Topic: Dead hard drive with important data inside! Help! :( (Read 430 times)

OIO · « **on:** May 29, 2003, 09:16:05 PM »

Oh man this is real bad. My 2nd hard drive one day just stopped working.

Night before, I could access it perfectly, never had any problems with the drive, never had bad sectors or anything, then next morning I boot up the PC and the computer just freezes when trying to detect the HDD drives.

Unplug IDE cable from the 2ndary drive (internal setup: 1st drive containing OS is master , 2nd drive set as slave, both using the IDE cable plugging into the primary IDE port in the mbd), and the system boots up perfectly.

That HDD has the 200+ pictures that i took on my trip to japan, its really painful for me to lose them.

Anyone know any tricks to get the damn thing working even if its for just one hour?

Tarmac · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2003, 12:44:35 AM »

I've heard everything from Drivesavers (few hundred bucks per HDD) to putting it in your freezer for an hour. Never had to try with any of them (knock on wood).

Any strange noises or anything?

Good luck.

SunKing · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2003, 01:57:53 AM »

What brand is it? IBM has some utlities that can tell you if it is truely dead or not.

Heater · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2003, 06:52:13 AM »

Need details on the drive, Do not put the Drive in the freezer!!!

FOGOLD · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2003, 06:55:54 AM »

My PC guy I use for work stuff says it's a long time since they were unable to recover data from a HD even if it had been run over by a tractor. If you have a local PC firm ask them or find a specialist somewhere. It may cost you, but I'm sure you will be able to get the data back.

Oh, and in future keep backups!

capt. apathy · « **Reply #5 on:** May 30, 2003, 06:56:53 AM »

sorry I don't have any useful advice for you. just wanted to say thanks though for reminding me to back up my more important files (ussually do them every week but I've let it slip for a couple months)

Ghosth · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2003, 07:38:02 AM »

Western Digital also has software that can help diagnose & fix HD problems.

Modas · « **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2003, 07:57:38 AM »

I've had some success with pulling the HD out, flipping it over and gently tapping the motor with a handle of a screw drivers. Sometime the motor gets a dead spot in it and happens to spin down and stop right on that spot. Tapping the motor can move it out of that spot far enuf that it will spin up again. A temporary fix at best, not guarenteed, but easy enuf to try.

If that don't work, a 5 pound maul will do the trick nicely

G/L

Vipermann · « **Reply #8 on:** May 30, 2003, 08:10:21 AM »

The freezer trick does work a lot of the time, just make sure to put it in a ziploc back with some anti-moisture packets.

OIO · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2003, 09:57:23 AM »

Ach im at work now. I got 2 drives, ones a maxtor and the other one's a quantum fireball.

I think my dead HDD is the quantum.

Thanks for the replies!

I do keep backups, but them pics were one of those things i forgot. Damn it all, i backup the junk i DL from the net but not my irreplaceable pics

*bangs head on wall*

The drive makes no noises or anything. Ive checked the jumpers, reseated the cables (on HDD and MBD), used different IDE and different power cables, nada.

The HDD is usually VERY quiet, ill have to go home and put my hand on it to see if it actually is rev'ing up when its turned on.

Freezer huh? Heck if i'll try it as a last resort.

Siaf__csf · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2003, 11:00:44 AM »

If the electronics of the HDD are dead (no lifesigns at all) you're actually pretty lucky.

Any competent hardware store can fix it by replacing the HDD electronics board (costs you only the price of a second HDD and an hours work.)

If it shows SOME lifesigns but won't work, then it might well be a jammed head - in that case the tap with screwdriver could fix it aswell.

I'd try to tap the HD firmly with a screwdriver a couple times - not TOO hard because then it will break for sure.

If that won't work - or if you see immediately the electronics is busted - ask your local hardware shop to replace the electronics from another hdd (which they'll gladly sell to you) and you may end up a winner.

qts · « **Reply #11 on:** June 01, 2003, 03:25:35 PM »

Bonehead question time from a PC tech:

Have you tried the HDD on another known good power connector directly connected to the PSU? On another IDE cable?

There is often a LED on the HDD. Does it glow? If there isn't there's often a connector for one.

If you pull the HDD from the case and put your ear right next to it, what sounds does it make? A clicking sound is very bad news.

If the HDD is electrically dead, do try and find an identical HDD and transfer the logic board.

The data recovery places like Ontrack are costly but they do work - they saved a multi--million pound contract for one of my (ex) users. But I hope you haven't got anything dodgy on that HDD.

OIO · « **Reply #12 on:** June 02, 2003, 08:48:12 AM »

im a pc tech too qts, ive just never had to recover data from a dead one (its clicking ma'm? no problem, we'll send you a replacement one.. no ma'm, your data is not covered by the warranty

and that sort of thing)

It does not click, in fact its just as silent as when it was working properly. I cant tell if its revving up or not, put my hand on my new one (working properly) and the old one (the dead one) and I cant feel a thing on either.

Ill tap it with the screwdriver tonight, if not i guess ill try the logic board thing.