HDD dead, how do I salvage data?

[Novdid]

My harddrive decided to die the other day...

It's a Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 160GB SATA. When I start up the computer it doesn't seem to spin up, and the SATA controller doesn't see it.

The thing is there are some pics on the drive I want to salvage, can revive it long enough to do just that?

What to do?

[Rakido]

Hi Novdid,

i have no good idea at the moment for getting the harddrive itself to work, but if it works again and you need software to recover the files, take a look here: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Storage/Q_20649105.html

Impressive list of software and tools how to recover.

And add Spinrite 6 to the list http://www.grc.com/ some folks here praised it like nothing else.


Rakido

[Fluff]

Well I'm not sure quite what you can do.

But

http://www.ontrack.co.uk/

will salvage the data. Depends on how much you need it. They can do things like transfer the platters into a fresh drive etc. does cost €€€€€ tho.

[ayoub_ibrahim]

Re: HDD dead, how do I salvage data?

Originally posted by Novdid
My harddrive decided to die the other day...

It's a Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 160GB SATA. When I start up the computer it doesn't seem to spin up, and the SATA controller doesn't see it.

The thing is there are some pics on the drive I want to salvage, can revive it long enough to do just that?

What to do?

since you're desperate you can try putting the hard drive into a sealed plastic bag then put it in the freezer for a few hours. At the end of that time, reinstall it into your computer and hopefully it may work for a short time allowing your access to get your pics and whatever before it fails again.
It may or may not work but give it a shot!

[Paddy]

Ayoub.

I'm not sure how this will affect the warranty though????

[SpiralDragon]

yeh that might work.. had a similar problem... got some waterproof ice bags and srounded the drive with them.. surly enugh it worked... got my data off it... had enugh time to run tests on it befor it failed again

[Jammrock]

The freezer trick works charms for drives not spinning anymore (save when the power connector to the motor is shot). The physics behind it are simple, a cold electric motor requires less energy to start, because the cooler a metal is the easier it passes electricity (think along the line of superconductivity).

AFAIK, it does not affect the warranty. We freeze hard drives all the time at work and we've never been denied warranty service.

Jammrock

[spadnos]

Originally posted by Paddy
Ayoub.

I'm not sure how this will affect the warranty though????

Well - as long as you don't ship it back to the company packed in dry ice, you should be all set.

- Steve

[Wombat]

I think you guys are all being too drastic.

If it doesn't spin up, and the controller doesn't see it, then the drive's electronics are probably shot. Your data is probably just fine, sitting on your platters. I'm 85% confident that you just need to have the drive's control board replaced, and it will work again.

Until then, though, I recommend leaving the drive alone and not messing with it until repaired.

[Kurt]

Know a good place to start looking for controller boards?

[Dilitante1]

Originally posted by Kurt
Know a good place to start looking for controller boards?

by an identical drive and swap it out

[Wombat]

Originally posted by Dilitante1
by an identical drive and swap it out

That might work. There' often different revs of the electronics. And there's certain Maxtor models that you can't just swap boards on (ID # in memory).

[Novdid]

Ok, I see I have a few suggestions. Either put it in the freezer or get a drive just like it and swap out the controller board(if possible)? If not possible how will find another one?

The latter is a bit tough though, my financial situation is a bit bad at the moment...

[G400SG16mb]

I think the freezer trick is for if the engine is sticky and doesn't want to start spinning. Some people just use a hammer, but that doesn't sound like a good idea.

But if the chipboard is bown, then it needs to be replaced with a compatible (read identical) one, then the hdd will work fine.

[Wombat]

Originally posted by Novdid
Ok, I see I have a few suggestions. Either put it in the freezer or get a drive just like it and swap out the controller board(if possible)? If not possible how will find another one?

The latter is a bit tough though, my financial situation is a bit bad at the moment...

Your drive should be under warranty. The board shouldn't cost you anything if you send the drive in.