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Hard Drive Clicking - Failure

S

Stonesoldier

Member
Hard drive failed today
makes the clicking noise like a clock
arm slaps back n forth across platers
NO Grinding or Scraping noise !

bios wont read it - when it does it shows it incorrectly ( 30 gig shown as a 10 gig )
cant access it with manufactrers diagnostic tools ( WDC Diagdlg 5.04c )

can i recover my files?
if so how? Software? hardware tinkering?

I have two of these drives ( Western digital 30 gig)
is it possible to replace the board and get it to work long enogh to recover 28 gigs of data? has anyone tried this before?

I know the drive has to be replaced but i need the data off of it
dropping a $100 for a new drive is no big deal but $500-$3400 for data recovery is a little out of my budget

any ideas?
Links?
 
I read a while back (not joking) about sticking it in the freezer for 4 or 5 hours and then trying to boot up and recover the data very quickly before it heats back up again. Don't remember if it was for this specific kind of situation but try to search the forums. You could also try SpinRite but it costs $89 US. Yes, the drive is kaput.
 
I have heard about the freezer option
but i have about 28 gigs of data on the drive
dont think its gonna stay very cold after i pull it outta deep frezze and add power to it

But seriously
what im looking for are some options of what i can do to get my data off the drive
i know its a dead drive
what i need is a way for it to work long enough to get the data off of it and onto a NEW drive
Is there a way to do a temporary mechanical fix?
I have 2 of these Hard drives (WD 300BB )
destroying both drives to get my data back is an option IF it works


Idea's?
Options?
Links?
Voodoo magic?
 
Originally posted by: Stonesoldier
I have heard about the freezer option
but i have about 28 gigs of data on the drive
dont think its gonna stay very cold after i pull it outta deep frezze and add power to it

But seriously
what im looking for are some options of what i can do to get my data off the drive
i know its a dead drive
what i need is a way for it to work long enough to get the data off of it and onto a NEW drive
Is there a way to do a temporary mechanical fix?
I have 2 of these Hard drives (WD 300BB )
destroying both drives to get my data back is an option IF it works


Idea's?
Options?
Links?
Voodoo magic?
Click to expand...

You could try the freezer trick, and/or recovery software (if the drive reads anything at all). If that fails, and you have reason to believe the failure is nonmechanical, you can try a circuit board swap with an identical drive.

But beyond that, you need a data recovery firm that can disassemble the drive in a clean room and read the platters directly. That'll cost a couple grand.

Also, this is not Highly Technical.
 
I'd try swapping the controller circuit board, for sure. Should be non-destructive. Ribbon cables aren't as hard as they look if you notice that they have locking devices. There are varying types, but if you release the lock, the thin edge easily pulls out and re-inserts, then re-lock.
 
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