Hard Drive Failure - Clicking

[Stonesoldier]

Hard drive failed today
makes the clicking noise like a clock
NO Grinding or Scraping noise !

bios wont read it - when it does it shows it incorrectly ( 30 gig WD300BB shows as a 10 gig WD100BB )
Dont know why it does that, maybe the board failed?
cant access it with manufactrers diagnostic tools ( WDC Diagdlg 5.04c )

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

I have 2 of these drives ( Western digital 30 gig WD 300BB )
destroying both drives to get my data back is an option IF it works

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?
Did it work ?


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
Might work if i had a couple gigs but NOT 28 gigs

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
I know the drive has to be replaced
but i need the data off of it
dropping a $200 for a new drive is no big deal but $500-$3400 for data recovery is a little out of my budget
especially since we all know its not the $500 fix

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?



Idea's?
Options?
Links?
Voodoo magic?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Stonesoldier
Hard drive failed today
makes the clicking noise like a clock
NO Grinding or Scraping noise !

bios wont read it - when it does it shows it incorrectly ( 30 gig WD300BB shows as a 10 gig WD100BB )
Dont know why it does that, maybe the board failed?
cant access it with manufactrers diagnostic tools ( WDC Diagdlg 5.04c )

Sounds like the second-stage firmware (normally stored on the disk platters themselves in "hidden" sectors) has somehow gotten corrupted, or the sector(s) that it is located on have failed. Swapping the controller-boards will likely not help. However, if there is no grinding/scraping/other mechanical-defect sound, then it is very likely to be recoverable by a competent data-recovery house. Send it to the pros. There really isn't anything that you could likely do to get it working again.

Originally posted by: Stonesoldier
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
I know the drive has to be replaced
but i need the data off of it
dropping a $200 for a new drive is no big deal but $500-$3400 for data recovery is a little out of my budget
especially since we all know its not the $500 fix

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?

Well, the only other alternative, would be to order the PC-3000 hard-drive recovery package, which is a software/hardware combo. I don't know if it includes the necessary "bits" to work with that model drive or not. I've never used that package, but I've read about it. I don't think it's cheap though.

 

[Stonesoldier]

where can i find this PC3000 hard drive tool?
tried looking it up but no luck on google

do you have a link?

 

[Slikkster]

I wouldn't quit so fast. There's plenty of anecdotal evidence of temporarily getting drives back long enough to recover data. Here's a compilation of experiences:

http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6255-5029761.html

 

[montag451]

Good link Slikkster.