Hard Drive Problem

[littletemple]

I've got a strange hard drive. Just recently I began to hear some loud noises coming from one of my hard drives. So I rebooted and it took awhile to load up. That drive didn't show up, so I turned it off. The next day, I turned it on and the O/S recognized the hard drive, but it was still making those noises. I know that the hard drive is probably going to die soon. What I wanna know is what I could do now to possibly save some of the data on that drive or even save the drive itself? Right now, windows ain't recognizing it and it's still making wacko noises. I've read this on some website:

Remove the hard drive from the drive cage and tap firmly with a knuckle on the outer casing (not hard enough to damage the unit). The shock may free any stuck mechanisms.

Place the hard drive upside down in the drive cage. This causes a slight change in head geometry due to gravity and can occasionally solve the problem.

Putting the hard drive in a waterproof bag and then sticking it in the freezer overnight and then straight back into the PC. If you are lucky, this method may work and will allow you to quickly transfer the data before it dies again. The physics behind the method is unknown, but could be related to the expansion/contraction of the metal components inside freeing any mechanisms. This has been reported to work quite often, but the effects will not last for long at all.

Any comments on those methods?

 

[CanonCam]

I can't vouch for the validity of any of those methods, but I will say that you should get a new hard drive in there, so when it does come up, you can transfer your drive contents to the new one.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Well, saving the data should be priority number one. If the HD is dying, then there's really nothing you can do to save it.

The Freezer Trick worked for me
However, I'd only use it if the drive stops working before you can copy the data over. In my case, the drive would lock up after only a few minutes and I never could get all the data backed up. Putting it into the freezer allowed the drive to run for 15-20 mins and this gave me enough time to move the data over.

 

[littletemple]

I think I'm going to try the freezer trick, because I've read that it sometimes work. No harm done since if it screws up the drive...no prob cuz the drive was already messed up anyways. Weird though, because out of the 3 drives in my computer, that's the one that doesn't get used or accessed a lot. I just hope there's still warranty on it. I've never RMA'd a hard drive before.....this is included in the warranty right?

 

[BlueWeasel]

Yes...I've not had any problem replacing dead drives that were still under warranty.

 

[xbassman]

You didn't say what brand drive you have....
One of my Seagates somehow got some data corruption a week ago and I used the Seagate software to analyze the disk. the software verified that it could write to the suspect sectors and marked them so i could boot from it. Some of my data was mocked but most everything was accessable.

I would start with the software from the manufacturer, then if it doesn't work try the freezer thing.
You RMA should be an easy thing unless it is a Hitachi (IBM) drive. They make you send it back to them in an approved container. Then you wait for replacement. Last one I did with them took about 2 weeks to get my replacement.

 

[littletemple]

It's a Western Digital WD800BB made in November 2001 and still under warranty until 1/2005. What do you mean by "approved container" and what is one?

 

[littletemple]

oops

 

[xbassman]

Originally posted by: littletemple
It's a Western Digital WD800BB made in November 2001 and still under warranty until 1/2005. What do you mean by "approved container" and what is one?

Hitachi has it's definition of "approved" packing on their website. It includes cut-out foam of other container used to ship new hard disks. Use of bubble wrap will void their warranty.

You have a WD though.....They have good customer service. If you give them a credit card number they will immediately ship a replacement, you can then put the defective drive in the shipping carton and packing you replacement came in and your CC will be credited when they receive your RMA.

Their testing software may help you retrieve data and or give you a defect code to obtain an RMA.

hmmm...that reminds me I have a WD I should call them about. I pulled it out after it started making annoying bearing noise.

 

[isasir]

I just stuck my hard drive in the freezer....

Bios wasn't even recognizing the harddrive, and it just kept spinning and clicking, so I think I'm down to my last resort (well, I guess I can try the dropping it technique if freezing doesn't work.)