OMG - How screwed are you when your HDD goes click click?!?!?

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GasX

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
It crashed and the OS HDD is clicking every second or so. I assume the drive is dead, but is ALL data lost or is there any way to retrieve a few key files?

It is quite possible that my fiance just lost her entire business plan she has been working on for two months... :Q:|:Q:|
 
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TheBoyBlunder

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2003
5,742
1
0
You're probably very screwed. There's a chance you could retrieve it yourself...but odds are you'd have to go to a data recovery firm which naturally isn't cheap.
 
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agnitrate

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
3,761
1
0
Try hooking it up as a slave on another system and give it a while before you actually power it up. It's happened to me and I've got it working long enough to pull data off of it. Unless we're talking like no power on whatsoever and just strictly clicking, there's a possible chance.

-silver
 
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Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Mann... *worst nightmare*

You could try the freezer trick....
 
K

KeyserSoze

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 2000
6,048
1
81
There's some sort of Freezer trick, and don't quote me on this, go out and find it or wait till someone posts it here.

But I think if you stick it in the freezer for a few, it'll put a little life back in it or something, just long enough for data recovery. I THINK. Wait till someone comes in here, and tells me to shut the hell up and that I have no idea what I'm talking about.





KeyserSoze
 
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Ulfwald

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
May 27, 2000
8,646
0
76
I have recovered many hdds worth of data by putting them in the freezer
 
GasX

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
How should I go about retriving files? I can set-up another box and access it via network, but I don't know what is stored in shared directories. I can also use a win98 boot disk...

Any other options?
 
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Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
81
Originally posted by: Mwilding
It crashed and the OS HDD is clicking every second or so. I assume the drive is dead, but is ALL data lost or is there any way to retrieve a few key files?

It is quite possible that my fiance just lost her entire business plan she has been working on for two months... :Q:|:Q:|
Click to expand...

Umm, I lost 114GB on a dead 120GB..If anyone should be crying it is me...


I lost 4-6+ yrs of duments..e.ven my resume.
 
G

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
81
Originally posted by: KeyserSoze
There's some sort of Freezer trick, and don't quote me on this, go out and find it or wait till someone posts it here.

But I think if you stick it in the freezer for a few, it'll put a little life back in it or something, just long enough for data recovery. I THINK. Wait till someone comes in here, and tells me to shut the hell up and that I have no idea what I'm talking about.





KeyserSoze
Click to expand...

Yeah, pop it in the freezer and then try to recover stuff from it qucikly...very quickly.
 
Maetryx

Maetryx

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2001
4,849
1
81
Twice I have managed to get data off of failing hard drives. One just degraded slowly over time, clicking more and more and getting slower and slower. The other had sudden physical failures in the system area. Both times I just got lucky and got them running normally long enough to copy important files.

Good luck. You need that the most, I think. :(
 
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wfbberzerker

Lifer
Apr 12, 2001
10,423
0
0
yep, just pop that sucker in the freezer (prolly overnight should do), and then see if you can get your stuff out of it.
 
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Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
yep, just pop that sucker in the freezer (prolly overnight should do), and then see if you can get your stuff out of it.
Click to expand...
Should be about as cold as it's going to get after an hour, maybe two if your freezer is teh suck. Maybe 3 for good measure. ;)
 
S

SSP

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
17,727
0
0
Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
yep, just pop that sucker in the freezer (prolly overnight should do), and then see if you can get your stuff out of it.
Click to expand...

Dont forget the zip lock bag.
 
GasX

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
Well, so far I have rescued the most important directory, but there are still some vital files to be rescued.

The drive was being detected and one time I got access to it via my Win98 boot disk. I copied all the files I could onto a usb zip drive with the only issue being truncated file names.

The fvcker is now chilling in the freezer and hopefully it will work,even for just a few minutes, in the morning.

fingers crossed...
 
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ThisIsMatt

Banned
Aug 4, 2000
11,820
1
0
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Well, so far I have rescued the most important directory, but there are still some vital files to be rescued.

The drive was being detected and one time I got access to it via my Win98 boot disk. I copied all the files I could onto a usb zip drive with the only issue being truncated file names.

The fvcker is now chilling in the freezer and hopefully it will work,even for just a few minutes, in the morning.

fingers crossed...
Click to expand...
You're in a bind trying to remove data from a drive quickly and you're using a boot disk and a zip drive? Ugg...don't you have another drive/system you can boot with the failing drive as slave?

What is it, an ibm deathstar?

 
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ThisIsMatt

Banned
Aug 4, 2000
11,820
1
0
Originally posted by: KK
What is the freezer method supposed to do?

KK
Click to expand...
It's supposed to temporarily alleviate some stress on the drive mechanics (ie motor bearings, head-arm bearings, heads).

It's supposed to temporarily alleviate some stress on the drive mechanics (ie motor bearings, head-arm bearings, heads).

It's supposed to temporarily alleviate some stress on the drive mechanics (ie motor bearings, head-arm bearings, heads).
 
GasX

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
Originally posted by: ThisIsMattYou're in a bind trying to remove data from a drive quickly and you're using a boot disk and a zip drive? Ugg...don't you have another drive/system you can boot with the failing drive as slave?

What is it, an ibm deathstar?
Click to expand...
Western Digital 300BB 30GB 7200rpm

I made a trip to my apartment (problem is with my PC at my fiance's place). I could try making the bad HDD a slave on this box...

How long after I take it out of the freezer can I start trying it?

 
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ThisIsMatt

Banned
Aug 4, 2000
11,820
1
0
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: ThisIsMattYou're in a bind trying to remove data from a drive quickly and you're using a boot disk and a zip drive? Ugg...don't you have another drive/system you can boot with the failing drive as slave?

What is it, an ibm deathstar?
Click to expand...
Western Digital 300BB 30GB 7200rpm

I made a trip to my apartment (problem is with my PC at my fiance's place). I could try making the bad HDD a slave on this box...

How long after I take it out of the freezer can I start trying it?
Click to expand...
Immediately. Freezer --> PC.

 
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Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
2
71
Had my hard drive do that a while back..got a new bigger hard drive about week after, everything was still good to transfer over, and I'm left with a bigger hard drive :)
 
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