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Please help. Trying to save files off of an almost dead hard drive?

M

Metalloid

Diamond Member
My friend's hard drive is almost completely cooked. At least 1/10 of the sectors are unreadable. I put it in my computer to see if I could grab some of the important files off of it, but when it is in my computer it refuses to boot. I get almost all the way loading windows off of the good hard drive, and then it wants to start accesssing the bad one. Safe mode and command prompt were both no-go's. Is there any way I can keep the bad hard drive off until Windows loads and then start it up to grab the files that are in good sectors? I know that if I can just get in Windows I might be able to get some of them. Any help is much appreciated, as my friend's parents think that whenever something goes wrong with the computer.... it is his fault. Thanks in advance.

-Metalloid
 
I don't know about putting it in the freezer overnight... seems like that might be a bit too long in there, depending on how long your definition of "overnight" is...
Around like 2-3 hours I think is what some people do, and I've heard TONS of success stories doing this. Might want to put it in a ziplock bag or something first.

If my time range is incorrect, someone please correct me, as I've never personally done it.... never had the unfortunate opportunity.
 
Originally posted by: zsouthboy
Try sticking it in the freezer overnight.

It might work long enough to get most of the data off.
Click to expand...
2-3 hours does sound good, however long it takes to get cold, shouldn't be that long.

 
There's also a variation on the freezer trick that I heard about. You invert a can of compressed air and spray the alcohol onto the dirve. The alcohol evaporates and cools the drive while the drive is operating.
 
remember to put the HDD in a water resistant bag else to protect the HDD.

Too bad we can have the HDD sit in the freezer while we boot with a computer 😉
 
In the freezer for 2 hours and I took it out with no success. Still making the clicking noises. May try some of the other suggestions, and if anyone else has suggestions, please let me know.
 
Well I tried the freezer trick for longer... with no success. Does anyone know what can be done if they hard drive is making the clicking/half spinning noise? I am desperate.
 
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