Guys, I need help...

[MAME]

I'm very sorry this is in the wrong forum but I need help asap.

Last night my 3 month old Western Digital 80 gig hard drive started making weird clicking noises. The computer froze and I restarted. Now the computer won't detect my hard drive.

I had very important stuff on there and I was wondering if it possible for that information to be recovered. Are there stores that can fix my hard drive? Is there anything I can try? I tried putting it in the freezer as suggested by many people but it did not work.

Like I said, it makes loud clicking noises.


Thanks

 

[dolph]

data recovery normally starts around $500, iirc. google for it, you'll find plenty of links

 

[GroundZero]

head crashed...

 

[Bulk Beef]

Prepare for backup related flames.

 

[Zee]

try making it a secondary drive and see if it can be read that way.

Freeze it.

and you should always mirror your harddrive. on another hdd or on dvd's. Go invest 20 bucks and buy some dvd RW

 

[Fiveohhh]

no matter how many threads I see like this you'd think I'd start backing stuff up....Maybe next week

 

[MAME]

Originally posted by: sward666
Prepare for backup related flames.

My main drive is a 80 gig, my back up drive is 40. I had about 70 gigs full so I lost about 40 gigs of information (I backed up selected things).

I was going to buy a dvd burner and back up my data but I wasn't in a hurry because 1) I just got done with school and 2) I didn't think a 3 month old hard drive would die on me!

 

[TitanDiddly]

I once heard from somebody who had ordered the exact same drive, and swapped the board from the new one onto the old, which worked. Sounds like you've got head damage though- so it probably won't. If you're desperate, you could try it.

 

[MAME]

Originally posted by: dolph
data recovery normally starts around $500, iirc. google for it, you'll find plenty of links

as important as that information is, I don't believe I can afford $500.

 

[MAME]

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
I once heard from somebody who had ordered the exact same drive, and swapped the board from the new one onto the old, which worked. Sounds like you've got head damage though- so it probably won't. If you're desperate, you could try it.

Well, I guess I could try it on my roommate's computer.


Should I put the hard drive back in the freezer? It was in there all night and my hands freaking froze when I tried to pick it up.

 

[apac]

Originally posted by: MAME

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
I once heard from somebody who had ordered the exact same drive, and swapped the board from the new one onto the old, which worked. Sounds like you've got head damage though- so it probably won't. If you're desperate, you could try it.

Well, I guess I could try it on my roommate's computer.


Should I put the hard drive back in the freezer? It was in there all night and my hands freaking froze when I tried to pick it up.

I hope you put it in a plastic bag. Else I'd wait a week before turning it on or condensation will destroy the electronics.

 

[MAME]

Originally posted by: apac

Originally posted by: MAME

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
I once heard from somebody who had ordered the exact same drive, and swapped the board from the new one onto the old, which worked. Sounds like you've got head damage though- so it probably won't. If you're desperate, you could try it.

Well, I guess I could try it on my roommate's computer.


Should I put the hard drive back in the freezer? It was in there all night and my hands freaking froze when I tried to pick it up.

I hope you put it in a plastic bag. Else I'd wait a week before turning it on or condensation will destroy the electronics.

I put it in an electro static discharge bag and taped it tight.

 

[Zee]

Originally posted by: MAME

Originally posted by: apac

Originally posted by: MAME

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
I once heard from somebody who had ordered the exact same drive, and swapped the board from the new one onto the old, which worked. Sounds like you've got head damage though- so it probably won't. If you're desperate, you could try it.

Well, I guess I could try it on my roommate's computer.


Should I put the hard drive back in the freezer? It was in there all night and my hands freaking froze when I tried to pick it up.

I hope you put it in a plastic bag. Else I'd wait a week before turning it on or condensation will destroy the electronics.

I put it in an electro static discharge bag and taped it tight.

you could try but it supposedly only works once. You have to plug it in and use immediately after taking it out. After that, it's on it's way out the door

 

[Tbirdkid]

OK. Why in the h@#$ did you put it in the freezer? There is absolutely no reason for that. What is freezing gonna do except for freeze the liquid bearings inside it? Besides that.... even if he put it in a plastic bag.... there is generally going to be condensation just from the air inside of the bag before closing it and putting it in there. OMG

Go buy an exact same hard drive... pull the board off the back and put the new one in. Then recover your data then put the board back on the new one and use it. Then rma the old drive and get a new one. WAYYYY cheaper than 500 bills and not as stupid as freezing it.


Peace

 

[Zee]

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
OK. Why in the h@#$ did you put it in the freezer? There is absolutely no reason for that. What is freezing gonna do except for freeze the liquid bearings inside it? Besides that.... even if he put it in a plastic bag.... there is generally going to be condensation just from the air inside of the bag before closing it and putting it in there. OMG

Go buy an exact same hard drive... pull the board off the back and put the new one in. Then recover your data then put the board back on the new one and use it. Then rma the old drive and get a new one. WAYYYY cheaper than 500 bills and not as stupid as freezing it.


Peace

uhmmm... I don't want to explain the whole thing but run a google search.

By the way MAME, i just re-read your post and you might have screwed up. How "tight" did you tape the bag? I hope it was air tight.... like a ziplock bag....

 

[MAME]

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
OK. Why in the h@#$ did you put it in the freezer? There is absolutely no reason for that. What is freezing gonna do except for freeze the liquid bearings inside it? Besides that.... even if he put it in a plastic bag.... there is generally going to be condensation just from the air inside of the bag before closing it and putting it in there. OMG

Go buy an exact same hard drive... pull the board off the back and put the new one in. Then recover your data then put the board back on the new one and use it. Then rma the old drive and get a new one. WAYYYY cheaper than 500 bills and not as stupid as freezing it.


Peace

I have a pdf file that explains how to freeze it and why it works. When I plugged it in, it was still making the clicking noises so it seems to not have damaged it.

Anyway, can you please explain what you mean by "pull the board off the back and put the new one in. Then recover your data then put the board back on the new one and use it. " ?

I'm not exactly sure what you mean there. Thanks!

 

[MAME]

Originally posted by: Lazee

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
OK. Why in the h@#$ did you put it in the freezer? There is absolutely no reason for that. What is freezing gonna do except for freeze the liquid bearings inside it? Besides that.... even if he put it in a plastic bag.... there is generally going to be condensation just from the air inside of the bag before closing it and putting it in there. OMG

Go buy an exact same hard drive... pull the board off the back and put the new one in. Then recover your data then put the board back on the new one and use it. Then rma the old drive and get a new one. WAYYYY cheaper than 500 bills and not as stupid as freezing it.


Peace

uhmmm... I don't want to explain the whole thing but run a google search.

By the way MAME, i just re-read your post and you might have screwed up. How "tight" did you tape the bag? I hope it was air tight.... like a ziplock bag....

yeah, it was air tight

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: MAME

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
OK. Why in the h@#$ did you put it in the freezer? There is absolutely no reason for that. What is freezing gonna do except for freeze the liquid bearings inside it? Besides that.... even if he put it in a plastic bag.... there is generally going to be condensation just from the air inside of the bag before closing it and putting it in there. OMG

Go buy an exact same hard drive... pull the board off the back and put the new one in. Then recover your data then put the board back on the new one and use it. Then rma the old drive and get a new one. WAYYYY cheaper than 500 bills and not as stupid as freezing it.


Peace

I have a pdf file that explains how to freeze it and why it works. When I plugged it in, it was still making the clicking noises so it seems to not have damaged it.

Anyway, can you please explain what you mean by "pull the board off the back and put the new one in. Then recover your data then put the board back on the new one and use it. " ?

I'm not exactly sure what you mean there. Thanks!

On drives that I've taken apart, the board and the head connect by a set of headers. When the drive is dismantled, you can actually pull the board right off, and plop a new one on. I don't know if this will help, it may be a mechanical problem, not electronic.

 

[MAME]

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox

Originally posted by: MAME

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
OK. Why in the h@#$ did you put it in the freezer? There is absolutely no reason for that. What is freezing gonna do except for freeze the liquid bearings inside it? Besides that.... even if he put it in a plastic bag.... there is generally going to be condensation just from the air inside of the bag before closing it and putting it in there. OMG

Go buy an exact same hard drive... pull the board off the back and put the new one in. Then recover your data then put the board back on the new one and use it. Then rma the old drive and get a new one. WAYYYY cheaper than 500 bills and not as stupid as freezing it.


Peace

I have a pdf file that explains how to freeze it and why it works. When I plugged it in, it was still making the clicking noises so it seems to not have damaged it.

Anyway, can you please explain what you mean by "pull the board off the back and put the new one in. Then recover your data then put the board back on the new one and use it. " ?

I'm not exactly sure what you mean there. Thanks!

On drives that I've taken apart, the board and the head connect by a set of headers. When the drive is dismantled, you can actually pull the board right off, and plop a new one on. I don't know if this will help, it may be a mechanical problem, not electronic.

Oh, I see. Is there a diagram that shows each step?

 

[Zee]

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
OK. Why in the h@#$ did you put it in the freezer? There is absolutely no reason for that. What is freezing gonna do except for freeze the liquid bearings inside it? Besides that.... even if he put it in a plastic bag.... there is generally going to be condensation just from the air inside of the bag before closing it and putting it in there. OMG

Go buy an exact same hard drive... pull the board off the back and put the new one in. Then recover your data then put the board back on the new one and use it. Then rma the old drive and get a new one. WAYYYY cheaper than 500 bills and not as stupid as freezing it.


Peace

also you usually can't rma the drive because you have to break the sticker to open it...

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: MAME

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox

Originally posted by: MAME

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
OK. Why in the h@#$ did you put it in the freezer? There is absolutely no reason for that. What is freezing gonna do except for freeze the liquid bearings inside it? Besides that.... even if he put it in a plastic bag.... there is generally going to be condensation just from the air inside of the bag before closing it and putting it in there. OMG

Go buy an exact same hard drive... pull the board off the back and put the new one in. Then recover your data then put the board back on the new one and use it. Then rma the old drive and get a new one. WAYYYY cheaper than 500 bills and not as stupid as freezing it.


Peace

I have a pdf file that explains how to freeze it and why it works. When I plugged it in, it was still making the clicking noises so it seems to not have damaged it.

Anyway, can you please explain what you mean by "pull the board off the back and put the new one in. Then recover your data then put the board back on the new one and use it. " ?

I'm not exactly sure what you mean there. Thanks!

On drives that I've taken apart, the board and the head connect by a set of headers. When the drive is dismantled, you can actually pull the board right off, and plop a new one on. I don't know if this will help, it may be a mechanical problem, not electronic.

Oh, I see. Is there a diagram that shows each step?

Not that I know of. Grab some crappy drive from the trash and open it up to see how it works, that'll help.

 

[Ness]

I suggest first off, you leave keep the hard drive unhooked until you are ready to pull data from it. Write down the info from the drive such as heads, sectors, all that junk.

Second, get a new hard drive. Hook both the hard drives up and manually add the drive in your BIOS. (using the information you wrote down.)
the second your OS starts up, get the most important files off there first.

I've had a couple HDs develop a click that allowed me to get my most important files off of there, and backup most everything else I wanted until it completely crapped out.

Also, I've had some luck with a program called "bad copy pro".. it may take a VERY long time on an 80GB drive to use, but if you get what you need off of there, you might try running it and see if it will last long enough to run completely.

This is, of course, assuming it isn't too late for the drive

(back your stuff up!)

 

[oniq]

Wow, how many ATOTers don't actually know what they are doing with computers?

 

[MAME]

Originally posted by: Ness
I suggest first off, you leave keep the hard drive unhooked until you are ready to pull data from it. Write down the info from the drive such as heads, sectors, all that junk.

Second, get a new hard drive. Hook both the hard drives up and manually add the drive in your BIOS. (using the information you wrote down.)
the second your OS starts up, get the most important files off there first.

I've had a couple HDs develop a click that allowed me to get my most important files off of there, and backup most everything else I wanted until it completely crapped out.

Also, I've had some luck with a program called "bad copy pro".. it may take a VERY long time on an 80GB drive to use, but if you get what you need off of there, you might try running it and see if it will last long enough to run completely.

This is, of course, assuming it isn't too late for the drive

(back your stuff up!)

Ok, well if I start up the computer with it as a master or slave, it's detected half the time before it POST's but after that, the computer just stop booting in to xp. Where is the information about the heads, sectors and such? Do I get it from online?

Do you think it will even work though? It's being detected some times already as it is...

bad copy pro works only if the drive is detected, right?

 

[MAME]

Originally posted by: oniq
Wow, how many ATOTers don't actually know what they are doing with computers?

I've never had a hard drive fail on me. That is why I'm asking for help