Recover Files from crashed HDD

[Felix The Assassin]

I don't promote, recommend or in any way suggest: But two other places come to mind for home and home office users.

disk doctors, and gillware "used" to carry honorable mentions in this field.

As well, our own Yorick had a catastrophic failure a few years back. He might have some insight as well.

[Felix The Assassin]

Originally Posted by Larry_OHF I've tried some things to get access to the disk (make it appear) but no luck. I then turned off the PC and turned back on and the system tried to spin up the drive which resulted in multiple "thack-tick.tick.tick.tick-thack-tick.tick.tick.tick..."

That narrows it.

A platter(s) is making contact with something. Could be the arm or the spindle, the possibility of low speed recovery "could" exist, as long as the contact did not scratch the face of the platter.

Larry, "I" would not attempt the drive again if the data is valuable.

[Zebodog]

You will find no wiser advice than that which Felix speaks.

There is a microscopic chance that a faulty molex connector is grounding on you and causing the issue, but it is unlikely. As said before though, if the data is valuable go no further yourself.

So, how do you feel about regular backups to removable media now?

[Lavindathar]

If theres a chance of low speed recovery, try winternals. Always worked for me.

[Larry_OHF]

Originally Posted by Zebodog So, how do you feel about regular backups to removable media now?

I am still in the "denial / depressed" stage.
I'll be a rather firm advocate of more frequent backups if I survive.

[Yorick]

Originally Posted by Felix The Assassin As well, our own Yorick had a catastrophic failure a few years back. He might have some insight as well.

I remember that all too well.

I am only NOW looking at getting some recovery for one or two of those drives, as when they went down, the price was astronomical. I eventually dealt with living with the loss, and moved on.

B&H in Manhattan is my ray of hope for ever hearing those files.

If it all works, I'll send you more details Larry.

[Yorick]

Originally Posted by Larry_OHF I am still in the "denial / depressed" stage. I'll be a rather firm advocate of more frequent backups if I survive.

That sucks Larry. Sorry to hear it.

[Zebodog]

Originally Posted by Larry_OHF I am still in the "denial / depressed" stage. I'll be a rather firm advocate of more frequent backups if I survive.

It may be small consolation however I suspect many of us who now back up their data religiously do so because we learned the hard way - I speak from experience. Unfortunately it took me 2 dead drives before I learned.

[Felix The Assassin]

Originally Posted by Lavindathar If theres a chance of low speed recovery, try winternals. Always worked for me.

Please enlighten me. Larry as a home user IIRC, does not have a PC repair bench. How can he perform a low speed recovery?

The moment he turns it on the MB is going to slap it with 12VDC, and expect it to report. The HD is going to snap to attention and attempt to come up to speed and report for duty. It is here at this juncture that further or possible damage can happen. A true tech bench can adjust the speed of the drive at the moment it receives power. Hence, Low Speed Recovery.

Granted, I have been out of it for awhile, maybe these are now available to the home user enthuiast?

[Larry_OHF]

Can I wrap the drive in a non-static covering and leave it sitting for an extended time, knowing that someday I will have enough money to have it recovered? Does the information on the drive degrade of the period of, lets say, a year?