Oh God, Hard Drive Failure!

[SC68Cal]

Okay, so I was running anti-virus and my hard drive died. I think it just overheated and bit the dust. When I start up the computer it stays at grey screen and hard drive clicks.

I took it out of the computer, loaded up the slave drive and installed OS X on it. In the meantime I'm waiting for the dead hard drive to chill in the freezer so I can pop it back in and copy everything off it.

I'm so damn stupid, I didn't leave enough space between the two hard drives for it to cool properly. I'm so mad at myself. I just hope the freezer trick works.

 

[mad jew]

Don't put the hard drive back in the machine once it's been in the freezer. Condensation from the air in the freezer can remain in the components and ultimately short circuit and destroy your machine. Leave it for a long time before getting it near your computer again. If possible, leave it for a few days, maybe even a week.

 

[SC68Cal]

Okay, well. Here's the update so far. I let it cool down a little and tried to boot up, no luck. Still clicks, so we're going to be going for the deep freeze now. From what I understand though, people claim that the freezer trick works as long as the hard drive stays cold. Soon as it warms up it's kaput again.

Anyway, I've taken the liberty of wrapping it first in an anti-static bag and then a ziplock. Both I tried my best to remove as much air as possible.

 

[Carson]

I've been wondering about this for a while. If your hD fails coulnt you theoreticly buy a working one of the same type and take them both apart. Replace the discs from the old one into the new one and put it all back together?

 

[mad jew]

I really wouldn't use the freezer method. I've seen the same technique used for RAM and laptop batteries (among others) with detrimental consequences. I really don't think this technique is worth the risk.

I've been wondering about this for a while. If your hD fails coulnt you theoreticly buy a working one of the same type and take them both apart. Replace the discs from the old one into the new one and put it all back together?

In theory, yeah. However, it's an extremely difficult task. In practice, it's not really an option.

Sorry for being so pessimistic. I'd try putting it in as slave once it's warm and has been out of the freezer for a few days. If it's not recognised, then I'd think about taking it to a professional data recovery place.

 

[EricNau]

I really wouldn't use the freezer method. I've seen the same technique used for RAM and laptop batteries (among others) with detrimental consequences. I really don't think this technique is worth the risk.

Well, considering the HDD is already broken it doesn't really matter.

 

[SC68Cal]

I'm in a bit of a pinch though, there are some files on there that would certainly be useful if I had them.... mostly word documents and some music files. Probably about less than 100 mb of must have data, if I just can get at that I'll call it a good effort.

EDIT: It's been about half an hour in the freezer, it should be pretty cold now. Wish me luck everyone

 

[mad jew]

Well, considering the HDD is already broken it doesn't really matter.

It's not the hard drive that I'm worried about. It's the rest of the computer.

I'm not saying it won't work. I just think the risks and the probabilities of total logic board failure is too high.

 

[The Mad Kiwi]

There's only one solution to hard drive failure, that's a good back up.

 

[EricNau]

It's not the hard drive that I'm worried about. It's the rest of the computer.

I'm not saying it won't work. I just think the risks and the probabilities of total logic board failure is too high.

The risk is definitely there, but since it was double-wrapped in plastic and only in the freezer for short amounts of time, it should be fine. (but don't hold me to that)

 

[mad jew]

The wrapping is only effective if it is very tight so that there is very limited air inside. The cold causes the condensation and the cold gets through plastic so this is a bit of a false sense of security.

 

[SC68Cal]

Okay everyone, no luck. If anything it sounds like the HD motor is under more strain, it sounds like it's got a bit of a beep tone to it now, along with the clicking. I think it's gone to the big Hitachi plant in the sky, with quite a bit of data with it.

I have most of my files backed up, it's just that there were a few things that were not backed up that I really should have. I've pretty much written it off for now, and I downed a bit of vodka to help me along the way.

 

[EricNau]

If your data is very important, there might be some professional that can help you.

 

[SC68Cal]

Possibly. I don't think I'd pay more than $50 for it though. Most of the sites sound like it's on the order of hundreds if not thousands for data recovery. I've already recovered most of my music, maybe $10 worth lost overall and requires repurchase. Some word documents that I will miss, and some quick and nasty financing information in cashbox, and my iCal stuff. Not a whole lot of stuff, but just enough to have me bothered enough to have a drink or two because it's a pain in the ass

Thankfully most of that stuff is A) Small in quantity and B) all on file in my desk

 

[iSaint]

Oh God, Hard Drive Failure!

I thought this was a quote from your girlfriend! Phew!!

 

[wonga1127]

I really wouldn't use the freezer method. I've seen the same technique used for RAM and laptop batteries (among others) with detrimental consequences. I really don't think this technique is worth the risk.





In theory, yeah. However, it's an extremely difficult task. In practice, it's not really an option.

Sorry for being so pessimistic. I'd try putting it in as slave once it's warm and has been out of the freezer for a few days. If it's not recognised, then I'd think about taking it to a professional data recovery place.

Doing this without damaging the platters is damn near impossible. The platters are held to the motor with 4+ screws. The screws themselves are in so tight, you can't even try to unscrew them without having the platters and the motor rotate with you. THe only way to stop them from moving is to touch the platters, am I guess the read/write heads aren't exactly good at reading through oil, especially when you're 10 nm from it. Professional data recovery is the way to go.

 

[SC68Cal]

I thought this was a quote from your girlfriend! Phew!!

:smacks forehead:

We also had a trashcan filled with water leaning against my door last night, so while I'm frantically trying to pull my hard drive out of the case all I hear is a big splash and my suitemate cursing. He opened it and we had water everywhere.

 

[disconap]

Okay, well. Here's the update so far. I let it cool down a little and tried to boot up, no luck. Still clicks, so we're going to be going for the deep freeze now. From what I understand though, people claim that the freezer trick works as long as the hard drive stays cold. Soon as it warms up it's kaput again.

Anyway, I've taken the liberty of wrapping it first in an anti-static bag and then a ziplock. Both I tried my best to remove as much air as possible.

Freezing only helps for certain problems. If the problem is a scratched surface, freezing won't help at all.