Hard drive recovery help

[robodude666]

Hey,

My step dad gave me a SATA HDD which seems to have failed some how. He wants me to recover it because there is a lot of important data on it. Neither windows nor the BIOS detects the drive. I tried running SpinRite on it, but it doesn't detect the drive either. The drive does get warm and it does spin up so the motor works. There are no signs of damage to the drive or the electronics.

Does anyone know of any way I can recover the data from this drive? Or how I can make SpinRite notice the drive? I have not heard of anyone failing to recover data with SpinRite so if I can just get SpinRite to see the drive, it may be able to help. SpinRite does detect my working C drive however.

I heard the "hard drive in the freezer" thing works because it gets the bits close together enough for the drive to be read but would it help me in this case? If so, for how long should I leave it in the freezer? Our freezer is very powerful. Turns a pool of chocolate into a frozen bar in a minute.

If anyone has any suggestions, PLEASE PLEASE let me know!!

-robodude666

[RA1D]

Originally Posted by robodude666

Turns a pool of chocolate into a frozen bar in a minute.

now that is one hellava freezer

[robodude666]

Originally Posted by RAID

now that is one hellava freezer

Thanks It is a brand new frig, about 2 months old (maytag). But your wonderful comment does not help me with my problem :P

[Yellowhello]

I'd say try it in the freezer for maybe a half hour and test it again. If it doesn't work, we'll have to think up something else.

[robodude666]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

I'd say try it in the freezer for maybe a half hour and test it again. If it doesn't work, we'll have to think up something else.

Regular ziplock bag? Actually, we have no-name ziplock bags.... Would it make a difference? Do I need anything else like a cloth or foam to collect moisture around it? Does it matter that the drive is still warm?

[robodude666]

Well, I had it in for about 38 minutes and it still isn't detected by SpinRite or the BIOS. Any other suggestions?

[Hitman]

Some drive manufactures have diagnostic programs for their drives. Go on the manufacture website and see if they have such a program. Then try and run it. The main problem I see is that the bios isn't even picking it up. First I would make sure you have the most current bios. Then I would disconnect every drive in the system except for this HD, and see if the bios picks it up. Try every port on the MoBo. If still no dice, then see if you can RMA it, as long as it's still under warranty.

[robodude666]

Seagate has like two diagnostic tools, but those sorts of tools only work if the HDD is detected and has a letter. This drive seems to only spin and do nothing else. Nothing detected it so far. I tested it on my Dell and on my new desktop, both with latest BIOS and neither worked. I tried every single port on the motherboard and I got same results, nada. It can't exactly be RMA'd since they will send you a new drive and not your data. Not to mention this is a 7200.7 and its warranty has expired.

Do you guys think running it in an external enclosure would make a difference? I don't have an enclosure but someone on another forums said it might help.

[Hitman]

I assume you have tried multiple cables, you might look at the drive, and see if the cable is getting a good connection. Could be some debris causing a poor connection. If nothing works, your drive is likely dead, and the data on it is gone. To recover the data (as you already know) you have to be able to at least see the drive.

[robodude666]

Originally Posted by Hitman

I assume you have tried multiple cables, you might look at the drive, and see if the cable is getting a good connection. Could be some debris causing a poor connection. If nothing works, your drive is likely dead, and the data on it is gone. To recover the data (as you already know) you have to be able to at least see the drive.

Yea... I tried multiple cables and I made sure the connection is dust free and not lose. I am giving the freezer another go, but this time 1hr and then if that doesn't work, 3 hours... I really want to get this data.. I would get $200 in cash if I get the data =D (I might share some with the person who gives me the suggestion that made it work, haha) I read several success articles about the freezer thing and it seems to be a valid way to save a drive. Most said 1hr to overnight so I doubt 38 minutes would of done anything...

I guess if it doesn't work, poop :(