Experienced Techs – Suggestions for recovering a HDD that won’t spin up?
I was given a hard drive with some very important data on it. My daugher said it "stopped working" and asked me to try to retreive the data. Using an external drive enclosure, it spun up and Explorer read the directory structure okay, but I didn't have time to work on it then. When I powered it up later, it wouldn't even spin up. I tried another enclosure to make sure it wasn't that.
Since Explorer read the directory the first time, I think the data on the disk is okay & it's an electronic problem. I might be able to swap the circuit board with another drive (same model). I've done that on large drives, but not on a 3 1/2" drive.
Do you know if that's possible without special eqpt.? Do you think it might work? This is a Samsung 8.4 GB drive. Do you think a circuit board from a different Samsung drive might work as well?
I'd trash this old HDD, but my daughter needs the data on it desperately. Any help appreciated!!
Tagged with: daugher • directory structure • electronic problem • eqpt • external drive enclosure • hard drive • hdd • samsung • trash
Filed under: Electronic Circuit Problems
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Hello Dad
The hard part that you will face is a hard drive match to swap the PCB. On an 8.4 GB the chips do not talk with the heads and it will be sure worth a try.
There are companies that do recovery work for students for a flat rate – so if its for student data with a valid student card and as a last resort if you can't match the drive – give them a call.
Okay–I don't do this too much.
But I did read several ideas in PC magazine a few months back.
one idea was to swap the on board circuitry. I can't vouch for your particular model—but the article did mention this is one idea data recovery guys use.
A second was to PHYSICAL SPIN the disk drive by twirling around with your arm outstretched–holding the drive like you would a DISCUS. Something about the G forces and the electric motor inside the drive.
Another was also in the article–And I have heard other PC techs talking about it working–WAS to place it in the freezer overnight. I don't know what special handling abilities this required—but I would look into it first.
There were a couple of other suggestions–but those are the ones I can remember–it was at least a NOVEMBER issue–and may have even been in PC WORLD or COMPUTER SHOPPER–your best bet is to query google and see what other ideas come up.
It sounds like your pretty sure it's an electronics issue–the freezer thing may be just the thing to "FIX" it short term.
At least long enough to get your data off.
Good luck.
I worked on an old IBM server one time–and after moving it, the HDISK0 would not boot–my boss had me drop it from about 6'' in height onto a flat surface–IT WORKED!
That was over two years ago–and we have never replaced that drive yet.
Also some dell pcs I have worked on would just not boot in the mornings—a Dell tech told me to just unplug the data and power cord and let it set–grounded to the PC for a few minutes and try it again–It worked–Maybe twice–something about static charges that build up in them but overall–not very successfully.
I always wanted to try the FREEZER thing—if you have an intermittant electronics problem–that sounds like a plausible idea.
try cooling and reconnecting without casing, just cable and power, the manual spin technique may work, but thats only if you hear ticking, and depends on counter clockwise spin with wrist, note this may damage arm and plates, and be ready if you get it working to have spare space and cd burner to backup files, if it did stop working as mentioned, it may have been overheating all the while cause of no fans cooling whole system require now a days, so also check yours for cooling,
read other answers,
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It's not an electronics problem – it's a mechanical problem. We have seen many of these. It is much more common on the older technology hard drives. The heads will 'stick' to the platters and the motor won't run. The motor only gives a large start current for a few seconds, then throttles down assuming it is in run mode.
So the trick is to get the motor starting to run at power up. To do this, semi-gently tap the side (not the top) of the drive using something like a small hammer or the opposite end of a screwdriver at the instant power is turned on. If it doesn't start spinning, turn off power and try again several times. Once it starts up, it usually keeps running.
If this fails to work, there is one last resort. Remove the cover on the hard drive and as you turn on the power, help turn the platters with your finger (touch the side, not the surface!). Note that as soon as you remove the cover you are contaminating the drive and it probably won't last long, but usually long enough so you can get your data off. Good luck.