Hard drive failure

awdrifter · September 3rd, 2007, 08:16 AM

I think one of my Western Digital drive just died. I used it as an external hdd, so it's not even on most of the time. After I connect it to the comp (through USB), it didn't show up as it normally would, so I took it out of the external case and tried it on another comp, it doesn't even spin up when I plug in the power. Does this mean the drive is dead? Is there anyway to get the data from it? Thanks.

Cobol74 · September 3rd, 2007, 08:19 AM

Sounds like it RIP. Do the obvious things like swap out the leads and do a careful visual inspection.

I think that there are data recovery firms but this service is expensive it would really need to be worth it. Go Googling to see if you can get one at a reasonable price.

awdrifter · September 3rd, 2007, 08:26 AM

Well, the drive just contains music and videos, so I can just re-aquire them. I tried it on two different comps, so I guess there's really nothing much I can do.

cvrefugee · September 3rd, 2007, 08:45 AM

Another loss for Western Digital, may you never buy their products again. Seagate FTW!

awdrifter · September 3rd, 2007, 08:48 AM

This is my first WD failure. I had a Maxtor failed also. Right now I still have a few WD drives, 1 Seagate, 1 Samsung, 1 Maxtor and 2 Hitachi drives.

Buba · September 3rd, 2007, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvg

Another loss for Western Digital, may you never buy their products again. Seagate FTW!

Never had a WD, but I owned one of those cursed IBM drives that had to be lowlevelformatted on a frequent basis...

BTW, if you wanna save the drive, try lowlevel formatting. If you have very important data, you could try putting it in the freezer, it should work for a bit afterwards. NOT A JOKE. I did it and a couple of my friends as well... Dunno why it works, though.. Just make sure there is no condensed water anywhere...

jensked · September 3rd, 2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buba

BTW, if you wanna save the drive, try lowlevel formatting. If you have very important data, you could try putting it in the freezer, it should work for a bit afterwards. NOT A JOKE. I did it and a couple of my friends as well... Dunno why it works, though.. Just make sure there is no condensed water anywhere...

Say what? If it wasn't for your healthy FFDShow addiction and the postcount I would have said you're joking. images/smilies/blink.gif

/edit
The story seems to check out: http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/200...over-data.html

Other recovery tips:
http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/200...-when-you.html

Buba · September 3rd, 2007, 03:16 PM

^ Come on... I' german, I don't joke around images/smilies/wink.gif

Would only use it in external drives, though. Too afraid to connect it directly to the mobo...

awdrifter · September 3rd, 2007, 05:25 PM

Thanks. I will freeze the hdd and give it a shot.

Zwaplat · September 3rd, 2007, 08:43 PM

Use an antistatic plastic bag and close it well!

cvrefugee · September 4th, 2007, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buba

Never had a WD, but I owned one of those cursed IBM drives that had to be lowlevelformatted on a frequent basis...

You mean the IBM ~~Death~~Deskstar? images/smilies/lol.gif

awdrifter · September 4th, 2007, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwaplat

Use an antistatic plastic bag and close it well!

I put it in the anti-static bag, taped the openings, and then use some plastic food wraps to wrap it a few times then put it in the freezer this morning, I'll try and see if it worked tonight.

jeffy777 · September 4th, 2007, 07:16 PM

I never had luck with the freezer tactic.....or with WD drives for that matter images/smilies/sad.gif

Seagate is the way to go, IMO.

Aston Martin · September 4th, 2007, 07:20 PM

One of mine died, well everything shows up but nothing is accesible... it had every Gumball video on it too. images/smilies/sad.gif

Mischief007 · September 4th, 2007, 07:48 PM

I've seen all makes of drives die. Right now Maxtors are crap with Seagate leading and WD behind them. It just really depends on each and every drive.

awdrifter · September 4th, 2007, 10:24 PM

Just tried it, the freezing didn't fix it. Oh well, it's just music and videos.

thedguy · September 4th, 2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awdrifter

I think one of my Western Digital drive just died.

Based on who makes I could tell it was dead images/smilies/tongue.gif

Quote:

Is there anyway to get the data from it? Thanks.

You might be able to switch out the circuit board and have it work, but I doubt it, I'd wager the motor just burned up in it.

Find an exact duplicate (model number and capacity) and setup a make shift clean room, bathrooms work well, pull the drive apart and swap with the replacement unit. I'd copy the data off once it's fired up and then trash it.

I highly recommend testing on a couple of really old and cheap/free drives.

A bit more detail can be found here http://www.hackaday.com/2005/11/17/h...-resurrection/

September 3rd, 2007, 08:16 AM	#1
awdrifter Joined: Aug 29th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Posts: 1,549 Rep Power: 26	Hard drive failure I think one of my Western Digital drive just died. I used it as an external hdd, so it's not even on most of the time. After I connect it to the comp (through USB), it didn't show up as it normally would, so I took it out of the external case and tried it on another comp, it doesn't even spin up when I plug in the power. Does this mean the drive is dead? Is there anyway to get the data from it? Thanks. __________________ TP

September 3rd, 2007, 08:19 AM	#2
Cobol74 Joined: Mar 21st, 2006 Last Online: 12:18 AM Location: Southampton Posts: 6,217 Car: Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 TDI Slush box. Rep Power: 58	Sounds like it RIP. Do the obvious things like swap out the leads and do a careful visual inspection. I think that there are data recovery firms but this service is expensive it would really need to be worth it. Go Googling to see if you can get one at a reasonable price. __________________

September 3rd, 2007, 08:26 AM	#3
awdrifter Joined: Aug 29th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Posts: 1,549 Rep Power: 26	Well, the drive just contains music and videos, so I can just re-aquire them. I tried it on two different comps, so I guess there's really nothing much I can do. __________________ TP

September 3rd, 2007, 08:48 AM	#5
awdrifter Joined: Aug 29th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Posts: 1,549 Rep Power: 26	This is my first WD failure. I had a Maxtor failed also. Right now I still have a few WD drives, 1 Seagate, 1 Samsung, 1 Maxtor and 2 Hitachi drives. __________________ TP

September 3rd, 2007, 03:16 PM	#8
Buba Wants Rick Astley's Babies Joined: Nov 12th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Regensburg, Bavaria Age: 27 Posts: 6,028 Car: Golf LFS Status: Rep Power: 40	^ Come on... I' german, I don't joke around Would only use it in external drives, though. Too afraid to connect it directly to the mobo... __________________ [18:11] MXM: it means buba is better than you now [18:12] sam-l: In what way? [18:12] Slycer: longer penis

September 3rd, 2007, 08:45 AM	#4
cvrefugee Joined: Aug 16th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Corona, CA Age: 28 Posts: 3,449 Car: 2005 Scion xB Rep Power: 60	Another loss for Western Digital, may you never buy their products again. Seagate FTW!

September 3rd, 2007, 05:25 PM	#9
awdrifter Joined: Aug 29th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Posts: 1,549 Rep Power: 26	Thanks. I will freeze the hdd and give it a shot. __________________ TP

September 3rd, 2007, 08:43 PM	#10
Zwaplat Joined: Feb 14th, 2007 Last Online: September 10th, 2008 Location: Belgium Posts: 56 Rep Power: 0	Use an antistatic plastic bag and close it well!

September 4th, 2007, 07:16 PM	#13
jeffy777 Joined: Feb 8th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: US Age: 27 Posts: 5,662 Car: '04 Toyota Sienna, crippled people like vans.... Rep Power: 53	I never had luck with the freezer tactic.....or with WD drives for that matter Seagate is the way to go, IMO. __________________ A man named Jeffy once said, "If laziness is craziness, then I've lost my marbles...and I don't feel like trying to find them."

September 4th, 2007, 07:20 PM	#14
Aston Martin Joined: Sep 20th, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Hull, England Posts: 1,188 Rep Power: 20	One of mine died, well everything shows up but nothing is accesible... it had every Gumball video on it too.

September 4th, 2007, 07:48 PM	#15
Mischief007 Joined: Dec 3rd, 2004 Last Online: January 6th, 2009 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Age: 27 Posts: 4,393 Car: 2004 GP GTP CompG LFS Status: Rep Power: 24	I've seen all makes of drives die. Right now Maxtors are crap with Seagate leading and WD behind them. It just really depends on each and every drive. __________________ 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP CompG 66,750 km - 41,477 miles

September 4th, 2007, 10:24 PM	#16
awdrifter Joined: Aug 29th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Posts: 1,549 Rep Power: 26	Just tried it, the freezing didn't fix it. Oh well, it's just music and videos. __________________ TP

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