All is not lost-- how to "revive" a dead hard drive

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

I have a 60gb hard drive I use to back up client computers before wiping and restoring them, so it's important it doesn't crash. Well, today it crashed, with over a dozen clients residing thereupon.

Not to worry-- I've been in this game a while, and there are a few easy tricks to raise the dead, so to speak. The simplest, most common trick is to literally hit the hard drive (evenly, sharply but not too sharply). Sometimes it works, sometimes the poor platters are too far gone for that trick.

That leaves one less known but VERY cool trick (literally)-- stick the drive in a ziplock baggie, and put it in the freezer a few hours.

It works. At this moment, my "dead" drive is merrily backing up to a shiny new 200gb Seagate hard drive!

Easy is as easy does! :bounce:

This tip brought to you by The PC Home Repair Guy.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

1. didn't know things like that could be done.

[Ready4Change]

2. Hmmm! Never tried the freezer trick.

I kept a drive going for a while with the sharp rap thing.

Do you pull it out of the freezer to use it, or do you run wires right into the freezer?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

4. Y'know, that's actually not a bad idea!

Too bad the longest ribbon cable I've ever found is only 36".....

[Ready4Change]

8. I know someone who did it with a whole CPU case.

But not just the drive.

I've also heard of overclockers who do it with their motherboards.

I just imagine showing up at a LAN computer game with a freezer on a hand cart. :think:

[PDX Bara]

3. A PC Home Repair Guy?

In what city and state do you conduct your business? I think I may need one in the not too distant future.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

5. Rowlett TX

Although I cover a good part of greater Dallas.

[PDX Bara]

6. Oh Dear!

I'm in Berkeley CA, looking to move to the Portland OR area in the next few months.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

7. Shipping ain't too expensive.....

O8)

[cosmicaug]

9. The full list.

Try the following document for an exhaustive list:

www.hddrecovery.com.au/downloads/200ways.pdf