Click of death

[WU-TANG]GZA · 3 Jun 2010 at 10:51

Hi guys,

My backup hard drive has suffered from the click of death. The data is still on there but it is not accessible after about 20-30secs.

My question is: if I repaired the hard drive, would that wipe off the data? I think it is a faulty actuator arm.

The drive is a seagate barracuda STA31000 (from memory) apparently this drive has a common fault and seagate released a firmware update that would have fixed it - this was unknown to me however until the drive failed.

So, would fixing the drive erase the data or would things be back to normal so I can buy a Samsung F3 and put the data on that!!

Cheers,

Wu

andy_mk3 · 3 Jun 2010 at 10:56

What do you mean by fixing it?

Opening up the drive will pretty much ruin it straight away due to the dust and everything in the atmosphere.

[WU-TANG]GZA · 3 Jun 2010 at 10:58

Yes but if I could do it in a static free room. Would the data remain?

edscdk · 3 Jun 2010 at 11:00

wrap it in bog paper (unused!) stick it in a platic bang and lob it in tthe freezer for 10 - 15 mins...

see if it works for a longer period of time..

you want to make it cold NOT freeze it btw... dont forget its in there...

btw ITS NOT A BACKUP IF ITS THE ONLY COPY!!!

also its not a backup if its only shortcuts to the file as I had to tell someone a few weeks ago after they lost all their data!

other than that its data recovers I think (you can always try swapping the board if you have an identical drive handy)

edscdk · 3 Jun 2010 at 11:04

[WU-TANG]GZA;16676523 said:
apparently this drive has a common fault and seagate released a firmware update that would have fixed it - this was unknown to me however until the drive failed.

did seagate not offer to fix these drives and get your data back for nothing??? anyone know anythign about that... or am i jsut making it up..

[WU-TANG]GZA · 3 Jun 2010 at 11:07

edscdk said:
wrap it in bog paper (unused!) stick it in a platic bang and lob it in tthe freezer for 10 - 15 mins...

see if it works for a longer period of time..

you want to make it cold NOT freeze it btw... dont forget its in there...

btw ITS NOT A BACKUP IF ITS THE ONLY COPY!!!

also its not a backup if its only shortcuts to the file as I had to tell someone a few weeks ago after they lost all their data!

other than that its data recovers I think (you can always try swapping the board if you have an identical drive handy)

Thanks, I had read about the freezing method - might give it a go.

It was my backup but my previous drive from my previous computer died. I had not used this drive for a couple of months plugged it in to my new computer and hey presto - click of death. (It was not shortcuts it was about 900GB of files)

Unfortunately, I do not have an identical drive to hand. I will try the freeze method but if that does not work (and I doubt it will for tansferring that amount of data lol maybe in several goes) as I asked can repairing the fault keep the data?

[WU-TANG]GZA · 3 Jun 2010 at 11:10

edscdk said:
did seagate not offer to fix these drives and get your data back for nothing??? anyone know anythign about that... or am i jsut making it up..

I had read that and consequently emailed their "tech support" only to be told that only the drive is under warranty, not my data and that they do not repair drives they only destroy it and send you a new one. They also offered me a data recovery service (not free of charge) which I'm sure costs a bomb.

I have got some of the data on DVDs but not all of it by any means and they are in London where I am not.

Heliospherez · 3 Jun 2010 at 11:25

They will give you a new drive - not your data back. They charge for data recovery - and it's expensive - but they are very good at it.

And contrary to what people think - you can indeed remove the top of the casing and try examining the drive. I have removed drive tops and run drives for over a day completely exposed.... and still got valid data off them. It does effect the fly-height, and obviously causes a lot of lot of contamination - but it can be enough to get the data off.

I doubt it's an actuator problem - but take a look in there, once you try the freezer option. It's more likely a problem with the HGA or the way in which the data is being read back. With the drive sitting idle for a few months, the head may have fused with the platters in the landing zone - & once it spun up again, it may have damaged the heads - or created a small bump or crevice on one of the platters. Also, if you are feeling brave - get an Identical drive and try swapping the PCB on the back (or buy one on the net for cheap)

Also try it on a different power connector in the PC, try reading it in an upside down position, on it's side etc - and if all else fails give it a very light drop while spinning onto a hard surface from about 1" up

All these have worked for me in the past.

It really depends how important the data is too you.

[WU-TANG]GZA · 3 Jun 2010 at 11:35

Thanks I will try both the freeze and bang methods. Had read about both of them before but good to know how high etc.

RE: The issue - state from Seagate:

The company does not believe that the firmware problem will cause data loss. But data has been lost, it promises to help find it. "There is no data loss associated with this issue, and the data still resides on the drive," Seagate's statement reads. "But if you are unable to access your data due to this issue, Seagate will provide free data recovery services. Seagate will work with you to expedite a remedy to minimize any disruption to you or your business."

So I am trying to get them to either repair the drive or give me free data recovery as their statement says in black and white.

They will probably say that the firmware would not cause a mechanical failure and conclude that the clicking noise is a mechanical failure and not due to the firmware - is that right if they say that or is that bs ?

Thanks guys for all your help.

My data is important to me but I'm not going to pay £1000 to get it back.

Heliospherez · 3 Jun 2010 at 11:43

In your OP - you said the data is still on there - but not accesible after 20-30 secs.

Do you mean you can see the folders / data - then when you try to click you get the click ? Or does it spin up for 30 secs - then start clicking.

The 7200.11 STA31000 firmware issue had unique symptoms / similar to the 7200.12 drives. The drive would power up normally (NO CLICKING NOISES, errors etc) but would not be recognised by the computer.

[WU-TANG]GZA · 3 Jun 2010 at 11:45

PASONIX said:
In your OP - you said the data is still on there - but not accesible after 20-30 secs.

Do you mean you can see the folders / data - then when you try to click you get the click ? Or does it spin up for 30 secs - then start clicking.

Can't remember whether it happens after clicking in to something or just after spin up. I think it is the latter. I can check again if necessary. (didn't want to try it too many times as i read that can worsen the problem)

I can see the folders and the files yes. Again, only for about 20-30secs then it won't respond once the clicking starts.

Is that a quote from Seagate or your personal knowledge? Are you suggesting that I have not suffered from the firmware problem but simply had a mechanical failure? Come to think of it, the drive did have minor issues a couple of times being recognized but simply safely removing the hardware and reconnecting it solved it.

Heliospherez · 3 Jun 2010 at 11:48

Then i'm pretty sure it's not firmware. It's deffo mechanical.

[WU-TANG]GZA · 3 Jun 2010 at 12:00

Crap - so at that point all Seagate would do is replace the drive? Which I'm not fussed about at all as it's obviously got its faults and there are plenty of other (better) options available at the same price point namely the Sammy F3 or WD Caviar Black.

PiKe · 3 Jun 2010 at 14:38

It is possible to change the actuator, but you will end up with some corrupted files due to dust.