Hard drive failure - help

JEB · 6 May 2011 at 09:25

I have a 100GB Samsung HDD and it's just failed. It is not my boot drive, but I have my data on it. I have removed it from the P.C and have hooked it up externally using a SATA to USB kit, but my P.C won't read it. When powered on it does hum into life, but I can't read from it.
Any ideas on what I can do to see if I can get my data copied off it onto another disk?
And before anyone says anything - I know I should have done a backup or set it up in raid with another disk, but I didn't and I have so learned my leason!!

Krislord · 6 May 2011 at 21:32

What does the BIOS say is connected to the SATA port?

does it identify it at all?

postmanfw · 6 May 2011 at 22:48

If its showing up in the bios then you may be able to use backtrack 4 to get the data off it.

Its a os that boots from a dvd meant for other purposes but i have found it very good at reading faulty hard drives when windows wont.

Depending on how bad it is you may need to run something like hdd regenerator or spinrite on it but do that last as if drives on last legs the strain can finish it off completely.

If its not showing up in bios then its either bye bye data or get a prof company to do it...very expensive though

JEB · 7 May 2011 at 13:29

No joy - can't see it in the bios - looks like it's off to the grave-yard!

postmanfw · 7 May 2011 at 15:45

There is the freezer trick but thats for when its unreadable and showing in bios. I doubt it would help at all but its worth a shot if its just getting binned anyway.

Seal it up in 3 or 4 food bags so its totally airtight then pop in freezer for a few hours.

Bad bit is when it comes out ice starts to form on it if any dampness in air

sorry for your loss