Dead HDD?

[Force Flow]

Once a HDD has been shocked by electricity, is it completely dead or can it be revived using the manufacturer's utilities?

The one HDD I'm trying to resurrect doesn't spin, so do you think I should try the freezer trick or just slam it on the table?

[reboot]

Try the freezer trick.
If that doesn't get it to spin, take it apart and play with it.

[corosus]

what is the freezer trick?

[glc]

Stick it in a ziploc bag and put it in the freezer for half an hour.

[corosus]

if i understand correctly this is a temporary measure to recover data????

[mike breck]

Yes,

It just may give you enough time to get important data off the HD before you use it as a paperweight.

HTH

[Force Flow]

Originally posted by mike breck
It just may give you enough time to get important data off the HD before you use it as a paperweight.

Well, I think that's what it turned out to be. Oh well. The freezer trick didn't work. I guess it really got fried. Strange part is that it is recognized as an IDE device. :confused:

[reboot]

I have a drawer full of drives like that (mostly Quantum's btw). Recognized in BIOS, but they don't spin, or don't spin up fast enough to read.
If it's recoverable at all, Spinrite from www.grc.com will recover it (not free). If Spinrite can't do it, nothing can, unless you want to disassemble it and rebuild it in a competely dust-free environment.

[fredwest]

Hi guys,
The odd time I've 'revived' blown drives by replacing the controller board (if blown) from an identical working drive. It's a God-send if it works and the odd client I've dealt with where this was possible was delighted to get their mail/files etc all backed up (hopefully!!).

This method isn't foolproof and chances are the drive will go again, but at least it can give you a time window to do what you have to do.

As for freezing drives in the freezer..? I've put audio CD's in the freezer alright for 24 hours as this is supposed to crispen up the treble response during playback. Didn't honestly notice much of difference, even as an audophile.....but hey.....that's another story :) .

[Force Flow]

I thought about switching boards, but what I wanted to try to do was actually use the drive again. By taking a board off of a working drive and putting it on a "dead" one, it really wouldn't make a lot of sense in my situation.

Lol, Reboot, I don't even know of any dust-free labs around my area that I could have access to. :p

This "drive first aid" was more of an experiment than anything else. Thanks for all your input guys!

...and yes, the drive is really kaput. Like Reboot, I guess I have the beginnings of that drawer :p

[Gmonster]

quote
posted by force_flow2002
Strange part is that it is recognized as an IDE device.

Integrated Drive Electronics - The circuit board mounted on the drive contains all the info about the HDD so your BIOS will recognize it. You use to have to enter ALL of the specifics (platters, sectors, heads, etc.) manually when you replaced your HDD.

[Trophy1]

Don't feel bad I blew my cd-rom and hard drive at the same time. I was putting in cathode lights and I must have did something to ruin them. The cd-rom doesn't power up and the PC doesn't recognize the hard drive. It reads "this computer doesn't find a hard drive." So I had to get a new PSU and hard drive. Since I think the PSU had something to do with it I bought a new one and a hard drive.

I got A Enermax 350W and a Western Digital 40gig for $116 shipped.

Lesson learned; Anytime I open the side panel to mess around inside the case I unplug the MAIN plug in the back.

[Force Flow]

Originally posted by Gmonster
Integrated Drive Electronics - The circuit board mounted on the drive contains all the info about the HDD so your BIOS will recognize it.

Yeah, I suspected that was it. ;)