[How/?]Backup Files with "Tick"!!"Tick" Sound HDD

zksoh · 10-05-2007, 02:01 AM

Hi There

I owned 2 Maxtor HDD for 5 years time and recently both of the HDD work unproperly with strong "Tick"!!"Tick" heard from it. Once the sound heard, my PC goes into Freeze mode and nothing can I do except directly press "Reset" button from my CPU

....

I know this symptom show that my HDD is going to the way out so I faster backup all my important files into external USB HDD.. Unfortunately processing time got "Tick"!! "Tick"!! sound came out from one of the HDD and everything goes Freeze(Hand!!).

I try and try many times but same symptom occur and my backup uncompleted!!

I totally have got no idea!!! What should I do and any software can I use to avoid "Tick"!!sound POP up while I Backup my files???

**koala** · 10-07-2007, 06:33 AM

Hi, welcome to TSF

This might sound dangerous, but it's a trick used all the time by techs. Remove the hard drive and put it in an air-tight plastic bag with as much air removed as possible. Put this in the freezer for a few hours, then reconnect it and quickly copy as much data as possible to the external drive. You might only get an hour's use out of it before it starts clicking again, but the process can be repeated until the drive finally dies.

zksoh · 10-07-2007, 08:39 PM

Wow.. It's sound to be crazy for the guideline but I really appreaciated much

since this is the only way.....

I feel sad to heard that my HDD going to died soon

If possible any way to repair?? I quite interesting on toubleshoot and repair field expecially related to PC

Any suggestion or Advice??

**koala** · 10-08-2007, 03:53 AM

5 years is about the average life expectancy for a hard drive. I replace mine every 2-3 years.

If the freezer method doesn't give you long enough to backup the contents, you could take it to a recovery specialist who will charge $hundreds or $thousands, depending on how tough the job is. At this stage, when you're hearing the 'click of death', even the top recovery software like GetDataBack will have trouble getting anything off the drive.

I wouldn't recommend trying to fix the drive yourself. As soon as you open the hard drive casing and expose the internal parts to air, it becomes contaminated and will no longer work.

Google 'freezer hard drive recover' to see reports of this method being used. It's not guaranteed to work, but is always worth trying as a last resort.

zksoh · 10-09-2007, 06:26 PM

Wow!!

Thanks for the Freezer HDD Recovery guideline

..
It works to recovery 90% out off 100% of my files..much more better than doing nothing

Thanks pal..

As my final question, what brand HDD do you think is the best way for us to consider in terms of long lifespan and high reliability

10-05-2007, 02:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
zksoh Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4 OS: Winxp	[How/?]Backup Files with "Tick"!!"Tick" Sound HDD Hi There I owned 2 Maxtor HDD for 5 years time and recently both of the HDD work unproperly with strong "Tick"!!"Tick" heard from it. Once the sound heard, my PC goes into Freeze mode and nothing can I do except directly press "Reset" button from my CPU.... I know this symptom show that my HDD is going to the way out so I faster backup all my important files into external USB HDD.. Unfortunately processing time got "Tick"!! "Tick"!! sound came out from one of the HDD and everything goes Freeze(Hand!!). I try and try many times but same symptom occur and my backup uncompleted!! I totally have got no idea!!! What should I do and any software can I use to avoid "Tick"!!sound POP up while I Backup my files???

10-07-2007, 06:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,150 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: [How/?]Backup Files with "Tick"!!"Tick" Sound HDD Hi, welcome to TSF This might sound dangerous, but it's a trick used all the time by techs. Remove the hard drive and put it in an air-tight plastic bag with as much air removed as possible. Put this in the freezer for a few hours, then reconnect it and quickly copy as much data as possible to the external drive. You might only get an hour's use out of it before it starts clicking again, but the process can be repeated until the drive finally dies. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

10-07-2007, 08:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
zksoh Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4 OS: Winxp	Re: [How/?]Backup Files with "Tick"!!"Tick" Sound HDD Wow.. It's sound to be crazy for the guideline but I really appreaciated much since this is the only way..... I feel sad to heard that my HDD going to died soon If possible any way to repair?? I quite interesting on toubleshoot and repair field expecially related to PC Any suggestion or Advice??

10-08-2007, 03:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,150 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: [How/?]Backup Files with "Tick"!!"Tick" Sound HDD 5 years is about the average life expectancy for a hard drive. I replace mine every 2-3 years. If the freezer method doesn't give you long enough to backup the contents, you could take it to a recovery specialist who will charge $hundreds or $thousands, depending on how tough the job is. At this stage, when you're hearing the 'click of death', even the top recovery software like GetDataBack will have trouble getting anything off the drive. I wouldn't recommend trying to fix the drive yourself. As soon as you open the hard drive casing and expose the internal parts to air, it becomes contaminated and will no longer work. Google 'freezer hard drive recover' to see reports of this method being used. It's not guaranteed to work, but is always worth trying as a last resort. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

10-09-2007, 06:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
zksoh Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4 OS: Winxp	Re: [How/?]Backup Files with "Tick"!!"Tick" Sound HDD Wow!! Thanks for the Freezer HDD Recovery guideline.. It works to recovery 90% out off 100% of my files..much more better than doing nothing Thanks pal.. As my final question, what brand HDD do you think is the best way for us to consider in terms of long lifespan and high reliability