manic

Im repairing a system, bad harddrive, lady really needs some data off of
it. You know the story didnt back etc,. Ive read where if you put the
drive in a zip lock baggy and freeze it that it will buy you some time
to recover. Sounds crazy to me, but what do I have to lose. Has anyone
tried this? or is it a bunch of hogwash,,lol Tia....

linderman

no its not hogwash



it does work especially on the old maxtor drives (before seagate bought them)


but as you know there are many reasons a drive can die, usually its the circuit board that fails & those can be replaced if you buy an EXACT same drive and remove the circuit board from the new purchase and put it in the old drive

if the old drive is "slapping" and make clickign noises <<<<< then the old freezer trick will tighten the drive parts for a brief period or time while you retrieve data ????

its all a crap shoot >>>>> BTW platter and or spindle replacement is out of the question; NO ONE can do that without a clean room and knowledge of very tight tolerances

manic

Thanks, its a old maxtor, not clacking or clinking, probably board.
Thanks, I might try it anyway, I am sort of paranoid about moisture
once I take it out of freeze, wondering if it shorts internally if it
will take out the psu or worse. What do you think?

stompiegsi

have you tried using get back data problem. if you want it ill email; it

manic

Thank you! But no, I have a data recovery program which I will try,
prior to the freezer,,lol, cant believe Im even considering it, but hey
live and learn...

Doby

I tried it once, didn't work, its like linderman said, its a crap shoot, anyway it did not hurt anything to try

simpswr

It is a crap shoot . . I have tried it three times . . worked once

linderman

hell yeah



if the drive is toast and your client is not dedicated to the recovery of the data


then I would try the freezer trick

it has worked about 2 in 6 times for me ?

I do the recovery on an old junker though; I dont bring the fronzen drive into my "pride and joy" box that would be asking for a dance with Mr. Murphy >>>>>> I have had enough of that, he steps on my toes wayyyyyy to much for my enjoyment!


if your cleint is serious about the data then the best choice (as you already know)

is a data recovery service

2nd = try another circuit board

3rd = freezer trick


only the $$$$$ can pick the best choice

manic

Yep, as far as freezer recovery you folks are posting some pretty good
odds, I would have gave it one in 1000,lol I'll take a chance the pilgrims
did,,heheh. I love these people that have very important documents
and then there shocked and in disbelief when a hdd dies. Then they
act like its your fault, I just smile and explain that double and triple
redundency is the only way to go for precious data. They dont learn,
and I guess thats why I get to tinker with there machines and make
a little cash on the side. Gotta love It!
Thanks for your input,,