KNOCK KNOCK! Data Recovery or HDD Repair?

~~pawn3d~~ · 05-02-2008, 08:31 PM

HARDWARE: HITACHI Travelstar from thinkpad 41.

SYMPTOMS: Knocking; No operating system found.
===========================================================================
OVERVIEW: Apparently, the machine was dropped, rusulting in the following error upon booting: "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

After expanding the file from an XP installation disk, I ran chkdks /r and it said there were errors that couldn't be fixed and the HDD started knocking. It knocks at a rate of 1 knock/sec. I restarted the machine and it says there's no OS and the knocking continues.
===========================================================================
Some guy told me to dl and run IBM - Hitachi Drive Fitness Test and another guy told me to pop it in an external enclosure, but aren't both of those options pointless if the drive is knocking? Doesn't that mean the drive head is toast? If yes, how do I fix the drive head, or...?

Thanks.
P.S. I can operate a soldering iron if need be.

dai · 05-02-2008, 09:54 PM

replace the drive

johnhook · 05-02-2008, 10:51 PM

pawn3d,

I'm with Dai - you're drive is DEAD and needs to be replaced. There ARE expensive services that can attempt to recover data from dead drives like this if the data on it is worth spending that kind of money on.

Check out:

http://www.harddriverecovery.org/

http://www.acsdatarecovery.com/Hard_...FQ6WHgodWFUvVQ

http://www.drivesavers.com/?gclid=CM...FQakHgodGm3uZw

or simple do the following search:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...+data+recovery

- John

05-02-2008, 08:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
~~pawn3d~~ Troubled Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New Orleans Posts: 34 OS: xp	KNOCK KNOCK! Data Recovery or HDD Repair? HARDWARE: HITACHI Travelstar from thinkpad 41. SYMPTOMS: Knocking; No operating system found. =========================================================================== OVERVIEW: Apparently, the machine was dropped, rusulting in the following error upon booting: "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: <windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe After expanding the file from an XP installation disk, I ran chkdks /r and it said there were errors that couldn't be fixed and the HDD started knocking. It knocks at a rate of 1 knock/sec. I restarted the machine and it says there's no OS and the knocking continues. =========================================================================== Some guy told me to dl and run IBM - Hitachi Drive Fitness Test and another guy told me to pop it in an external enclosure, but aren't both of those options pointless if the drive is knocking? Doesn't that mean the drive head is toast? If yes, how do I fix the drive head, or...? Thanks. P.S. I can operate a soldering iron if need be.

05-02-2008, 09:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,622 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: KNOCK KNOCK! Data Recovery or HDD Repair? replace the drive __________________

05-02-2008, 10:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
johnhook Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 810 OS: MS SBS 2003 SP2	Re: KNOCK KNOCK! Data Recovery or HDD Repair? pawn3d, I'm with Dai - you're drive is DEAD and needs to be replaced. There ARE expensive services that can attempt to recover data from dead drives like this if the data on it is worth spending that kind of money on. Check out: http://www.harddriverecovery.org/ http://www.acsdatarecovery.com/Hard_...FQ6WHgodWFUvVQ http://www.drivesavers.com/?gclid=CM...FQakHgodGm3uZw or simple do the following search: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...+data+recovery - John