How to recover info from dead HD

RegRoch · 06-24-2009, 09:40 PM

Ok, so months ago I posted about my laptop HD which simply died one day while I was trying to get my crap off to reformat it. It was suggested that the board was dead, and after searching high and low for a donor HD to swipe the board from, I have come up empty handed. So I'm back, to see if anyone can suggest any other way I can get the data from my dead hd. The computer doesn't even recognize it past it's basic specs anymore. Any suggestions? Any other info you guys might find helpful?

RegRoch · 06-24-2009, 11:59 PM

The computer does not recognize it's presence at all, it is completely gone. I know there is a way to get the data off of such a drive, my ex's step dad did such a service for people, but I no longer have any contact with him, so that option is out. How do the data recovery services get the data off of fried hard drives?

**raptor_pa** · 06-25-2009, 05:36 AM

It depends what the problem is, if it is a board, then you have to source the board. There are several vendors out there who specialize in used drives who can match the specs you give them. We have a couple of different tools in the lab we use, for recovery before we open the drive. Salvation Data's Disk Doctor ( $2700 USD ) is the least expensive to Ace Labs PC3000 ( $15,000 USD ) - these two work on drives at the firmware level, also require a drive with matching firmware, and some understanding of how to tweak the donor firmware to the patient. Assuming it is physical, then it is open the drive in the clean room and repair the physical damage - Swap heads if it is a head or preamp issue, or if it is motor/spindle problems then it is swap the platters into a donor ( a definite last resort even for the pros ). I wish we had a magic bullet for recovery, it would save me a lot of time hunched over the magnifying lamp on the clean room bench LOL. Unfortunately all the repair methods require a donor drive at some level that matches.
Not to beat a dead horse but let's walk through the basics. A lot of times the PCB gets condemned but it is other issues.
What is the make and model of your drive?
Does it spin up when power is applied?
Does it make any clicking noises when trying to start?

Also, understand there are some drives that are just not recoverable. If there has been a head crash or some other cause for platter damage, particularly in the system area, where the platter surface has been scarred, then it may well be game over, can't recover data that has been effectively scrubbed off the platter. As a quick check, on the side of a lot of drives will be a silver foil label covering an inspection hole. You can pull this foil label back and check for dust on the inside of the label. If you see fine black or metallic looking dust sticking to this label then you have excessive head and platter damage. This label should be completely clean. It is relatively safe to peel that back enough to check, but make sure you are able to get it back in place and don't leave it open any longer than needed to check.

RegRoch · 07-31-2009, 12:25 PM

This is weird, I could swear I posted a reply to this. weird. Anyway,
It's a hitachi Travelstar
Model HTS541080G9SA00

I am pretty sure it spins up, but that could be one of the fans in my laptop. I don't hear any clicking sounds when it tries to start.

I am not sure which label you mean, maybe the model # will help describe it?

~~marsh5000~~ · 07-31-2009, 01:48 PM

i would buy a usb to laptop hard drive adapter,then connect one end of the adapter to a usb port on a computer and the other to ur laptop hard drive and see if the computer can see the hard drive,that has worked for me before,goodluck

06-24-2009, 09:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
RegRoch Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mcleod Lake Posts: 149 OS: Windows XP SP3 Home My System	How to recover info from dead HD Ok, so months ago I posted about my laptop HD which simply died one day while I was trying to get my crap off to reformat it. It was suggested that the board was dead, and after searching high and low for a donor HD to swipe the board from, I have come up empty handed. So I'm back, to see if anyone can suggest any other way I can get the data from my dead hd. The computer doesn't even recognize it past it's basic specs anymore. Any suggestions? Any other info you guys might find helpful? __________________ In A.D. 2101, war was beginning....

06-24-2009, 11:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
RegRoch Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mcleod Lake Posts: 149 OS: Windows XP SP3 Home My System	Re: How to recover info from dead HD The computer does not recognize it's presence at all, it is completely gone. I know there is a way to get the data off of such a drive, my ex's step dad did such a service for people, but I no longer have any contact with him, so that option is out. How do the data recovery services get the data off of fried hard drives? __________________ In A.D. 2101, war was beginning....

06-25-2009, 05:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,820 OS: XP	Re: How to recover info from dead HD It depends what the problem is, if it is a board, then you have to source the board. There are several vendors out there who specialize in used drives who can match the specs you give them. We have a couple of different tools in the lab we use, for recovery before we open the drive. Salvation Data's Disk Doctor ( $2700 USD ) is the least expensive to Ace Labs PC3000 ( $15,000 USD ) - these two work on drives at the firmware level, also require a drive with matching firmware, and some understanding of how to tweak the donor firmware to the patient. Assuming it is physical, then it is open the drive in the clean room and repair the physical damage - Swap heads if it is a head or preamp issue, or if it is motor/spindle problems then it is swap the platters into a donor ( a definite last resort even for the pros ). I wish we had a magic bullet for recovery, it would save me a lot of time hunched over the magnifying lamp on the clean room bench LOL. Unfortunately all the repair methods require a donor drive at some level that matches. Not to beat a dead horse but let's walk through the basics. A lot of times the PCB gets condemned but it is other issues. What is the make and model of your drive? Does it spin up when power is applied? Does it make any clicking noises when trying to start? Also, understand there are some drives that are just not recoverable. If there has been a head crash or some other cause for platter damage, particularly in the system area, where the platter surface has been scarred, then it may well be game over, can't recover data that has been effectively scrubbed off the platter. As a quick check, on the side of a lot of drives will be a silver foil label covering an inspection hole. You can pull this foil label back and check for dust on the inside of the label. If you see fine black or metallic looking dust sticking to this label then you have excessive head and platter damage. This label should be completely clean. It is relatively safe to peel that back enough to check, but make sure you are able to get it back in place and don't leave it open any longer than needed to check. __________________ Last edited by raptor_pa; 06-25-2009 at 05:40 AM.

07-31-2009, 12:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
RegRoch Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mcleod Lake Posts: 149 OS: Windows XP SP3 Home My System	Re: How to recover info from dead HD This is weird, I could swear I posted a reply to this. weird. Anyway, It's a hitachi Travelstar Model HTS541080G9SA00 I am pretty sure it spins up, but that could be one of the fans in my laptop. I don't hear any clicking sounds when it tries to start. I am not sure which label you mean, maybe the model # will help describe it? __________________ In A.D. 2101, war was beginning....

07-31-2009, 01:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
~~marsh5000~~ Troubled Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 8 OS: xp pro	Re: How to recover info from dead HD i would buy a usb to laptop hard drive adapter,then connect one end of the adapter to a usb port on a computer and the other to ur laptop hard drive and see if the computer can see the hard drive,that has worked for me before,goodluck Last edited by marsh5000; 07-31-2009 at 02:12 PM.