Help with my Hard Disk Drive! Can it recover?

Question

My Hard Disk Drive stopped working (first signs of failing in the past week), and now it stopped working entirely. I got a brand new HDD, but the other one already failed (was planning on transferring files once I got the new HDD), and it cannot start up! Now when I start up my computer with my new HDD, it cannot locate my old HDD (still mounted on my comp; my computer can detect it on start up). I need the files on my old HDD, I have so much on it! 400GB worth of stuff that I REALLY NEED! Do I have to being it to someone else like Geek Squad, or is it beyond repair? I seriously need everything on my old HDD, I feel like I lost everything. Also getting my homework back would be nice as well.

If I need to post more info, please say so. I'm in a crisis now.

owsley&#39;s kid · Accepted Answer

If you know how to change the jumpers on the drives, set the new one to Master w/ Slave and the old one to Slave on the same IDE cable, new one on the 0 or A connector and the old one on  the 1 or B.

crof · Answer

Unfortunately there are not many options.  If the drive spins at all still you may have a small window to get some things off.  You can:

1) Purchase an external HDD enclosure
2) Install Windows on the new drive
3) Install the old HDD in the enclosure and try to get information off that way

A strange thing you can try (this only works a small percent of the time):
Place the old HDD in the freezer for 15-20 minutes then immediately attach it to the computer.  Sometimes this gives the HDD an extra few minutes of life.


I used to work for a computer repair shop and we would send HDDs like this to have information retrieved.  It is usually possible, but can be costly.  I'd say you are looking at least $300 - $500, maybe even more.

Anonymous · Answer

For setting master/slave jumpers, look at this:

http://www.ehow.com/how_6031_change-master-slave-designation.html

Jumpers are tiny little things things. To give you an idea of what they look like, here is a picture of a drive set as a master:

http://img.tomshardware.com/de/2005/11/16/das_grosse_thg_stecker_kompendium/hdd_jumper_ma.jpg

Not every drive is the same. the configurations and labeling could be different. Don't worry about the CS or PM2 slots in the picture. 

Its a good sign that your BIOS is detecting the drive. Setting it to slave might make it usable once more, but it might not. However, you only have to worry about jumper configurations if your drive is IDE. Does it use a huge flat cable to connect to the motherboard or a smaller one (means its probably ATA)?

If they are IDE drives, then another thing to try would be if you have an open IDE slot on your motherboard, you could get a second ribbon cable and attach your old drive there, or you could unplug your optical drive (assuming its IDE as well) and use its cable/slot. Then you wouldn't have to mess with jumpers.

Anonymous · Answer

First of all when you have signs for a week and there are 400Gb of data on the drive you don't wait for it to die!
Second,don't go near to clown squad unless daddy is a millionaire.Get a IDE to USB cable and connect the old drive to the new and transfer the data

Jon J · Answer

You could try test disk Check on the link below and you should be good, test disk should be able to do what you wnat 

Recover File from Damage Hard disk using open source
http://www.review-ninja.com/2008/08/hard-disk-recovery-data-recovery-test.html

pardhu · Answer

The hard disk might be crashed..try to connect to another system having its own hard disk, this can help you to recover your data.

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Help with my Hard Disk Drive! Can it recover?

6 Answers