seba Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Well friday my internal hard disk drive crashed, not just any HDD but a 500gb wich holds all my photos, work from school (aftereffects and photoshop, 1000's of labourhours), etc... I was truly gutted as it would only spin for about 10 seconds and then nothing. Bios wouldn't see it and offcourse windows neither. Lost hope as i tried many things, keeping it upside down, dropping it on the floor(yes they actually adviced me that) and many things you shouldn't actually do with a hdd if you are sane in your head. Last resort: putting the hdd in the freezer?? Read this on a couple of forums and there were many disputes about this solution. I thought why not, it's gone anyways so i wrapped it up in some plastic and put it in the freezer. 2 hours later i took it out and with a lot of doubt and even less hope put it back in my computer. This thing was even slightly wet from condensation so i was afraid for a short-circuit to happen. Was i surprised when in my bios i found the HDD and in windows too ! But i read this was only going to last for minutes lets say max half an hour. So i quickly started copying the most important stuff to my external HDD. After 20 minutes the HDD didn't respond anymore and after restarting the computer again it was gone like before, i couldn't safe everything but am happy with what i got. So just for you guys out there who had/have the same problem(you can do it with a HDD that's been dead for years) give this a go it worked for me. Btw this was the first and last time i would buy a Western Digital HDD, allways used Maxtor and never had a problem and this one gave up after 1,5 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo2810 Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Result... and Maxtor or Seagate ftw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripped_fear Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 great news i have exactly the same problem. i will give this ago at some point. hopefully i can get some old pics of it before it RIP's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripped_fear Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Result... and Maxtor or Seagate ftw Maxtor??? :s i have had two and both have broke! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David P Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Have you tried to re-freeze it to see if it will let you have more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 When I was working at Deloitte we used to work with a inhouse Forensics company, they charged us £1100 a time when we sent off for data restores from failed drives. I once ask the main guy the best way to get data off a duff drive and like you said he said, "put it in a anti-sactic bag, give it a few hours and then try" apprantly it contracts so then all the bits can spin etc. They do a similar thing but they have an expensive machine for it, plus they can replace faulty components and extra data blocks etc. I always recommend you backup everything to an external HDD, a lot of external HDD's have built in software to allow you to sync data as well, then you should have a backup of the backup which ensures a 3 tier system, normally burning them to DVD is a good media (robust etc). Glad you got some things back, I only know too well how it can feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seba Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 When I was working at Deloitte we used to work with a inhouse Forensics company, they charged us £1100 a time when we sent off for data restores from failed drives. I once ask the main guy the best way to get data off a duff drive and like you said he said, "put it in a anti-sactic bag, give it a few hours and then try" apprantly it contracts so then all the bits can spin etc. They do a similar thing but they have an expensive machine for it, plus they can replace faulty components and extra data blocks etc. I always recommend you backup everything to an external HDD, a lot of external HDD's have built in software to allow you to sync data as well, then you should have a backup of the backup which ensures a 3 tier system, normally burning them to DVD is a good media (robust etc). Glad you got some things back, I only know too well how it can feel. Yes they way overcharge if you ask me, but then, they have these special rooms cleaner than operatingrooms in the hospital, cant be cheap. And for the backup making, yes i know...but it's not allways the first thing you think of, this time it was my mistake i didn't make a backup since half a year. Have you tried to re-freeze it to see if it will let you have more? Yes i did this right after it gave up again but didn't work anymore. I am going to try again today probably will have no succes but no harm in trying. I'll keep you updated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seba Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 Maxtor??? :s i have had two and both have broke! Any HDD will eventually fail, but i found maxtor to be the most reliable one, and if it fails at least it warns you by making weird sounds a couple of days before it crashes. My Western Digital one just gave up from one day to another without making a click.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo2810 Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Apart from network RAID storage, I also use a company called Carbonite to replicate my important drives offsite. It's pretty non intrusive and just trickle syncs when you set it to. Initially it takes weeks to sync if you have alot if data but then it keeps up pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 I had the same problem as you with my 1TB external HDD, tons of films, pics etc on it but the freezer trick didnt work. That was Western Digital. Worked on my netbook long enough to get some stuff off it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathanc Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Weird, for me was the Maxtor external 500GB HDD which died... WD been fine with me so far! (fingers crossed!) but I have automatic backup to my WHS in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Weird, for me was the Maxtor external 500GB HDD which died... WD been fine with me so far! (fingers crossed!) but I have automatic backup to my WHS in case. My WD Passport has been good too (touch wood). I can highly recommend Drop Box, infact I might put up a thread regarding it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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