Hard Drive Data Recovery

Author: Ian Cunningham
Published on: 17-06-2004
Views: 209225


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Serious Problems

What to do if the problem is more serious

BIOS related errors:

These tips may work when you receive a hard drive error in initial POST or BIOS startup screen. It has been known for the following factors to cause problems, although it is most likely something more serious if it happened spontaneously.

• Check the CMOS battery
• Reconnect IDE/SATA cables and Power cable
• Change IDE channel
• Swap the IDE Cable
• Check Jumpers

Post BIOS errors:

If the drive is detected in the BIOS without a problem, but refuses to boot into Windows, you will most likely have a problem with your MBR or partition table. The best approach would be to follow the tips already suggested on the previous page.

No Spin Up / Clicking / Scratching Sounds:

The following solutions are only to be attempted as a last chance to save the data on the drive, if you don't want to use the more expensive professional data recovery services available. These solutions may sound like "old wives tales", but they have worked in many instances where the drive seems to be dead.

• Remove the hard drive from the drive cage and tap firmly with a knuckle on the outer casing (not hard enough to damage the unit). The shock may free any stuck mechanisms.
• Place the hard drive upside down in the drive cage. This causes a slight change in head geometry due to gravity and can occasionally solve the problem.
• Putting the hard drive in a waterproof bag and then sticking it in the freezer overnight and then straight back into the PC. If you are lucky, this method may work and will allow you to quickly transfer the data before it dies again. The physics behind the method is unknown, but could be related to the expansion/contraction of the metal components inside freeing any mechanisms. This has been reported to work quite often, but the effects will not last for long at all.