so my clicking laptop hard drive is hopeless, right?

[Jon]

So let's see. About two years ago I dropped my laptop. It still
worked but behaved a little strangely like the drive was bad, so I ran
scandisk, etc. and it fixed some bad sectors. I think I used
spinrite, too. Anyway, after getting scared and copying everything
off of it onto CDs, it actually still worked fine, so I kept using it.
Only made backups every few months, and then stopped making backups
after the scariness wore off, of course. Never had any problems with
bad sectors or anything, though. About a year ago it suddenly died
completely. It makes clicky noises and the computer doesn't recognize
it. It doesn't make any scraping or scuffing sounds. It's somewhat
important stuff, but not *that* important. So I tried the magical DIY
remedies like hitting it and putting it in the freezer. None
worked. I think the most I would pay to have it recovered is $150
max, but probably more like $100. Even the cheapest hard drive
recovery is like $600, right? I just need to get the files off, I
don't want to save the drive itself. I didn't hear any scraping type
noises, but it does a click-click-click like something is stuck on
something. What does a head crash sound like for a little laptop
drive? Does it make a sound? So it's been in a ziploc bag under the
frozen veggies for a few months now, just sitting where I left it.
Any suggestions?

 

[John Turco]

So let's see. About two years ago I dropped my laptop. It still
worked but behaved a little strangely like the drive was bad, so I ran
scandisk, etc. and it fixed some bad sectors. I think I used
spinrite, too. Anyway, after getting scared and copying everything
off of it onto CDs, it actually still worked fine, so I kept using it.
Only made backups every few months, and then stopped making backups
after the scariness wore off, of course. Never had any problems with
bad sectors or anything, though. About a year ago it suddenly died
completely. It makes clicky noises and the computer doesn't recognize
it. It doesn't make any scraping or scuffing sounds. It's somewhat
important stuff, but not *that* important. So I tried the magical DIY
remedies like hitting it and putting it in the freezer. None
worked.

Hello, Jon:

Well, "hitting it" was a bad idea. Hard disks should never be subjected
to such rough handling, as physical shock is often harmful to their
delicate, internal mechanisms.

For shame, you HDD-abuser, you!

I think the most I would pay to have it recovered is $150
max, but probably more like $100. Even the cheapest hard drive
recovery is like $600, right? I just need to get the files off, I
don't want to save the drive itself. I didn't hear any scraping type
noises, but it does a click-click-click like something is stuck on
something. What does a head crash sound like for a little laptop
drive? Does it make a sound? So it's been in a ziploc bag under the
frozen veggies for a few months now, just sitting where I left it.
Any suggestions?

My suggestion is, get a new drive. Your old one is dead as a mackerel,
and will make a nice paperweight or doorstop. It was probably beyond
hope, even before you "put it through the ringer," so to speak.

Good luck!


Cordially,
John Turco <[email protected]>