Getting data off an old PC

[peter]

I've got an old PC which has suddenly died on me. This is not the
first time this has happened to me and the previous time I bought a
USB 2.0 DVD enclosure put the old hard drive in and got all the data
off without any problem. This time when I plug the hard drive in I
don't get the nice "whir" from the hard drive and it isn't recognised
on my new pc so I can't get the data off.

Is there a slmple solution to this or is there something more drastic
that I need to do to get the data off?

Many thanks
Peter

 

[GT]

I've got an old PC which has suddenly died on me. This is not the
first time this has happened to me and the previous time I bought a
USB 2.0 DVD enclosure put the old hard drive in and got all the data
off without any problem. This time when I plug the hard drive in I
don't get the nice "whir" from the hard drive and it isn't recognised
on my new pc so I can't get the data off.

Is there a slmple solution to this or is there something more drastic
that I need to do to get the data off?

Many thanks
Peter

It might be worth sealing it and trying the 'freezer trick'. Check older
posts in here or google for "freezer data recovery dard drive".

 

[peter]

It might be worth sealing it and trying the 'freezer trick'. Check older
posts in here or google for "freezer data recovery dard drive".

Thanks for the advice. I checked the USB enclosure with another old
hard-drive and it read it. I'll try the advice given and repost, one
way or 'tother.

Peter

 

[Sjouke Burry]

Thanks for the advice. I checked the USB enclosure with another old
hard-drive and it read it. I'll try the advice given and repost, one
way or 'tother.

Peter

If it does not spin up, you could try a successful cure I once used.
Directly after power up, give the drive a sharp twist, even as far as
hitting the case with something in the direction the disk rotates,
to dislodge sticking head or drive motor.
If it then spins up, get your data off as quickly as possible, without
letting it stop again.
It worked for me.

 

[CBFalconer]

I've got an old PC which has suddenly died on me. This is not the
first time this has happened to me and the previous time I bought
a USB 2.0 DVD enclosure put the old hard drive in and got all the
data off without any problem. This time when I plug the hard drive
in I don't get the nice "whir" from the hard drive and it isn't
recognised on my new pc so I can't get the data off.

Is there a slmple solution to this or is there something more
drastic that I need to do to get the data off?

You are probably dead. There is a simple solution, but it is too
late. Make backups. All disks eventually die.

Others are giving you some low-probability recovery methods.

 

[peter]

Maybe just boot up with a Live Cd like Bart PE and transfer to a flash
drive?

Am trying the "old freezer trick", but if the drive has died is there
no way in which the data can be retrieved? Even commerically?

Peter

 

[Grinder]

Am trying the "old freezer trick", but if the drive has died is there
no way in which the data can be retrieved? Even commerically?

The drive can be disassmbled and the platters can be individual scanned
with a probe. This process requires specialized equipment and is
extremely time consuming, and consequently, is very expensive.