04WD50016S23 failed, clicks - audio included

[babyscarer]

Hello,


First I'd like to say that I'm a simple user but tried every common trick to recover my data, without success. The most important data on the drive is of nostalgic value - doesn't worth thousands of dollars for pro data recovery, but I'd spend $100 on and identical drive, if some of you suggested some sort of component swap. I included the actual sound my drive makes so it might spark an idea in a more knowledgeable person than I am.
The details:

04WD50016S23 (WD CAVIAR Black 500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache) HDD was working perfectly in a fanless external USB case for almost 3 years. One day, without any warning signs it wouldn't start properly and is the same since: HDD spins up, clicks loudly three times, and powers down predictably in the exact same sequence on every try. Doesn't show up on computer (Mac OS 10.5., but gives an error message some of the time, which goes like "the disk you inserted was not readable by this computer". Removing the data cable, spending 24hrs in the freezer, whacking with screwdriver and being repositioned (on sides or upside down) didn't make a difference. I didn't try dropping it.
Audio:
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/1165181/wd_c ... st_try.mp3
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/1165181/wd_c ... nd_try.mp3

If it matters, my apartment doesn't have air conditioning and is therefore pretty hot in the summer (sometimes up to 100F), I had previous trouble with data corruption on 250GB Samsung drives in form of clicking audio files.


Please say if you have an idea.

[drc]

Doesn't sound like anything DIYable. Its either going to be internal (heads etc) or a PCB failure, neither of which can be solved in this model without special tools and knowledge.

[pcimage]

And you've frozen it and whacked it with a screwdriver???!!!

[babyscarer]

And you've frozen it and whacked it with a screwdriver???!!!

As I said, the data is not critical. These were all over the net as common solutions.

[BlackST]

Over the net maybe there's a way how to make napalm at home. Maybe it works for your drive... who knows ?

Jokes apart, if data is important (don't think so) get pro help and be prepared to spend from 750-1000$ up. If not, get another drive for about 50$.