DATA RECOVERY: (HDD Repair) Are you a 1337 H4X0R?

[pawn3d]

I am trying to rescue the data on a 2.5 hard drive.
(See Video Below)

1. I have a 100GB 2.5 hard drive that I installed it in a Mad Dog external UBS enclosure.
2. When I plug it in, I am prompted to initialize the disk and it does not show up in My Computer.
3. However, on my Macintosh, I have a program called Data Rescue II and on that app, it does show up under the list of drives, but it won't recover anything. It freezes on Block 0.

I really need to know my options before I do something stupid.

Should I try a PC repair program?
Should I buy the exact same HDD and swap the platters?
Throw it in the freezer? (lol)

Watch the video and please tell me what you think.
http://www.youtube.com/v/coHqxQj4_zE

Thanks! D

[thatdellguy]

Its one of them expensive variable size drives. Quite rare.

[rchadwick]

TDG, Are you in a mood too?

Silly question... Why did you open the cover?

Also, that dusty-looking room... That wasn't by chance a class 100 cleanroom, right?

Fortunately, you asked someone before you did something stupid.

The FIRST thing I would have done was connect it to the IDE bus of a computer. When in doubt, remove all the extras, and start with the basics. Now, it might be ready for the freezer...

[pawn3d]

TDG, Are you in a mood too?

Silly question... Why did you open the cover?

Also, that dusty-looking room... That wasn't by chance a class 100 cleanroom, right?

Fortunately, you asked someone before you did something stupid.

The FIRST thing I would have done was connect it to the IDE bus of a computer. When in doubt, remove all the extras, and start with the basics. Now, it might be ready for the freezer...

okay, are you saying to connect it to the IDE and see if it mounts? if that doesn't work put it in the freezer? or are you saying to connect it with a very long ide cable and put it in the freezer?

[mydata.pl]

Quality of this video is really bad, but is there a scratch on the top surface? I think I see a ring there. Obviously, scratched drives work better when ice cold

[pawn3d]

no scratches that i saw. i put the cover back on immediately after i shot the video. somebody on another forum told me i totally annihilated the hdd by taking the top cover off... is that true?

[gsimon]

no scratches that i saw. i put the cover back on immediately after i shot the video. somebody on another forum told me i totally annihilated the hdd by taking the top cover off... is that true?

NO!

[pawn3d]

no scratches that i saw. i put the cover back on immediately after i shot the video. somebody on another forum told me i totally annihilated the hdd by taking the top cover off... is that true?

NO!

that's good to know... i wonder if people are just fucking with me so I'll buy their $5,000 services.

this guy is saying that particles got in my hdd and because i took the cover off i destroyed some invisible vacuum. whatever.

[rchadwick]

I don't think I'll be able to help you, but I figured I'd clarify things.

If you like lost causes, yes connect it to the IDE. That's what I said.

I'm saying putting it in the freezer is a bad idea, but it doesn't matter because you opened the drive. There's still a chance data can be recovered, but the chance of YOU recovering it just got pretty slim. The drive is sealed for a reason. Dust particles you can't even see can get between the head and platter, and destroy the platter surface. The longer you leave it open, and screw with it without really knowing what you're doing, the more likely this will happen. Look for yourself closely on the platter, and you'll likely see dust on it already. As for someone ripping you off $5000, many DR companies won't want to deal with your drive now anyway since it was opened, and most of the rest will probably charge you extra. Nobody likes to work with someone's unknown mess.