Hi, I am hoping someone here can help me. I just got a new laptop (2months ago) and the hard drive crashed/stopped working i contacted Dell and they replaced the hard drive and left me the broken one to try and retrieve the data from it. The data is important to me as i use it for work...
When i put the hard drive(SATA) in my laptop it makes a clicking noise and sounds like it is trying to read data but says ' no operating system found '.
I have tried plugging the hard drive into and external hard drive case but the drive won't be detected. i have also tried using 'puppy' but still no luck of seeing anything on the drive.
I am tempted to open up the hard drive and see if there is anything obviously wrong with it... someone said that it is probably the circuit board so you can't fix it.
I really don't want to send it away and spend $900+ on it... Is there any suggestions, tips, techniques to recover data of a SATA hard drive that seems to have a mechanical failure without spending big money?
open to anything...

If u need data don't open the hard disk. what type of clicking does it makes. is it continuous click. if yes then power off the hard disk as soon as possible.

DF

It will click for a little while then stop... not a constant rhythm.

Put your ear to the drive and start it up.

Does it sound like it is spinning up?

Compare the noise to the good drive.

I think you must be send that HDD to a HDDLAB nearest, as soon as possible. No way out, because it's missing some infomation in some modules(heads map or spindle...) It's hard work even when you have all the tool and skill needed. You can not do it by yourself without the tool and skill.

It is a Hitachi and i live in Australia. but i am willing to try anything...

Don't tweak around if you want your data back, i suspect head problem.

I don't recommend mucking with it either. Here's an article to reference for more information: http://www.iswamp.com/data-recovery-new ... ailure.php

_________________
Rick
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The Data Recovery Resource Center
http://www.iswamp.com

Hi,

If u need the data for your work, the worst thing to do is to open the drive by yourself. It seems to be much safer to send the drive to anybody even in this forum doing DR than to do the 'home made DR' yourself
I am sure we could work out a reasonable price for U.

regards,
pepe

yep, agree with pepe.

DO NOT open the drive.

Where are you based?

I'm sure someone on here, local to you, will be able to offer a special "hdd guru friends" price.

We will offer ALL hddguru guys a very special price, for recoveries in or near UK

i am based in Victoria Australia. But i am willing to post my hard drive if someone can help me out. I don't have any money to spend, i am a youth pastor at a country church in victoria and the reason i need my data is for my job. i am praying that i will find someone to help me.
I think it is either the motor not spinning up or damage to the head - most likely damage to the head.

It's a 80GB Hitachi Sata HDD model number: HTS541680J9SA00

Please let me know if you think you can help out.

Hi Bard
Check your PM.

Cheers

I've used these guys before, maybe they can help you out.
http://www.cbltech.com/company/labs.html#australia

sorry, posted in the wrong thread...