Hey all – I’ve got a problem you’ve heard before – dying (or dead?) laptop hard drive. It’s a WD3200BEVT WD Scorpio Blue (320BG and marked as a 2009 model). A few days ago my system slowed – then stopped. I rebooted, and it wouldn’t boot. From there, I tried every possible thing under the sun, but no response. Finally, I installed Ubuntu on a USB stick and booted from that. I was able to see the files on that dying hard drive. I was able to offload some – but only like 2GB in 12 hours. Then the offload seems to just stop…went from 2 hours remaining to 15 to 2800, etc. So I stopped it. Rebooted Ubuntu, and then it couldn’t find that hard drive. Repeat – and it did find it – but I couldn’t get anything from it. Nothing would download at all. Then I was unable to get Ubuntu to recognize the drive at all.

I happened to have another identical laptop, so tried the dying drive in that. Nothing. Same issues. So now this drive is sitting on my desk.

I ordered a USB HD dock. Gonna try that when it comes in.

Any tips here? Of course, I really need the data. I’ve seen that it could cost up to $1500, and there’s no promise of retrieval. Yet somebody finds a way to retrieve data when the hard drive has been burned, sunk, or shot full of holes.

Like with everyone, this is a timely issue – I need to get this data fast. I’m a technical guy so would try anything – but I don’t want to try something that my actually kill the drive for good. So what are my choices here? And if my only choice is to go with a recovery company - anyone got a recommendation and know what I should pay?

in this case the best option is stop testing, because avery test you make can make more damage to the drive.

the problem in this case maybe bad heads, bad platers, or FW problems but i all cases clean cabinet, parts needed, and special tools, no for newbie work.

The best in this case is contact with a local Pro service.

where you are located Georgia USA?