Helle everyone,

I came across this forum after doing a search on the internet for HDD recovery.

My primary HD has just died. I was listening to some music, when suddenly I had a Blue Screen of Death, and when I restarted the machine, Windows never loaded anymore.

I entered the BIOS, and much to my shock, the primary Master was no longer recognized. It's as if there's no HD in the system.

When I turn the machine on, I hear something like a cricket sound, repeated twice every 20 seconds. Otherwise, i don't think the HD is spinning - I can't feel anything when I touch it.

I tried taking the HD out and putting it into an external USB enclosure - it still cannot be recognized by other computers, and the cricket sound is still there.

The only thing I really care about on that HD is the "My Pictures" folder, because I have my Europe vacation pictures there.

After doing a bit of searching, I found that this could be a firmware problem.

It would cost me at least $500 (which I can't afford, I'm a student working part time to offset the bills!) to go to a specialized data recovery service...

I hope that perhaps you can help me recover my files.

Now, I'm not a computer expert, but I'm quick-witted and I can follow proper instructions. I've never done this before, and I don't know what can be done, what software is necessary, or what hardware combination.

Can you please help me?


Here is all the HD information, as listed on the top label:



MAXTOR DiamondMax Plus 8, 30 GB, ATA 133

Code: NAR61590

LBA: 60058656

E-H011-02-3427

6E030L0510213 ABA

SN: E12QHC3E

A264 Made in Singapore (2)


Please help as much as you can! Thank you!

I am so sad to tell this but it is not an easy case... Most likely this must go to the data recovery company... Sorry...

Where do you live?

Music Sound?


Could be a Head Crash most common on this models:

Hi,
It Could Be a Firmware Problem Or the Heads Are BAd Now .From What I Think Its the Firmware .I Am Just Experimenting With Lots of Software Currently ,So Let The Pro's Advice You

Amarbir

_________________
Regards
Amarbir S Dhillon , Chandigarh Data Recovery Labs [India]
Logical,Semi Physical And Physical Data Recovery
Website-> http://www.chandigarhdatarecovery.com

hello everyone,

here's an update: I tried the "freeze trick" (with the HDD inside two sealed, vacuumed ziploc bags, left in the freezer for 24 hours), but the noise is still there, and the drive still can't be seen.

Therefore, only two explanations remain: bad firware or bad hardware.

Please, if you have the files/software/know-how necessary for a recovery, let me know.

Just to clarify: the noise I hear is *not* that musical ring, similar to a cellphone ringer, which I've seen posted on the internet... Imagine that you make two (half a second each) quick warbled beeps on a crappy small speaker, sort of in between a cricket and a musical card with the battery almost gone.

Oh, and I live in Ottawa, Canada...

Hello,

From the sounds U describe I must confirm the drive has at least head problems (98%), and it might have surface damages also (this is the worst U can have, mostly unrecoverable by big DR companies - please,Maysoft, confirm or refute it, thx)

I don't believe there is a do-it-yourself method to recover from such situation.
regards,
pepe

All I can tell is that this drive needs a good data recovery service, for example, http://actionfront.com (located in Markham)

And yes, now I have doubts that it is recoverable at all...

might as well stick it in the fridge forever....this fridge thingy needs to be settled once end for all....maybe someone need to contact "MYTHBUSTERS" on that.

Haa Haaa,
I Have Heard This Freezer thing Many Times On Many Forums ,this is nonesense

_________________
Regards
Amarbir S Dhillon , Chandigarh Data Recovery Labs [India]
Logical,Semi Physical And Physical Data Recovery
Website-> http://www.chandigarhdatarecovery.com

Actually the freezer trick does work in some cases.

Strangelove9 first there is a small silver sticker on the side of the drive carefully peel it back and look for any black dust or marks, this will show you if the platters have been damaged, a common problem for Maxtors.

Second if no dust open the drive in a clean enviroment and check the platter and check the white filter for signs of black dust. If there are marks on the platter your drive is not recoverable.

third if no damage visible then power drive up to see if it will spin.
it is posible that the heads are stuck to the platter but not too common with Maxtors

Fourth if drive spins and heads just move in and out but will not initiate it may need a head swap or PCB swap

good luck

also try to change the PCB.. it may be the PCB problem. u should try to do all that are easy to do!

and as experts defined problems above..it may be one of those problems