Dropped PC Hard Drive.

binbag · Post by **binbag** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:33 am

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Has anyone successfully managed to repair a hard drive that fell on to a carpet.

I dropped a 500gb Samsung sata hard drive (it's only a few months old) two feet on to my carpet.

I can get a new one but I need to try and recover the data on the drive because, very carelessly, I did not back up the drive.

I have a data recovery program, but I need to try and repair the disc first.

Either the heads have been knocked out of alignment or the discs have been effected.

Anyone any tips that may be worth trying? :yh_pray

bb

Post by **LarsMac** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 8:08 am

Unless you have a clean lab and experience working with very small, very delicate mechanical items, I would recommend against trying to repair it.

There are outfits out there that can recover data from a disk, but they are not cheap.

I had to recover data from a hard drive that suffered a similar fate. It cost me around US$ 500

You local PC specialty shop may know where, locally to get such work done.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 8:15 am

Thus the saying "Backup up the backup" yep it will cost you to recover the data but it can be done. You wouldn't think a 2 foot drop onto carpet would cause damage but it doesn't take much.

Post by **spot** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:27 am

They're right, if you need data back from that drive the only safe way is to pay a recovery company to get it for you and it's not cheap.

If you're not going to pay hundreds and you really want to chance your arm, I'd put a small side bet on GRC*|*Hard drive data recovery software** as a way forward. There's a lot of abuse of Steve Gibson on the Internet, I reckon it's all envy, he's a clever chap. And if you want to cough up the $89 and send me the drive and the program, I'm interested enough in seeing Spinrite v6 in action that I'll run it and find out. It does head realignment among other things, so long as the hardware's still functional.

binbag · Post by **binbag** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 12:49 pm

Hi folks,

I've tried to revive hard drives before but have never been successful.

I'm used to working with small, to tiny objects that can only be handled with teezers, so that's not a problem.

I don't have a dust free environment though but, I've actually been thinking of rigging something up, like a large desktop box enclosed in clear plastic sheet, sucking out all the dust with a hoover, then placing the drive inside through a small hole in the plastic sheet allowing me to work with the HD.

Gosh, Spinrite, I forgot all about that software spot, and I actually own a copy on a floppy disc that I kept aside for emergencies when I was using XP. (I've Win7 now)

The only problem is the PC doesn't have a floppy drive. I've a couple of spare floppy drives though but, the spare cables in the tower are sata cables with sata plugs...no use for a floppy drive.

I'll need to see if can get adapters to change the power plugs to the conventional type, then I could try spinrite.

Please continue to send in any tips though. :yh_sad

Back-Up the Back-Up, I know, I know, CARLA: I've an external hard drive for that very purpose but had to temporarily use for something else.

The joys of computing, eh?

bb... :yh_glasse

Post by **spot** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 1:17 pm

Carry the floppy and a USB stick until you meet a computer that has both, and transfer the program then.

If it's a bootable floppy then perhaps you'll need to read about creating a bootable CD too, but the USB stick's still a useful intermediary.

You might check the upgrade price as well, it can't be much.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:53 pm

"external hard drive"

What kind do you recommend?

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:37 pm

ALFTR if your using it for back up they have small drive called "CLICKFREE" here is the site I recommend them for users that aren't techy people it is does all the work. You would most likely use the C1 portabable backup drive. This is the actual site but you can get them cheaper just google "Clickfree"

Portable Backup Solutions, External Hard Drive | Clickfree Automatic Backup

"external hard drive"

What kind do you recommend?

Scrat · Post by **Scrat** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:30 pm

I really do need to get another computer, I'm worried about my 20 gig hard drive. I have to get over this habit of updating my hardware from what I find sitting next to the garbage cans. I feel so inadequate.

FG-administator · Post by **FG-administator** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:41 pm

Scrat;1349577 wrote: I have to get over this habit of updating my hardware from what I find sitting next to the garbage cans. I feel so inadequate.

It's what I do, it works fine for me. Well, that and obsolete handed-down machines, but I do like showing off resurrected dumpster gear.

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:14 am

just found out this evening that my pager is shock absorbent . Just dropped it on concrete. still works

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:16 am

Scrat;1349577 wrote: I really do need to get another computer, I'm worried about my 20 gig hard drive. I have to get over this habit of updating my hardware from what I find sitting next to the garbage cans. I feel so inadequate.

Are Pc's the new phallic symbol? ..............and if that's the case, why is it that women use computers more than men? Just sayin.

binbag · Post by **binbag** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 11:47 am

I managed to get hold of an update version of Spinrite and have been working all day trying to restore the HD.

I made up a bootable cd however, after several attempts, the cd drive refused to recognize the cd. I made couple more copies, no joy.

Well, I thought, the HD's useless now, there's no harm in trying.... so I dropped it on the floor from half the height of the original fall, still no joy. One more attempt....no joy.

OK, one whack on the palm of my hand, replaced it in the tower for the final time Aaaand Bingo, it booted up with all programs, files and folders intact.

I'm not going to rely on it so I'm backing everything up now.

I would not recommend anyone try this as the first option of recovering a dropped HD.

The moral of the story? Don't drop your Hard Drive; well yes, but the real moral of the story?...Back-up your Back-up as CARLA quite rightly mentioned.

I think it's also called, "Learning the Hard Way"

Thank you everyone for your interest and replies.

The links CARLA and spot posted are very useful, you might want to add them to your your favourites.

btw, I used a spare hard drive as my external hard drive. I only had to by the external case.

bb

binbag · Post by **binbag** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 11:49 am

Scrat;1349577 wrote: I really do need to get another computer, I'm worried about my 20 gig hard drive. I have to get over this habit of updating my hardware from what I find sitting next to the garbage cans. I feel so inadequate.Don't, garbage bagging is a great hobby :wah:

bb

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 11:58 am

Whoo !! nothing like beating it back into working..

whatever works I have been known to kick a PC or 2. :yh_rotfl

Now back it up and thank the Tech GODS.

you dodged a bullet on this.

Post by **spot** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:52 pm

The number of monitors I've brought back to life with a slap across the face doesn't bear thinking about.

I'm delighted you found a way to retrieve your data. You skated on thin ice there.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 2:05 pm

I appears to be the season for it - I've just spent a worried evening coaxing my pride and joy back to life.

Turned out that the power supply fan seized during the night and poor Lian became quite hot under the collar about it.

You know, after fitting a new fan it's amazing how noisy the old one had become - here was me thinking the drives were thrashing all the time

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:28 pm

CARLA;1349557 wrote: ALFTR if your using it for back up they have small drive called "CLICKFREE" here is the site I recommend them for users that aren't techy people it is does all the work. You would most likely use the C1 portabable backup drive. This is the actual site but you can get them cheaper just google "Clickfree"

Portable Backup Solutions, External Hard Drive | Clickfree Automatic Backup

Thanks, Carla. I have saved this website to "my favorites" and will investigate this further.