failed hard drive

[marscheese]

I was copying some music to my music hard drive, then all of a sudden, I start getting errors like:

1) The device, \Device\Ide\IdePort1, did not respond within the timeout period.
2) dmio: Harddisk8 write error at block 78165357: status 0xc000000e
3) dmio: Harddisk8 write error at block 78163314: status 0xc0000185
4) Received a device interface ARRIVAL notification for device:
\\?\IDE#DiskWDC_WD400BB-00AUA1______________________18.20D18#4457572d414d5236333130333430_033_0_0_0_0#{53f56307-b6bf-11d0-94f2-00a0c91efb8b}

...then the drive disapears from My Computer, and when I check Disk Management, the drive reads "failed".

Because I have about 40 gigs of information on this drive, and I've been collecting music on it for the past 7 years...I'm :ping CRUSHED that the god damned thing failed. Is there ANY way that any of you know how I could extract any information from it? Are there any reliable programs that I could use to try to see information about at least what was contained on the drive?

I guess I could send it into one of those companies that extract data off of harddrives that are caught in houses on fire and shit, but I'm guessing that will be VERY expensive, and I don't really have any money.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks

[blade]

Have you tried to see if it works in dos, and transfer files to another hard drive that way? In other words, boot up with the hard drive cd (boot from that cd) or floppy disc, and try a copy to copy thing. If you don't have a cd or disc, go to the manufactures site and download that utility. Using the bad drive jumpered as slave or cable select.

Some like maxtor utilities can check the disk and in some cases repair it, or part of it.

I've had some success getting info off of drives that would not boot, but could get info the way I described above.

Good luck. I know this sux.

[wvjohn]

according to something FP posted a while back, you may get a one time shot if you put the drive in a freezer (in a bag of course) to chill it

before you do this you need to have another puter ready with space available to copy your data, so if you can get it to spin up you copy all the data off before it spins down

i had one that failed and the only way i could get it to spin up was at a 45 degree angle while tapping it - once it spun up i was able to get most of the data off


i have had other hdds fail as masters, but they were ok to install as slaves and get the data back

[b-man1]

you may get lucky by using a usb external enclosure too...that way you can angle the drive and beat on it easier while trying to get it to spin up.

good luck!

[FlyingPenguin]

Freezing should be last resort, and it only works for drives that won't spin up. You can listen to the drive and hear if it's spinning.

I'd try changing the angle it's sitting in as suggested previously. Also a GENTLE tap ON THE SIDE (never top or bottom) with a RUBBER mallet (or something else rubber) WHILE THE DRIVE IS POWERED DOWN may help.

Sometimes just powering down the computer and restarting several times may do the trick.

As stated previously, be ready with a 2nd drive connected so that if you DO get lucky and it responds, you can immediately start copying. It may not last long.

Also be aware that some sectors may have permanent damage so you may not be able to copy everything in one shot. It's usually better to do a few files at a time. Tedious, but when you get a copy failure you can pickup with the file after the one that failed.

Good luck.