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From: cpliu on 25 Jan 2008 18:05
It runs fine for ~ half a year. Without any warning, I have trouble
powering up. It powers up ok like any other HD I've seen but it also
making a clicking noise at a regular pace (~ once a second) like it
got stuck by something at rotation. After a few minutes, it shuts
itself down. If I power it up again, it would go through the same
process like described above.

I have a lot of files on the HD that I'd like to retreive before
sending it back. Are there tricks that I can temporarily making it
work? I wonder if I slap at it at certain angle, it may break free and
work again?? I've seen tips of putting it in a freezer.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

cpliu
From: Rod Speed on 25 Jan 2008 18:46
cpliu <spamfreeliu(a)yahoo.com> wrote:

> It runs fine for ~ half a year. Without any warning, I have
> trouble powering up. It powers up ok like any other HD
> I've seen but it also making a clicking noise at a regular pace
> (~ once a second) like it got stuck by something at rotation.

More likely what you hear is the drive recalibrating
when it cant read the platters properly.

> After a few minutes, it shuts itself down.

Because it decides that even recalibrating wont read the platters properly.

> If I power it up again, it would go through the same process like described above.

> I have a lot of files on the HD that I'd like to retreive before sending it back.

Smart move not having proper backups.

> Are there tricks that I can temporarily making it work?

You could try putting it in a plastic bag in the freezer for a couple of hours
and see if it will read the platters properly for a short time before it warms up.

> I wonder if I slap at it at certain angle, it may break free and work again??

Its unlikely to stuck and you should be able to feel if its rotating by
powering it up loose and feeling the drive when its powering up.

> I've seen tips of putting it in a freezer.

> Any suggestions?

Try the freezer, it does sometimes work.

Professional recovery will likely get the data back, but it isnt cheap.


From: Arno Wagner on 25 Jan 2008 20:54
Previously cpliu <spamfreeliu(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> It runs fine for ~ half a year. Without any warning, I have trouble
> powering up. It powers up ok like any other HD I've seen but it also
> making a clicking noise at a regular pace (~ once a second) like it
> got stuck by something at rotation. After a few minutes, it shuts
> itself down. If I power it up again, it would go through the same
> process like described above.

Sounds like excessive read or postioning errors. Please post the
full SMART attributes here.

> I have a lot of files on the HD that I'd like to retreive before
> sending it back. Are there tricks that I can temporarily making it
> work? I wonder if I slap at it at certain angle, it may break free and
> work again??

Stiction does not happen to modern drives due to improved
surface coating. You may cause additional damage though.

> I've seen tips of putting it in a freezer.

Unlikely to help, but you can try it.

> Any suggestions?

Next time -- make backups. Seems this is a lession thathas to
be learned the hard way...

Arno
From: cpliu on 27 Jan 2008 21:17
Thank you all for the suggestions. I put it in the freezer for one
night but it didn't help. It might take longer to start the clicking
noise. Here is the recorded noise: http://66.179.233.115/training/xfer/HD_noise.mp3
This is the first time that a HD stopped working without any symptons
first. I carried it to work to backup and retrieve data when needed
and I didn't drop it or mishandle it. Maybe the motion of walking with
it inside a bag or putting it on the table gradually kills it.
I have 90% of files with a second copy or on DVD. There are a few big
files and newer files I don't have backups. It would be still nice if
I can still back them up before sending it back.
The HD won't show up on my laptop. How do I generate SMART attribute?

Thanks for the help,

cpliu
From: Rod Speed on 27 Jan 2008 22:21
cpliu <spamfreeliu(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> Thank you all for the suggestions. I put it in the freezer for one
> night but it didn't help. It might take longer to start the clicking
> noise. Here is the recorded noise:
> http://66.179.233.115/training/xfer/HD_noise.mp3 This is the first
> time that a HD stopped working without any symptons
> first. I carried it to work to backup and retrieve data when needed
> and I didn't drop it or mishandle it.

> Maybe the motion of walking with it inside a
> bag or putting it on the table gradually kills it.

Nope, but you might have killed it with static if it wasnt an antistatic bag.

> I have 90% of files with a second copy or on DVD. There are
> a few big files and newer files I don't have backups. It would
> be still nice if I can still back them up before sending it back.

> The HD won't show up on my laptop. How do I generate SMART attribute?

Use Everest
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181


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