Hard drive crash?

I have a maxtor drive. I downloaded the powermax software as you suggested
and ran the tests.

Test 1. Installation confirmation. PASSED
Test 2 Basic Quick 90 second, "Must run Advanced Full Scan Test"
Test 3 Runs for about a minute and says "Failed, Back up your data and
consult our website with this 8 digit diagnostic code"

I go to the website and it says that the 8 digit number is to be used as an
RMA number if it is under warrenty.

I assume that the problem you were referring to which was a corrupted MBR is
ruled out because of this? Now I'm pretty sure I will have to send the
drive to a data recovery company. Can you people please reccomend some you
may have used? I would really appreciate it. Or any other advice/comments
are welcome as well. I am a poor college student and can't imagine spending
$1,500 dollars to get my data back, $500.00 is going to be pushing it so
thats the number i'm aiming for.

I think I learned my lesson about backing stuff up. I always thought the
stupid SMART stuff was suppose to warn you before a crash though. I guess
its not totally reliable.

Thanks
Brad C.
"S.Heenan" <sheenan.TakeThisOut@wahs.ac> wrote in message
news:H%f%c.328250$M95.268494@pd7tw1no...
 > Brad W wrote:
  > > My hard drive is pretty much not working, I mean not being
  > > recognized. It is not making funny sounds though and sounds like it
  > > is spinning normally. It just stopped working after I installed an
  > > update for windows, maybe it was a virus, I wasn't paying 100%
  > > attention to what I clicked.
  > > Do crashed hard drives always make weird sounds? Is there any
  > > viruses going around lately that have made the HD inaccessible?
 >
 >
 >
 > Stop using the hard drive. Unplug it. Download a diagnostic utility from
the
 > maker of your hard drive. Maxtor has Powmax, Seagate has Seatools. Create
 > the floppy. Connect the hard drive as slave. Run the diagnostics. Your
hard
 > drive may only have a corrupted MBR, which is easy enough to fix.
 >
 > --
 > " I want to make it clear that DRM is perfectly ok with Linux!" -Linus
 > T.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hard drive crash? 

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.maxtor.com/en/documentation/manuals/powermax_guide_en.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.maxtor.com/en/documentation/manuals/powermax_guide_en.pdf</a>

here is the link to the diagnostic software I used.

Thanks
Brad

"brad-cook" <brad-cook.DeleteThis@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:9Jz%c.146769$Fg5.15292@attbi_s53...
 > I have a maxtor drive. I downloaded the powermax software as you
suggested
 > and ran the tests.
 >
 > Test 1. Installation confirmation. PASSED
 > Test 2 Basic Quick 90 second, "Must run Advanced Full Scan Test"
 > Test 3 Runs for about a minute and says "Failed, Back up your data and
 > consult our website with this 8 digit diagnostic code"
 >
 > I go to the website and it says that the 8 digit number is to be used as
an
 > RMA number if it is under warrenty.
 >
 > I assume that the problem you were referring to which was a corrupted MBR
is
 > ruled out because of this? Now I'm pretty sure I will have to send the
 > drive to a data recovery company. Can you people please reccomend some
you
 > may have used? I would really appreciate it. Or any other
advice/comments
 > are welcome as well. I am a poor college student and can't imagine
spending
 > $1,500 dollars to get my data back, $500.00 is going to be pushing it so
 > thats the number i'm aiming for.
 >
 > I think I learned my lesson about backing stuff up. I always thought the
 > stupid SMART stuff was suppose to warn you before a crash though. I guess
 > its not totally reliable.
 >
 > Thanks
 > Brad C.
 > "S.Heenan" <sheenan.DeleteThis@wahs.ac> wrote in message
 > news:H%f%c.328250$M95.268494@pd7tw1no...
  > > Brad W wrote:
   > > > My hard drive is pretty much not working, I mean not being
   > > > recognized. It is not making funny sounds though and sounds like it
   > > > is spinning normally. It just stopped working after I installed an
   > > > update for windows, maybe it was a virus, I wasn't paying 100%
   > > > attention to what I clicked.
   > > > Do crashed hard drives always make weird sounds? Is there any
   > > > viruses going around lately that have made the HD inaccessible?
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > Stop using the hard drive. Unplug it. Download a diagnostic utility from
 > the
  > > maker of your hard drive. Maxtor has Powmax, Seagate has Seatools.
Create
  > > the floppy. Connect the hard drive as slave. Run the diagnostics. Your
 > hard
  > > drive may only have a corrupted MBR, which is easy enough to fix.
  > >
  > > --
  > > " I want to make it clear that DRM is perfectly ok with Linux!" -Linus
  > > T.
  > >
  > >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hard drive crash? 

brad-cook wrote:
 > I have a maxtor drive. I downloaded the powermax software as you
 > suggested and ran the tests.
 >
 > Test 1. Installation confirmation. PASSED
 > Test 2 Basic Quick 90 second, "Must run Advanced Full Scan Test"
 > Test 3 Runs for about a minute and says "Failed, Back up your data
 > and consult our website with this 8 digit diagnostic code"
 >
 > I go to the website and it says that the 8 digit number is to be used
 > as an RMA number if it is under warrenty.
 >
 > I assume that the problem you were referring to which was a corrupted
 > MBR is ruled out because of this? Now I'm pretty sure I will have
 > to send the drive to a data recovery company. Can you people please
 > reccomend some you may have used? I would really appreciate it. Or
 > any other advice/comments are welcome as well. I am a poor college
 > student and can't imagine spending $1,500 dollars to get my data
 > back, $500.00 is going to be pushing it so thats the number i'm
 > aiming for.
 >
 > I think I learned my lesson about backing stuff up. I always thought
 > the stupid SMART stuff was suppose to warn you before a crash though.
 > I guess its not totally reliable.

Before shipping the drive out, you can try this:

-remove the hard drive from the computer
-place it in an anti-static bag.
-place that bag inside a freezer bag.
-place the drive in a deep freeze. It can be left there. Don't jar it.
-get a copy of an imaging program, like Symantec Drive Image, Ghost, or
Acronis True Image.
-take the drive out of the bags and place it as a slave to a working hard
drive.
-take an image of the defective drive. Save the image to the working drive.

You can then retrieve data from the image.


Hard to say if your drive has a mechanical or logical problem. In the case
of the latter, swapping the PCB might do the trick. You could always try
local computer shops to find an *exact* replacement drive. All part numbers
and the firmware revision of the drive must match. Have someone
knowledgeable with electronics swap the logic board for you. If this does
work, get the data off and shelve the drive. Look in to a backup strategy in
the future.

If this fails, try a recovery service.

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.stellarinfo.com/" target="_blank">http://www.stellarinfo.com/</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ontrack.com/desktop/" target="_blank">http://www.ontrack.com/desktop/</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.datarecoverygroup.com/" target="_blank">http://www.datarecoverygroup.com/</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hard drive crash? 

thanks for all the info. How risky is the freezer method? Is there a
website that gives more details on it such as, "Do i take it directly out of
the freezer and plug it in, or do i let it go back to room temp?

Thanks
Brad
"S.Heenan" <sheenan.RemoveThis@wahs.ac> wrote in message
news:mxB%c.357639$gE.277883@pd7tw3no...
 > brad-cook wrote:
  > > I have a maxtor drive. I downloaded the powermax software as you
  > > suggested and ran the tests.
  > >
  > > Test 1. Installation confirmation. PASSED
  > > Test 2 Basic Quick 90 second, "Must run Advanced Full Scan Test"
  > > Test 3 Runs for about a minute and says "Failed, Back up your data
  > > and consult our website with this 8 digit diagnostic code"
  > >
  > > I go to the website and it says that the 8 digit number is to be used
  > > as an RMA number if it is under warrenty.
  > >
  > > I assume that the problem you were referring to which was a corrupted
  > > MBR is ruled out because of this? Now I'm pretty sure I will have
  > > to send the drive to a data recovery company. Can you people please
  > > reccomend some you may have used? I would really appreciate it. Or
  > > any other advice/comments are welcome as well. I am a poor college
  > > student and can't imagine spending $1,500 dollars to get my data
  > > back, $500.00 is going to be pushing it so thats the number i'm
  > > aiming for.
  > >
  > > I think I learned my lesson about backing stuff up. I always thought
  > > the stupid SMART stuff was suppose to warn you before a crash though.
  > > I guess its not totally reliable.
 >
 > Before shipping the drive out, you can try this:
 >
 > -remove the hard drive from the computer
 > -place it in an anti-static bag.
 > -place that bag inside a freezer bag.
 > -place the drive in a deep freeze. It can be left there. Don't jar it.
 > -get a copy of an imaging program, like Symantec Drive Image, Ghost, or
 > Acronis True Image.
 > -take the drive out of the bags and place it as a slave to a working hard
 > drive.
 > -take an image of the defective drive. Save the image to the working
drive.
 >
 > You can then retrieve data from the image.
 >
 >
 > Hard to say if your drive has a mechanical or logical problem. In the case
 > of the latter, swapping the PCB might do the trick. You could always try
 > local computer shops to find an *exact* replacement drive. All part
numbers
 > and the firmware revision of the drive must match. Have someone
 > knowledgeable with electronics swap the logic board for you. If this does
 > work, get the data off and shelve the drive. Look in to a backup strategy
in
 > the future.
 >
 > If this fails, try a recovery service.
 >
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.stellarinfo.com/</font" target="_blank">http://www.stellarinfo.com/</font</a>>
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ontrack.com/desktop/</font" target="_blank">http://www.ontrack.com/desktop/</font</a>>
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.datarecoverygroup.com/</font" target="_blank">http://www.datarecoverygroup.com/</font</a>>
 >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hard drive crash? 

Also,

Do you know of a website that has all or some of this good hard drive info
that you know?

I really appreciate your help.

Thanks
Brad

"brad-cook" <brad-cook DeleteThis @mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:mKG%c.2536$LT5.269@attbi_s52...
 > thanks for all the info. How risky is the freezer method? Is there a
 > website that gives more details on it such as, "Do i take it directly out
of
 > the freezer and plug it in, or do i let it go back to room temp?
 >
 > Thanks
 > Brad
 > "S.Heenan" <sheenan DeleteThis @wahs.ac> wrote in message
 > news:mxB%c.357639$gE.277883@pd7tw3no...
  > > brad-cook wrote:
   > > > I have a maxtor drive. I downloaded the powermax software as you
   > > > suggested and ran the tests.
   > > >
   > > > Test 1. Installation confirmation. PASSED
   > > > Test 2 Basic Quick 90 second, "Must run Advanced Full Scan Test"
   > > > Test 3 Runs for about a minute and says "Failed, Back up your data
   > > > and consult our website with this 8 digit diagnostic code"
   > > >
   > > > I go to the website and it says that the 8 digit number is to be used
   > > > as an RMA number if it is under warrenty.
   > > >
   > > > I assume that the problem you were referring to which was a corrupted
   > > > MBR is ruled out because of this? Now I'm pretty sure I will have
   > > > to send the drive to a data recovery company. Can you people please
   > > > reccomend some you may have used? I would really appreciate it. Or
   > > > any other advice/comments are welcome as well. I am a poor college
   > > > student and can't imagine spending $1,500 dollars to get my data
   > > > back, $500.00 is going to be pushing it so thats the number i'm
   > > > aiming for.
   > > >
   > > > I think I learned my lesson about backing stuff up. I always thought
   > > > the stupid SMART stuff was suppose to warn you before a crash though.
   > > > I guess its not totally reliable.
  > >
  > > Before shipping the drive out, you can try this:
  > >
  > > -remove the hard drive from the computer
  > > -place it in an anti-static bag.
  > > -place that bag inside a freezer bag.
  > > -place the drive in a deep freeze. It can be left there. Don't jar it.
  > > -get a copy of an imaging program, like Symantec Drive Image, Ghost, or
  > > Acronis True Image.
  > > -take the drive out of the bags and place it as a slave to a working
hard
  > > drive.
  > > -take an image of the defective drive. Save the image to the working
 > drive.
  > >
  > > You can then retrieve data from the image.
  > >
  > >
  > > Hard to say if your drive has a mechanical or logical problem. In the
case
  > > of the latter, swapping the PCB might do the trick. You could always try
  > > local computer shops to find an *exact* replacement drive. All part
 > numbers
  > > and the firmware revision of the drive must match. Have someone
  > > knowledgeable with electronics swap the logic board for you. If this
does
  > > work, get the data off and shelve the drive. Look in to a backup
strategy
 > in
  > > the future.
  > >
  > > If this fails, try a recovery service.
  > >
<font color=green>  > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.stellarinfo.com/</font" target="_blank">http://www.stellarinfo.com/</font</a>>
<font color=green>  > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ontrack.com/desktop/</font" target="_blank">http://www.ontrack.com/desktop/</font</a>>
<font color=green>  > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.datarecoverygroup.com/</font" target="_blank">http://www.datarecoverygroup.com/</font</a>>
  > >
  > >
  > >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hard drive crash? 

brad-cook wrote:
 > Also,
 >
 > Do you know of a website that has all or some of this good hard drive
 > info that you know?
 >
 > I really appreciate your help.



<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=2992" target="_blank">http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=2992</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=382111" target="_blank">http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=382111</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.pcreview.co.uk/article.php?t=4549&page=1" target="_blank">http://www.pcreview.co.uk/article.php?t=4549&page=1</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=hard+drive+recovery+%2B+freezer&meta=" target="_blank">http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=hard+drive+recovery+%2B+f...zer&met</a>

You're quite welcome.

Good luck.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hard drive crash? 

brad-cook wrote:
 > thanks for all the info. How risky is the freezer method? Is
 > there a website that gives more details on it such as, "Do i take it
 > directly out of the freezer and plug it in, or do i let it go back to
 > room temp?

The freezer method isn't risk at all. There's no guarantee of results, but
it is worth a shot.

Take it from the deep freezer to the PC. Install it as a slave, meaning
don't try booting from it. Then, take an image of the hard drive as quickly
as possible. Perhaps have a knowledgeable friend help. At the very least
practice this a few times with working drives. Time is rather critical as
you do not want the drive to warm up. If it warms, it expands in all three
dimensions and you're back at square one.

If you can not recover the data yourself, call these folks for a quote:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ontrack.com/datarecovery/servicequote.asp?pageTarget=Recovery+Solutions&buttonName=Request+for+Quote" target="_blank">http://www.ontrack.com/datarecovery/servicequote.asp?pageTarget=Recove...Solutio</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.drivesavers.com/why_drivesavers/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.drivesavers.com/why_drivesavers/index.html</a>

Both are well known and have good reputations.

Post back to the group with your results.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hard drive crash? 

What about freezing it, and then having it sit in a little portable rerig
that my roommate has to extend the "coolness"? I'll post my detailed
results back to the group when I get this done, probably on Sunday or so.

Thanks
Brad


"S.Heenan" <sheenan.RemoveThis@wahs.ac> wrote in message
news:L5K%c.361361$gE.52159@pd7tw3no...
 > brad-cook wrote:
  > > thanks for all the info. How risky is the freezer method? Is
  > > there a website that gives more details on it such as, "Do i take it
  > > directly out of the freezer and plug it in, or do i let it go back to
  > > room temp?
 >
 > The freezer method isn't risk at all. There's no guarantee of results, but
 > it is worth a shot.
 >
 > Take it from the deep freezer to the PC. Install it as a slave, meaning
 > don't try booting from it. Then, take an image of the hard drive as
quickly
 > as possible. Perhaps have a knowledgeable friend help. At the very least
 > practice this a few times with working drives. Time is rather critical as
 > you do not want the drive to warm up. If it warms, it expands in all three
 > dimensions and you're back at square one.
 >
 > If you can not recover the data yourself, call these folks for a quote:
 >
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ontrack.com/datarecovery/servicequote.asp?pageTarget=Recovery+Sol" target="_blank">http://www.ontrack.com/datarecovery/servicequote.asp?pageTarget=Recovery+Sol</a>
utions&buttonName=Request+for+Quote
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.drivesavers.com/why_drivesavers/index.html</font" target="_blank">http://www.drivesavers.com/why_drivesavers/index.html</font</a>>
 >
 > Both are well known and have good reputations.
 >
 > Post back to the group with your results.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hard drive crash? 

News wrote:
 > What about freezing it, and then having it sit in a little portable
 > rerig that my roommate has to extend the "coolness"? I'll post my
 > detailed results back to the group when I get this done, probably on
 > Sunday or so.

Do what you can. Wrap the outside freezer bag with several layers of
newspaper, towels or even one of those insulated lunch bags. The idea is to
keep the drive cold for as long as possible.
Be familiar with the function of the imaging app. Work as quickly as
possible.
See you Sunday.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hard drive crash?