Dead HDD

Hi, I have a big problem, my secondary disk (a WD400BB) failed
yesterday, it was working great until then, it was like a "sudden
death", I didn't have the chance to save my files, it makes a VERY
loud and strange noise, and obviously it doesn't work at all, BIOS
doesn't detect it, I don't care about the drive, but I miss my
preciuos unbacked up data...

This is the sound:
http://personales.ciudad.com.ar/fedeweb/ruido.mp3

What do you think about the noise? Any clue of what can be damaged?

Thanks in advance.

"Federico" wrote in message
om...

This is the sound:
http://personales.ciudad.com.ar/fedeweb/ruido.mp3

What do you think about the noise? Any clue of what can be damaged?


Sounds awfull, maybe Startrek wants to license it. Whatever the cause, this
is not a DIY type thing.

--
Joep


D I Y D a t a R e c o v e r y . N L - Data & Disaster Recovery Tools

http://www.diydatarecovery.nl
http://www.diydatarecovery.com

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Federico wrote:
Hi, I have a big problem, my secondary disk (a WD400BB) failed
yesterday, it was working great until then, it was like a "sudden
death", I didn't have the chance to save my files, it makes a VERY
loud and strange noise, and obviously it doesn't work at all, BIOS
doesn't detect it, I don't care about the drive, but I miss my
preciuos unbacked up data...

This is the sound:
http://personales.ciudad.com.ar/fedeweb/ruido.mp3

What do you think about the noise? Any clue of what can be damaged?

It sounds like a harddrive powering down. Before you throw everything
away, try to see if anything is wrong with the power supply, the disk's
power cable or the 4 pins in the harddrive where you connect the power plug.

One of the first things you can do is attempt to connect the drive
solely to the power plug (not the wider connector), turn on the PC, and
listen what noises it makes. If it doesn't make a sound, there is a high
probability that either the power supply is not working alright or there
is some problem on the harddrive's electronics (which can be replaced
without data loss), if it makes noises a healthy harddrive would make
try plugging it around to other power plugs (like for example switch the
one you're using for the CD drive and the harddisk) and see what
happens. If it makes terrible noises however, it must mean that
something mechanicaly went to pieces and part of the data is lost for
good, while the rest could only be recovered at great expense.

Good luck anyhow.

"Jure Sah" wrote in message
...

It sounds like a harddrive powering down.

Well, if your disks sound like that when powering down .... mine fortunately
don't.


If it makes terrible noises however,

yes, it DOES ...

it must mean that
something mechanicaly went to pieces and part of the data is lost for
good, while the rest could only be recovered at great expense.

Good luck anyhow.

Federico wrote in message
om...

I have a big problem, my secondary disk (a WD400BB)
failed yesterday, it was working great until then, it was like
a "sudden death", I didn't have the chance to save my files,

You're sposed to save them long before that.

it makes a VERY loud and strange noise, and obviously it
doesn't work at all, BIOS doesn't detect it, I don't care about
the drive, but I miss my preciuos unbacked up data...

This is the sound:
http://personales.ciudad.com.ar/fedeweb/ruido.mp3

What do you think about the noise?

That its clearly in its death throws.

Any clue of what can be damaged?

Thats the drive recalibrating when it cant read the platters.

She's dead, Jim. You into necrophilia ?

Thanks all you guys for the answers.

Jure Sah: I tried that, just the power plug without the data cable but
it still makes the noise, 4 times, and then it stop doing it... And it
doesn't make the normal spin up sound, just that horrible noise and
when I turn off the system it doesnt do that "CLICK" sound... I
connected the same power plug to my primary HDD (a WD800BB) and it
works fine, so it's not the PSU...


"Rod Speed" wrote in message ...
Federico wrote in message
om...

I have a big problem, my secondary disk (a WD400BB)
failed yesterday, it was working great until then, it was like
a "sudden death", I didn't have the chance to save my files,

You're sposed to save them long before that.

Yes, I know... But I'm an idiot lol...

------------------

I taked some pictures, this is my little data cemetery...

http://personales.ciudad.com.ar/fedeweb/discofrente.jpg

http://personales.ciudad.com.ar/fedeweb/discodorso.jpg

"Rod Speed" wrote in message ...
Federico wrote in message
om...
snip
That its clearly in its death throws.


Yup.


Any clue of what can be damaged?

Thats the drive recalibrating when it cant read the platters.


To me it sounds like what happens when the head gets stuck to the
platter (it's called "stiction", do a google search for it).

She's dead, Jim. You into necrophilia ?

It sure is dead. My advice to the original poster (Jim) would be to
determine whether the cost of using data recovery services to try and
get any data off is greater than the worth of that data (ie. whether
it's worth spending $2000-$3000 to get that data back). And to replace
the drive. And to make backups of any important files that he makes in
the future.