Hard drive repair or data retrieval service

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/17/2008 07:20:16 PM · #1

Hi everyone,

I'm in need of finding a service which can recover data from a HD which has a mechanical problem. The bios doesn't recognize the drive and it's making out of normal humming noises. I can do a google search but wondering if somone can recommend a service that they themselves have tried. From reading a CF Card data loss thread, it's very important to try and get the unit to the right people first or else some services might complain that the HD was already tampered with.

Thanks so much!

p.s.
Before folks start saying, why didn't you backup your data and so and so... This isn't my drive but a friend's. I won't go into detail as it's a long story.

Message edited by author 2008-10-17 19:36:55.

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

10/17/2008 07:23:06 PM · #2

ontrack

ETA: I have used them for recovery of a damaged HD it cost about $700 but that price included a new drive with the data on it.

Message edited by author 2008-10-17 19:24:08.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/17/2008 07:35:58 PM · #3

Thanks Erick. I've sent them a message via their quote page. I've read good things about Ontrack over the years and I've tried their software.

Can you please offer any extra details about the data recovery they had to do for you?
What was the damage done and how much data was retrieved. Just wondering what the chances are of getting the data back. Mainly need 10-20files off of it, but getting 90% of the data back would be great if it also included the files that are needed. Thanks again!

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

10/17/2008 07:53:43 PM · #4

It was a mechanical failure of the drive it would not spin up or anything. They were able to recover all the files on the drive, about 2GB worth of data. It took 2 weeks if I remember correctly.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/17/2008 08:39:26 PM · #5

DriveSavers has been recommended to me by a reputable independent computer store. They are expensive but seem to be able to recover most anything.

Seanachai

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

10/17/2008 10:13:56 PM · #6

This might sound a little crazy but I saw this solution work successfully this past week. My friends just upgraded their Avid system to High Def and the tech guy really muck up the job including frying a terabyte HD of saved video files. They called an Avid specialist that night and he recommended that they put the hard drive in a secure zip lock bag and freeze it over night. The reason being hard drives run hot and metal expands anD sometimes when expanding it will stop the disc to lock up and you end up with a cooked hard drive. The next morning they thawed out the drive and it started working just fine, granted the immediately backed it up their files on another drive to be safe but the original drive is still working just fine. Just a thought :)

Message edited by author 2008-10-18 10:03:05.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/17/2008 10:42:19 PM · #7

Thanks for everyone's replies thus far. Keep'em coming ;)

Sean, I've read about freezing HD's. They also recommend you put them into one of those silver antistatic bags usealed then into a ziplock. I wouldn't want to take the chance and turn on the drive again. It had a drop shock and I doubt freezing would do much good since it was turned on after days of being off and we knew from them on there is no point for us to try and get the data recovered by ourselves and risk losing more data.

Message edited by author 2008-10-17 22:43:31.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

10/18/2008 12:42:00 AM · #8

Hard Drive Cooling