(no subject)

[mabjustmab]

Hey folks!
it's time once again to use the internet brain trust. Some musician friends of mine are almost done recording their new album. it's taken them over 3 years to get it to the point that it's ready to be set free to the salivating masses.

unfortunately (dun dun duuunnnn), the hard drive that contained all of said music has failed. (yes, lesson learned about backing up the backup). they are desperate to get the data off the drive, but cannot seem to find anyone to do it for less than several thousand dollars. from what we can tell, they need a "static free room" to transfer the actual disks from the old hard drive to a new enclosure.

they have tried Best Buy/Geek Squad and Micro Center, but found the cost way to prohibitive.

I am recalling that somewhere out there, someone I know had it done for a LOT less. (only, I can't remember who!)

does anyone have any suggestions?
many thanks!

Comments

[asim.livejournal.com]

If it's not clacking, try freezing.

No, seriously. Sometimes, due to the way HD platters are made, cooling it in a freezer will make them readable on a temporary basis. This is a "I've never done it, but people I know and respect had" level of suggestion, however.

Other than that, if you can get a precise description of how it failed, and what it's (not) doing, I might be able to suggest a program or other item to help.

[noralita.livejournal.com]

I am no tech geek but they could humidify a small room around 60-80% (not hard in this weather, can monitor with a $10 rh/T monitor from radio shack or a salt card from a garden supply store) and layout static free foam (that pink foam that motherboards & chips are shipped in) on surfaces to rest their metal tools & drives. Avoid poly/acrylic clothing and carpet, and a/c which dehumidifies.

[http://users.livejournal.com/ding_0_/]

if it's just a matter of the drive not being recognized I have some good data recovery software that will grab the data off of the drive (but with out the file names which can be a real mess). I would take a look if they want.

if it is clicking or making other bad mechanical noises then it's best to leave to the clean room pros.

[mabjustmab.livejournal.com]

I believe it's clicking and/or not turning. something about having been knocked off the desk 1 too many times. (it's an external hard drive)

[jaaron.livejournal.com]

I did have good luck freezing my HD based iPod a few times. It didn't last in the long run of course, but got maybe an extra month or so out of it.

The clicking sound is the read/write heads actually hitting the hard drive platter where the data is stored. These heads are supposed to be very close to, but not actually touching the platter in order to manipulate the bits on the drive (using magnets), freezing the drive causes all the metal bits to contract which can pull the heads just far enough up from the drive for it to work.

I feel like phenakistoscope had data professionally recovered from a crashed hard-drive for a lot less money than I thought it cost (which was in the 3k range). Not sure if my memory is accurate though.

[cynr.livejournal.com]

I know another band that just went through this...and yeah, unfortunately they had to go the several thousand dollars professional recovery route.

....

boo.

Hey silly, i have your stuff from onca in my car! please help me remember to give it to you!!!

[mabjustmab.livejournal.com]

you should give mab a call!

caaaaaallll maaaaab

Yikes

[oshu.livejournal.com]

Ok, that really sucks.

I've heard great things about this software and its only $90:
http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm

Also, personally I'd keep Geek Squad FAR away from my computers, they charge too much and know far too little.