I backed up my desktop files to a external drive via USB cable.

all went well.

dont know why but i defragged the external drive.

now the drive will start to spin, then fail.

I cant see the drive in 'my computer' on the desktop

do you think the disk is now U S?

Is there any way of recovering this data - except paying an arm and leg

Thanks

I have googled this and no joy - hence trying here

Remove the drive from the external enclosure and plug it into your computer directly. If you still can't access the files, use data recovery software on the drive once it's plugged directly into to your computer (Meaning not over USB).

Also, if it’s a 2.5" and only USB powered try another port (e.g. not the front but the back connectors or visa versa) or a "dual USB cable" that should have come with the drive/enclosure.

Thanks guys

No its a desktop 3 1/2"

I'll try and hook the disk as a slave to my dev pc and see if that does anything.

any sugestions a sto data recovery tools available?

Thanks

First try TESTDISK:

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

(i.e. Partition based recovery)

and only of it does not work, a file based recovery program, like the enclosed Photorec, or any of the other ones, just search the board there are several threads listing them.

jaclaz

jaclaz

Thanks for that info.

What confuses me though is the disk worked fine as a back up BEFORE i used disk defragger. so wonder if its hardware or software related issue????

i'm gonna try what you sugested to see what happens

does the drive show up in disk management

start, run

diskmgmt.msc

press enter

I'll check all this out when and report back

plugged the hdd in the spare comp.

started it up nd went straight to BIOS

nadia it just listed the spare comps drive.

zilch on the second dead hd

yes I did set it to slave !!

guess its a gonner

RIP!

Try plugging it alone on a cable and setting it to master. Some drives are qwirky when trying to share on the same cable as another or sometimes the combination of jumpers can be iffy. (ie: not liking the cable select on one drive and the slave on the other, etc)

also after trying what jcarle suggested, wrap it in cling film, then leave it in a freezer for about ten hours, then try again -if this works, copy off as fast as you can as it probably will die after it's started working again

(can you even hear it spin up?)

also after trying what jcarle suggested, wrap it in cling film, then leave it in a freezer for about ten hours, then try again -if this works, copy off as fast as you can as it probably will die after it's started working again

(can you even hear it spin up?)

Can you explain me the reasoning behind this? I got a dead one I gave up and wonder what this does.

The colder electronics are, the better they perform. Less electrical resistance. Sometimes, on failing hardware, you can get it to live for a brief period of time by freezing it.

Well, no.

Electronics components have a working temperature range, usually comprised between -30° C and +65° C, for "normal" grade components, usually -40° C and + 85° C for "industrial grade components" with some components that allow for a -65° C to +125° C :

http://www.extremetemperatureelectronics.com/tutorial1.html

WITHIN the given temperature range, there is an "ideal" working temperature, that almost invariably is around the middle of the allowed range, more or less amounting to a temperature at which the users of them (humans) live and operate them, i.e. +0 °C to 40 ° ,but WITHIN designed range, components behave anyway WITHIN specs.

The "freezing" as well as the "tapping" method to revive a dead hard drive, can, in VERY RARE occasions allow for a TEMPORARY revival because they may resolve a mechanical problem, including defects in the soldering or connection of a component.

Remember also that every year hard disk technology changes dramatically, and what may have worked in a particular occasion, on a particular type of failure, on a particular drive model/capacity most definitely won't work with next generation of drives.

You can also try shouting very hard at it, using a magic wand and some spells on it, you can freeze it:

http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/2006/01/f...cover-data.html

as well as "boiling" it:

http://www.mandible.net/2007/11/24/how-i-r...ble-boiling-it/

But ALL of them should be a LAST, LAST resort, only after you have decided that your data was not precious enough for you to attempt a recovery by a professional, and you have nothing to lose anyway.

If it's an electronic problem a more "rational" approach like this:

http://www.deadharddrive.com/

may work, but not on recent drives where the board is "coupled" to the innards.

I would suggest everyone to check the above links and this one:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/245

then judge themselves what would be more wise to do.

jaclaz

You can also try shouting very hard at it, using a magic wand and some spells on it, you can freeze it:

Will try that one next time one of my drives dies