Dropped my 2TB data storage HDD

There is an old trick that has worked for me once to recover some data from a corrupted HD. Basically you put the HD into a ziplock back, close it, then another ziplock bag and maybe 2-3 more. So it's sealed properly, and then you put it into your freezer for a few hours. This may give you a few minutes to a few hours to recover some data if it works. I don't know why it works, but it does. The reason for the many ziplock bags, is so no moisture gets into the HD, as that would totally ruin it.

If the contents of the HDD are important to you I sincerely advise that you look into (proper!) professional data recovery. Yes, it will be expensive, but "do it at home" recovery techniques can run the risk of making the drive completely unrecoverable.

stdcout said:

1. Try to install the HDD to another Computer, or install it to another computer from USB.
2. Do NOT attempt to write any data to the HDD.
3. If it can be accessed on another computer. Make a regular backup for you important data, then copy you data out.
4. If the HDD can displayed on another computer's Disk Management, but you can't access your data. In this case, the follow data recovery tools may help you.

Recuva Bring your deleted files or lost data on a formatted drive back. It's URL :Piriform - Products

M3 Data Recovery Hunter Free Free Data Recovery Software to free recover deleted files recover deleted files from Hard Disk Drives, Smart Media, Compact Flash, Memory Sticks, and other types of removable media in Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008/Win 7/Win 8. - M3 Data Recovery Hu

R-Studio A professional data recovery tool, and you can recover data from raw binary .It's URL : Disk Recovery Software and Hard Drive Recovery tool for Windows, Mac, and Linux

Plugged the 2TB HDD into another win7 PC. first off it cannot see it. But in Disk Management I clicked on refresh scan and something has been detected:

UNKNOWN DEVICE - NOT INITIALIZED

So is that something to hope in? And what do we do next??

crankypenguin said:

There is an old trick that has worked for me once to recover some data from a corrupted HD. Basically you put the HD into a ziplock back, close it, then another ziplock bag and maybe 2-3 more. So it's sealed properly, and then you put it into your freezer for a few hours. This may give you a few minutes to a few hours to recover some data if it works. I don't know why it works, but it does. The reason for the many ziplock bags, is so no moisture gets into the HD, as that would totally ruin it.

I'll keep in mind as plan B. Thank you.

King Arthur said:

If the contents of the HDD are important to you I sincerely advise that you look into (proper!) professional data recovery. Yes, it will be expensive, but "do it at home" recovery techniques can run the risk of making the drive completely unrecoverable.

That's big time $.

Indeed, I'm not going to sugarcoat the fact that professional data recovery services will cost a pretty dime and I am most definitely not implying in any way you should go for it without thinking through it first. I merely put forth the option for you because if you truly value the data on your HDD and you do not have a readily available backup then all practical and reasonable options should be on the table for your consideration.

I know this doesn't help now but hopefully in the future:
All important files need at least one backup copy while those of particular importance need 2 or more backup copies. No drive ever built or ever will be can be trusted without a backup. Data can be lost for a variety of reasons, not all of which can be prevented.

Having no backups is asking for trouble. Unfortunately, so many people do not learn this simple truth until it is too late. Data recovery, even by a professional, is always hit or miss.

The problem may be the enclosure and the drive OK.

I would avoid the freezer trick. It only works with specific types of failure and the risk high. This is a last resort only.

You have to decide if the data is worth the cost of professional data recovery. Continued DIY attempts can damage a drive to the point that even professional recovery is impossible.

.

Golden said:

AaLF said:

Plugged the 2TB HDD into another win7 PC. first off it cannot see it. But in Disk Management I clicked on refresh scan and something has been detected:

UNKNOWN DEVICE - NOT INITIALIZED

So is that something to hope in? And what do we do next??

Did you try the Linux option suggested in post #2 - you have nothing to lose, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Golden, I'm confused here. Will this peppermint thing work on a DATA-storage-only HDD. its reads like its a repair for a faulty OS HDD?

Faladu said:

Big Red is his 32 gig USB external pen drive, probably.

When that drive is plugged into your USB port does it have a light that comes on? Just seeing if the power to it is dead or not....

How bad a drop was it? [How violent and what did it land on?]

I'd be trying to take it apart and get to the raw drive and see if IT will come up once the enclosure fare is out of the picture, and it may if just the electronics involved in powering up and/or using as USB are broken. [Helps having a SATA/IDE to USB cable for this, though]

Hope is not entirely lost, yet.

Data recovery for a full 2TB, ouch you are easily into thousands of bucks, anything that critical should not be kept just on an external drive... but you know that.... NOW

Nothing wrong with ports, power etc. The only problem is the Data storage HDD. It fell from the desktop to the carpeted floor.

I'm in Sydney Australia. Prof. recovery help is so expensive here its probably cheaper to fly the HDD to America first class with the HDD on my lap.

do you guys know of any data recovery software that might detect the "UNKNOWN DEVICE - NOT INITIALIZED" HDD and offer me a slim hope that it can recovery the data?? I've no experience here. Throw some product names at me please.