So I've Fried my SATA HDD's ¬_¬

Xenophon · 07 Jan 2011

What the title says. Upon installing a new PSU I think static fried my hard drives (2 x 500gb).

I've accepted that. The problem is - is it possible to recover data from the hard drives? If its any help, neither are detected by the BIOS whereas an older one is and there appears to be no whirring or anything from either of the drives.

Im hoping there is a way to recover the data (about 6 bloody years worth of stuff) - if there is, then im sure there are different price ranges per country. I'm from Northern Ireland so if any UK ones would know of any price ranges for recovery then please let me know =P

PooMan UK · 07 Jan 2011

Hiya pal

Sorry to hear of your dilemma.
I know of a couple of people who have used these guys Data Clinic and were pretty happy with their service. Unfortunately I don't know how much they charged but it's maybe worth contacting them for a quote.

thefabe · 07 Jan 2011

PooMan is correct you can do a search their are several shops that specialize in recovering data only expect it to be costly.
Fabe

Xenophon · 07 Jan 2011

Aye checked the dataclinic there. Got their number and they arent replying =/

I only need one of the drives recovered; the C Drive was only for Windows apps =)

Discovered a 1tb drive for 36 quid locally, so I'm hoping this will only skin me £100 or so for the lot....

By the lot I mean recovery and new HDD replacements =P

GeneO · 07 Jan 2011

Sorry to hear that.
Data recovery will be $$$, probably $1k.

The other drive that works - did you make sure you powered it off the same power connector? I would try several different PSU power connectors to the drive. Since it i a new PSU and you the drives appear not to spin up or anything maybe it is a power connector/PSU problem.

Good luck

Xenophon · 07 Jan 2011

GeneO said:

Sorry to hear that.
Data recovery will be $$$, probably $1k.

The other drive that works - did you make sure you powered it off the same power connector? I would try several different PSU power connectors to the drive. Since it i a new PSU and you the drives appear not to spin up or anything maybe it is a power connector/PSU problem.

Good luck

Yep, first I tried an older PSU with the same power (500w) and neither ran but the older HDD ran fine.

Then I put my new PSU back in and neither worked, but the old one did once again.

Im currently on my computer using my older 200gb HDD as I speak (slapped 7 Ultimate on it earlier =P)

James Colbert · 08 Jan 2011

Just a thought, but have you given consideration to replacing the controller? Haven't done it before myself, but it would be cheaper than recovering data, wouldn't effect the data (AFAIK), and it's likely that if static electricity fried anything, it would be the controller.

Here's a google search with relevant terms:

hard drive controller board - Google Search

James

profdlp · 08 Jan 2011

James Colbert said:

Just a thought, but have you given consideration to replacing the controller? Haven't done it before myself, but it would be cheaper than recovering data, wouldn't effect the data (AFAIK), and it's likely that if static electricity fried anything, it would be the controller...

My boss at my first repair job never let us throw out a hard drive. He literally had the whole back wall of the shop stacked with them. Controller swaps are easy to do, won't cheese anything if they don't work since you're not opening the chamber, and often proved to be a lifesaver.

Great suggestion! :)