HD Failure?

[iamjd]

I left my computer on and came home hours later to find that it is not running the OS (perhaps it restarted) and the BIOS displays an error message saying, "Restart and select proper boot device
or insert boot media in selected boot device and press a key."

I found that my HD, a Western Digital, WD1200JB, 120GB isn't being recognized. I tried using different cables/power cords. Nothing is working to get it to be recognized. In the BIOS, it does not appear.

I then tried attaching it as a slave HD to my other computer. It was recognized but S.M.A.R.T. said it is "capable" but failed. I don't know what that means.

I am not sure what steps to take next. The BIOS on the other computer recognizes it as a slave, but does not show up when the OS is running.

I also downloaded Data Lifeguard Diagnosis for DOS from the Western Digital website. I ran it and it said no drives found.

 

[stduc]

The SMART data is reporting a totally failed drive. You could try the manufacturers diagnostics - available from their web site. You could try SpinRite, available from

http://www.grc.com.

Alternatively you could send it to a data recovery specialist. But if you have the data backed up, my advice is to get a new drive. This one has failed.

 

[iamjd]

I have a lot of valuable data on there. Before I purchase software I want to know that it will work. The HD isn't detectable in BIOS but only during POST when the S.M.A.R.T. is ran. It determines the model number and all. I just cannot get BIOS to recognize it. Is this a cause of the MPR missing? Any software out there that I could use to try free? Not trying to get away from cost, but rather to not spend money on something that won't work. Also, the HD is not detectable in the OS at all.

 

[stduc]

Is the drive spinning up? If so, does it sound normal?

If the HD is not detected in the BIOS then forget about SpinRite. You can test getDataback from

http://www.runtime.org

That is probably your best option. However, if you had had SpinRite and run it at reasonably regular intervals it would possibly have given you early warning of imminent drive failure. Its a shame that they don't make a 'lite' version of SpinRite.

If your BIOS is reporting the drive briefly as a device that SMART reports as failed then the drive is beyond help from SpinRite. GetDataback can 'see' drives that neither the BIOS nor the O/S can see. The demo version lets you see the directory tree on the drive but not recover the file. suggest you give it a go.

Once SMART says a drive is failed - it's generally is beyond hope of recovery except by the people who take it apart & re-build it! i.e. Data recovery specialists.

 

[iamjd]

I had tried GetDataBack and that didn't pick up the drive at all. It was as if the drive wasn't attached.

So is my only other option the Data recovery specialist?

If so, I guess I'm going to have to go this route.

 

[dbData]

Based on what is written here, you'll need professional help. You can find a guide to data recovery service companies at

http://www.data-recovery-hub.com/guides/service/index.php.

Good Luck!

Rick

 

[firewolfrl]

I use Micro Com out of California. I have sent ALOT of customer's drives to that company and I have had a great success rate with them.

http://www.data-master.com

Nothing beats backing up your data...But if you don't back-up you have to consider the Man-hours to reenter data and whether the data is worth the cost of up to or more of $2,500. The accounts I usually deal with are business computers running databases and accounting software. telling someone to back-up and ACTUALLY DOING IT is a whole different story. I have to say I am guilty at times of not backing up either. but, I usually back-up using a DVD Burner (DVD+R are cheap nowdays).

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT....
The more you mess with that drive ...the more the failure rate to get the DATA off the first Plater of the the drive.
Not knowing what failed the drive (Heat, vibration, etc...)
you may be doing more damage everytime it powers up.
it only takes a speck of metal or plastic on the plater to make it unrecoverable. and at $200 for the drive to go to a clean room that cost really sucks

hey, good luck

 

[munchnet]

If you are based in Australia, go to

http://www.pcbsearch.com.au.

They repair hard drives for data recovery companies and may be able to help.