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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 07-08-2008, 09:42 AM
gecko
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Default Hard Drive In Freezer

Just reporting -

I had a hard drive that would not spin up to boot. It simply would
not power on. I iced it in a freezer for a few hours - voila! The
drive now boots and runs.

Of course I intend to pull the data I wanted on it, and I will scrap
the drive. Nice trick.

-GECKO

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  #2 (permalink)  
Old 07-08-2008, 12:13 PM
Bryce
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Default Re: Hard Drive In Freezer

gecko wrote:

> Just reporting -
>
> I had a hard drive that would not spin up to boot. It simply would
> not power on. I iced it in a freezer for a few hours - voila! The
> drive now boots and runs.
>
> Of course I intend to pull the data I wanted on it, and I will scrap
> the drive. Nice trick.
>
> -GECKO

Did you start it up cold or allow the drive to warm up first?

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  #3 (permalink)  
Old 07-08-2008, 12:53 PM
gecko
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Default Re: Re: Hard Drive In Freezer

On Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:13:33 -0400, Bryce <invalid@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

>gecko wrote:
>


>Did you start it up cold or allow the drive to warm up first?


I should have said that I let the drive warm up overnight. I tested
it this AM after doing the freezer thing yesterday.
-GECKO

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  #4 (permalink)  
Old 07-08-2008, 01:36 PM
Marcel Overweel
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Default Re: Hard Drive In Freezer


"gecko" <alpha@olympus.net> schreef in bericht
news:qfd674pdehr47dakuql288k32fk4gbcehk@4ax.com...
> Just reporting -
>
> I had a hard drive that would not spin up to boot. It simply would
> not power on. I iced it in a freezer for a few hours - voila! The
> drive now boots and runs.
>
> Of course I intend to pull the data I wanted on it, and I will scrap
> the drive. Nice trick.
>
> -GECKO


The same is true for badly readable cd's.
Have rescued a few MB's using this trick.

Cheers!
Marcel



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  #5 (permalink)  
Old 07-08-2008, 01:44 PM
gecko
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Default Re: Re: Hard Drive In Freezer

On Tue, 8 Jul 2008 15:36:52 +0200, "Marcel Overweel"
<moverweel@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>The same is true for badly readable cd's.
>Have rescued a few MB's using this trick.
>
>Cheers!
>Marcel
>

Hmmm.

I hadn't thought of that. I do have a couple of CDs and DVDs that
don't read.
Thanks

-GECKO

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  #6 (permalink)  
Old 07-08-2008, 02:03 PM
Calab
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Default Re: Re: Hard Drive In Freezer


"gecko" <alpha@olympus.net> wrote in message
news:tnr674dgbrunobrmfj30ihd1j4p80llq63@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 8 Jul 2008 15:36:52 +0200, "Marcel Overweel"
> <moverweel@hotmail.com> wrote:


>>The same is true for badly readable cd's.
>>Have rescued a few MB's using this trick.


> I hadn't thought of that. I do have a couple of CDs and DVDs that
> don't read.


I use the same trick to make my paycheque go further!



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  #7 (permalink)  
Old 07-09-2008, 04:05 PM
europe.news.astraweb.com
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Default Re: Re: Hard Drive In Freezer

"Calab" <myspam@csd.ca> wrote in message
news:XsKck.85719$gc5.6067@pd7urf2no...
>
> "gecko" <alpha@olympus.net> wrote in message
> news:tnr674dgbrunobrmfj30ihd1j4p80llq63@4ax.com...
>> On Tue, 8 Jul 2008 15:36:52 +0200, "Marcel Overweel"
>> <moverweel@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>>>The same is true for badly readable cd's.
>>>Have rescued a few MB's using this trick.

>
>> I hadn't thought of that. I do have a couple of CDs and DVDs that
>> don't read.

>
> I use the same trick to make my paycheque go further!


Too much month left at the end of your money!



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  #8 (permalink)  
Old 07-09-2008, 11:14 PM
gecko
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Default Re: Re: Hard Drive In Freezer

On Tue, 8 Jul 2008 15:36:52 +0200, "Marcel Overweel"
<moverweel@hotmail.com> wrote:

>


>The same is true for badly readable cd's.
>Have rescued a few MB's using this trick.
>
>Cheers!
>Marcel
>

Well, sorry to say, but today I tried the hard drive again and it
failed. I tried to freezer trick, but it did not make the drive work
this time. So I guess it was a one-time fluke that the drive worked
after I put it in the freezer. Still something to try next time.
Cheers.
-GECKO

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  #9 (permalink)  
Old 07-09-2008, 11:40 PM
peter
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Default Re: Re: Hard Drive In Freezer

The problem is you left warm up too long........1 to 2 hours then hook it up
and take data off right away..
because it will never work again...as you found out.

peter

--
DISCLAIMER: If you find a posting or message from me
offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it.
If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to
me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate... ;-)


"gecko" <alpha@olympus.net> wrote in message
news:hfha745vq4o1ief0a8v8rtvdt4s2gma2b5@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 8 Jul 2008 15:36:52 +0200, "Marcel Overweel"
> <moverweel@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>

>
>>The same is true for badly readable cd's.
>>Have rescued a few MB's using this trick.
>>
>>Cheers!
>>Marcel
>>

> Well, sorry to say, but today I tried the hard drive again and it
> failed. I tried to freezer trick, but it did not make the drive work
> this time. So I guess it was a one-time fluke that the drive worked
> after I put it in the freezer. Still something to try next time.
> Cheers.
> -GECKO



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  #10 (permalink)  
Old 07-10-2008, 09:22 AM
gecko
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Default Re: Re: Re: Hard Drive In Freezer

On Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:40:31 GMT, "peter" <peterk@nowhere.net> wrote:

>The problem is you left warm up too long........1 to 2 hours then hook it up
>and take data off right away..
>because it will never work again...as you found out.
>
>peter



I tried it again - your way. Still failed last night and again this
morning. Thank God I was thinking enough when it worked that one time
to pull of the files I wanted. Now I can stop playing with the drive.
Thanks for responses all.

-GECKO

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  #11 (permalink)  
Old 07-10-2008, 11:56 PM
Ghostrider
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Default Re: Hard Drive In Freezer


gecko wrote:

> On Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:40:31 GMT, "peter" <peterk@nowhere.net> wrote:
>
>
>>The problem is you left warm up too long........1 to 2 hours then hook it up
>>and take data off right away..
>>because it will never work again...as you found out.
>>
>>peter

>
>
>
> I tried it again - your way. Still failed last night and again this
> morning. Thank God I was thinking enough when it worked that one time
> to pull of the files I wanted. Now I can stop playing with the drive.
> Thanks for responses all.
>
> -GECKO


One final attempt to try. Take the hard drive and slam it down, flat
on to a mouse pad from about 3 feet. It might shake loose the seized
bearings just enough for one more run. Good luck.


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  #12 (permalink)  
Old 07-11-2008, 03:33 AM
kony
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Default Re: Hard Drive In Freezer

On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:22:15 GMT, gecko <alpha@olympus.net>
wrote:

>On Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:40:31 GMT, "peter" <peterk@nowhere.net> wrote:
>
>>The problem is you left warm up too long........1 to 2 hours then hook it up
>>and take data off right away..
>>because it will never work again...as you found out.
>>
>>peter

>
>
>I tried it again - your way. Still failed last night and again this
>morning. Thank God I was thinking enough when it worked that one time
>to pull of the files I wanted. Now I can stop playing with the drive.
>Thanks for responses all.
>
>-GECKO



So, umm, when it worked why didn't you get the data off and
have no need to try again? That's the most important part,
having a system and spare space available so after you pull
it from the freezer it is time to immediate salvage what
data you can.

Try this:

Take a hairdryer, or turn on the oven then off again and let
it cool down to about 75C. Put the drive in oven for 10
minutes, remove and garnish with parsley. Just kidding
about the last part. Oven or point hairdryer at motor
bearing and bottom where arm bearing mounts, heating to
hopefully make the lubricant flow around a bit.

Next, let it cool to room temp then put in a baggie you
sqeeze the air out of and seal. Put in freezer till it's
just above freezing, remove and let warm up just a tiny bit.
Before opening bag, have masking tape ready. Quickly open
bag, plug in data cable and power cable. Close bag as much
as you can (thinking a ziplock type bag seal) and use the
masking tape to seal it the rest of the way so air can't get
in. This keeps moisture from condensating on it. If you
are not quick enough and see moisture you will have to start
over and make sure room air doesn't get to it very long
while it's so cold.

Next try powering on the system and if the drive works,
immediately copy off data first, only after you get what you
can should you run a scan or other disk management type
tools... but, it's probably gone, not recoverable. The
freezer trick works sometimes but usually not even the first
time.

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  #13 (permalink)  
Old 07-11-2008, 10:02 AM
GT
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Posts: n/a
Default Re: Hard Drive In Freezer

"kony" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:pokd74h02dvgrc3pfq5nlf9epm524m78ie@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:22:15 GMT, gecko <alpha@olympus.net>
> wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:40:31 GMT, "peter" <peterk@nowhere.net> wrote:
>>
>>>The problem is you left warm up too long........1 to 2 hours then hook it
>>>up
>>>and take data off right away..
>>>because it will never work again...as you found out.
>>>
>>>peter

>>
>>
>>I tried it again - your way. Still failed last night and again this
>>morning. Thank God I was thinking enough when it worked that one time
>>to pull of the files I wanted. Now I can stop playing with the drive.
>>Thanks for responses all.
>>
>>-GECKO

>
>
> So, umm, when it worked why didn't you get the data off and
> have no need to try again? That's the most important part,
> having a system and spare space available so after you pull
> it from the freezer it is time to immediate salvage what
> data you can.
>
> Try this:
>
> Take a hairdryer, or turn on the oven then off again and let
> it cool down to about 75C. Put the drive in oven for 10
> minutes, remove and garnish with parsley. Just kidding
> about the last part. Oven or point hairdryer at motor
> bearing and bottom where arm bearing mounts, heating to
> hopefully make the lubricant flow around a bit.
>
> Next, let it cool to room temp then put in a baggie you
> sqeeze the air out of and seal. Put in freezer till it's
> just above freezing, remove and let warm up just a tiny bit.
> Before opening bag, have masking tape ready. Quickly open
> bag, plug in data cable and power cable. Close bag as much
> as you can (thinking a ziplock type bag seal) and use the
> masking tape to seal it the rest of the way so air can't get
> in. This keeps moisture from condensating on it. If you
> are not quick enough and see moisture you will have to start
> over and make sure room air doesn't get to it very long
> while it's so cold.


So long as you can get a good seal, just connect the cables before you
freeze it! Just make sure the exposed end of the cable is clean and dry
before connecting to the computer.



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  #14 (permalink)  
Old 07-11-2008, 11:03 AM
kony
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Posts: n/a
Default Re: Hard Drive In Freezer

On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:02:45 +0100, "GT"
<ContactGT_rem_ove_this_@hotmail.com> wrote:


>> Take a hairdryer, or turn on the oven then off again and let
>> it cool down to about 75C. Put the drive in oven for 10
>> minutes, remove and garnish with parsley. Just kidding
>> about the last part. Oven or point hairdryer at motor
>> bearing and bottom where arm bearing mounts, heating to
>> hopefully make the lubricant flow around a bit.
>>
>> Next, let it cool to room temp then put in a baggie you
>> sqeeze the air out of and seal. Put in freezer till it's
>> just above freezing, remove and let warm up just a tiny bit.
>> Before opening bag, have masking tape ready. Quickly open
>> bag, plug in data cable and power cable. Close bag as much
>> as you can (thinking a ziplock type bag seal) and use the
>> masking tape to seal it the rest of the way so air can't get
>> in. This keeps moisture from condensating on it. If you
>> are not quick enough and see moisture you will have to start
>> over and make sure room air doesn't get to it very long
>> while it's so cold.

>
>So long as you can get a good seal, just connect the cables before you
>freeze it! Just make sure the exposed end of the cable is clean and dry
>before connecting to the computer.
>


That would be the problem, that if the cables are also cold
you can't keep them away from air since they have to plug
into the system. Maybe heating only those gently with a
hairdryer would do the trick, but really it may not be worth
the effort as the freezer trick is a joy when it works but
it usually doesn't... if data is valuable it's best to never
try that and just send it off to a data recovery expert
first.

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