Re: Catastrophic HDD Crash

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Richard Urban (richardurbanREMOVETHIS_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 11/28/04 

Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 23:21:45 -0500

It depends totally upon the condition of the hard drive.The following worked
for me!

1. Remove the defective hard drive from the computer. Set the jumper as
slave.

2. Attach a new ribbon cable to the drive.

3. Attach a power "Y" connector to the power receptacle of the drive.

4. Place the hard drive in a baggie. Get as much of the air out of the bag
as you can. Seal the bag as thoroughly as you can, using whatever method
that you think will work for you. I used duct tape.

5. Get hold of some 1/8" thick foam shipping material. Wrap the drive with
4-5 layers of foam - all around. Tape it securely in place. You are trying
to provide thermal insulation here.

6. Place the drive in your freezer for 2-3 days. You have to really cold
soak the drive.

Now, make certain that the drive in the computer you are going to attach
this drive to is set up as a "master with a slave".

You may have only one shot at this - if it works at all. It may not. Boot up
the computer and as quickly as you can, copy over any files you need to the
resident (master) hard drive. Remember, the old drive, though cold soaked,
is in a sealed plastic bag with no air circulation. It will begin to heat up
rapidly. You have to plan your moves in advance and be quick when once you
start.

Good luck! 

-- 
Regards:
Richard Urban
aka  Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
"Randy Hartley" <rhinnc@hotmail.com> wrote in message 
news:um8hOnP1EHA.2804@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> Well, I guess I can count my blessings! After 2o years of PC use I finally
> had a catastrophic HDD crash this PM.
>
> I was reading a newsgroup and my PC froze, then I heard the clik-clik-clik
> of my gasping for life HDD.
>
> I first shut the PC down, then I turned my PC on and set the bios to start
> with the CD drive. I put my XP-Pro CD in and it would not load. When it
> tried to access the clik-cliking HDD it just stuck at the loading Windows
> Setup.
>
> Luckily I had 90% of my data backed up. The only thing I do not have is my
> Outlook .pst file. I do have all my contacts on my Pocket PC though. Just
> wondering....if I establish a new partnership on my new PC(soon to get 
> one)
> will it transfer the contacts? (Perhaps better asked on the PocketPC
> newsgroup)
>
>

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