Comments on: How to Recover Dead Hard Drive Data http://hacknmod.com/hack/how-to-recover-dead-hard-drive-data/ Amazingly Cool Hacks, Mods, and DIY Projects Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:26:27 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: ravious http://hacknmod.com/hack/how-to-recover-dead-hard-drive-data/comment-page-1/#comment-11106 ravious Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:36:21 +0000 http://www.hacknmod.com/?p=1771#comment-11106 use distilled water.. that way even if some water gets on the board it wont be conductive. use distilled water.. that way even if some water gets on the board it wont be conductive.

]]> By: Ben http://hacknmod.com/hack/how-to-recover-dead-hard-drive-data/comment-page-1/#comment-10780 Ben Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:49:31 +0000 http://www.hacknmod.com/?p=1771#comment-10780 I have used this method multiple times and it has always worked for me, once out of the cold the drive will run for about 10 minutes, just repeat until you have all your files. I have used this method multiple times and it has always worked for me, once out of the cold the drive will run for about 10 minutes, just repeat until you have all your files.

]]> By: Anon http://hacknmod.com/hack/how-to-recover-dead-hard-drive-data/comment-page-1/#comment-10527 Anon Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:13:25 +0000 http://www.hacknmod.com/?p=1771#comment-10527 Backups prior to disasters anyone? Get two drives same size and keep em synced. If one goes out, get two more drives and mirror the working one onto the new one. Set the second new drive as the new backup drive and keep old backup drive as you never know how you could use an extra drive. Backups prior to disasters anyone? Get two drives same size and keep em synced. If one goes out, get two more drives and mirror the working one onto the new one. Set the second new drive as the new backup drive and keep old backup drive as you never know how you could use an extra drive.

]]> By: hlee http://hacknmod.com/hack/how-to-recover-dead-hard-drive-data/comment-page-1/#comment-10471 hlee Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:51:30 +0000 http://www.hacknmod.com/?p=1771#comment-10471 i have been doing this for years and it does often work .. however in my case the goal is to keep the drive from getting hot or even warm .. usually you dont have to freeze it.. coming out of the freezer might cause condensation but that wont happen while its in the freezer ..in some cases all i needed was a cooling fan .. in others i simply put an ice pack on the drives electronics side .. this wont fix mechanical problems or damaged disks but if the circuit has failed from thermal stress (common in laptops) then cooling will often help .. unless you want just a one shot recovery then you probably want to avoid thermal shock .. just cool enough to get your data .. i have been doing this for years and it does often work .. however in my case the goal is to keep the drive from getting hot or even warm .. usually you dont have to freeze it.. coming out of the freezer might cause condensation but that wont happen while its in the freezer ..in some cases all i needed was a cooling fan .. in others i simply put an ice pack on the drives electronics side .. this wont fix mechanical problems or damaged disks but if the circuit has failed from thermal stress (common in laptops) then cooling will often help .. unless you want just a one shot recovery then you probably want to avoid thermal shock .. just cool enough to get your data ..

]]> By: Stu http://hacknmod.com/hack/how-to-recover-dead-hard-drive-data/comment-page-1/#comment-10457 Stu Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:43:20 +0000 http://www.hacknmod.com/?p=1771#comment-10457 As a computer repair tech I have used this with some success. I don't try it until I've tried all other methods of data retrieval excluding rebuilding the hard drive. Leave the drive in the freezer in a anti static bag for 24 hours before attempting to access the drive. Be quick, get the data you need first then the data you want. As a computer repair tech I have used this with some success. I don’t try it until I’ve tried all other methods of data retrieval excluding rebuilding the hard drive. Leave the drive in the freezer in a anti static bag for 24 hours before attempting to access the drive. Be quick, get the data you need first then the data you want.

]]> By: Darren http://hacknmod.com/hack/how-to-recover-dead-hard-drive-data/comment-page-1/#comment-9222 Darren Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:47:25 +0000 http://www.hacknmod.com/?p=1771#comment-9222 Excellent works perfect - Thank you Excellent works perfect – Thank you

]]> By: CoreyBstn http://hacknmod.com/hack/how-to-recover-dead-hard-drive-data/comment-page-1/#comment-3556 CoreyBstn Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:39:27 +0000 http://www.hacknmod.com/?p=1771#comment-3556 I can tell you from experience that it in fact DOES work...most of the time. I have managed to recover data 3 times from dead drives, and have also not managed to recover data about the same amount of time. So, it is fair to say that for me, it worked 50% of the time. I placed the drive in two zip lock bags expelling as much as air as possible before zip locking both bags. I left it in the freezer for approx. 12 hours with no luck, but after freezing it for extended periods of time, it worked like a charm. It is also important to note that this is generally a one shot deal, if it works, you're in luck, but you must get as much data as possible from the drive because once it dies, it is rare that you will gain access a second time. The 3 times I did manage to get the data back, I exhumed only the data that I absolutely required. In other words, only the data I created or files that I placed on the drive. I too, found it hard to believe when I first heard it, but after losing 3 years of tax returns I HAD to try it. Fortunately for me, it worked like a charm. I can tell you from experience that it in fact DOES work…most of the time. I have managed to recover data 3 times from dead drives, and have also not managed to recover data about the same amount of time. So, it is fair to say that for me, it worked 50% of the time.
I placed the drive in two zip lock bags expelling as much as air as possible before zip locking both bags. I left it in the freezer for approx. 12 hours with no luck, but after freezing it for extended periods of time, it worked like a charm. It is also important to note that this is generally a one shot deal, if it works, you’re in luck, but you must get as much data as possible from the drive because once it dies, it is rare that you will gain access a second time.
The 3 times I did manage to get the data back, I exhumed only the data that I absolutely required. In other words, only the data I created or files that I placed on the drive.
I too, found it hard to believe when I first heard it, but after losing 3 years of tax returns I HAD to try it. Fortunately for me, it worked like a charm.

]]> By: HanMpagi http://hacknmod.com/hack/how-to-recover-dead-hard-drive-data/comment-page-1/#comment-3310 HanMpagi Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:19:35 +0000 http://www.hacknmod.com/?p=1771#comment-3310 i was told by a friend of mine and had thought it was a joke but anyways am trying out a demonstration tonight i was told by a friend of mine and had thought it was a joke but anyways am trying out a demonstration tonight

]]> By: JokeJong http://hacknmod.com/hack/how-to-recover-dead-hard-drive-data/comment-page-1/#comment-2349 JokeJong Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:29:40 +0000 http://www.hacknmod.com/?p=1771#comment-2349 I dont think this will work.. because even with a water tight bag, condensation will cause water to get into the PC board... thus spoiling the drive. I tried it, didn't work for me. I dont think this will work.. because even with a water tight bag, condensation will cause water to get into the PC board… thus spoiling the drive.

I tried it, didn’t work for me.

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