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how can you recover files from a hard disk that is not spinning again?

HARD DISK crashed and need to recover files on it but don't want to open it up because i am not sure i can fix the head.

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Question added by Adesina Oladayo Idris , MEP Project Engineer , Agbofem Consultants Ltd
Date Posted: 2013/05/14
Mohammed Yaseen MBA  PMP®
by Mohammed Yaseen MBA PMP® , Project Controller , Hayat Communication (www.haytacommunications.com)

if u delete a file or format a Partition from your computer, its contents aren't immediately destroyed. Windows simply marks the hard drive space. you can download some free recovery software to recover lost data.

You can restore using recovery software available in the market

Muhammad Usman
by Muhammad Usman , Network Engineer , Google Computers Private Co.

change board of HDD if not working open the HDD and change the lense carefully with the same type HDD everything about ur HDD on back of ur Harddisk

bsm alah alrahman alrahim

 

Lance McElmurry answer seem to be the best

 

modify :

another way , you can change or swap the board of the HDD with another one from same HDD with same amount and part number [ you can know the part number from a dark green box on the board ]

but don't forget there is a small IC with8 legs [ controller or firmware chip ] you must swap it eather 

Lance McElmurry
by Lance McElmurry , Navajo Area IT Projects Manager , HHS Indian Health Service

Sometimes giving the HDD a slap can jar it loose and also sometimes the circuit board on the HDD can be replaced and this will fix it.
One time I had some data I had to recover but I did not want to pay to have it sent off to a service ($$$) so I found another of the same HDD on ebay and moved the platters from my bad HDD to my good HDD and it worked.
I to be as careful as I could not get dust on the platters because this could ruin them.

Noushad Muhammed
by Noushad Muhammed , Technical Support Engineer (VoIP+Windows) , Hexwhale Technologies

Hello Adesina,

you can try any one of these two easy steps  without using any additional software for recovering your data ......

1) Normally i use a USB adapter(external drive adaptor or external drive case) that converts your computer's hard drive in to an externel hard drive.

remember to disconnect the AC charge and Battery before removing the hard drive from desktop or laptop

 OR

2) Just remove the hard disk from Desktop or Laptop

and attach it to another computer as a slave/second drive.....and recover all data from that hard disk.

 

Danvir Singh
by Danvir Singh , Systems Administrator / Network Engineer , Rivoli Group

If the data is really important, It is best to send for recovery if not an expert in this field, Or else you can play with what others suggest, like replacing the board etc.

MOHAMED MAHMOUD EISSA
by MOHAMED MAHMOUD EISSA , Software department MGR. and Senior developer , Global Media Services GMS

Hard disk not spinning means Pcb or disk motor is defected. The Pcb can be changed with similer one but still mostly you will need to swap the bios chip with the one from the old Pcb hoping it is not defected "usually not defected" chip swaping requires some experiance or you may damage the new Pcb or the chip it selfAfter you get your hard disk spining again With a new Pcb and old chip on it if it still not working start worry about the heads opening the hard disk it self is very critical one fingerprint on tge disks surface can damage both heads and disks it must be done in a very clean place with gloves on I dont recommend you try doing it without experiance if you will do it try with old hard disks till you get good experience Good luck. Regarding answeres talking about software recovery they are irrelevant. the hard disk is not spinning!!!

Basm Allah Alrahman Alrahim

 

Again Lance McElmurry answer seem to be the best and Hesham (me) was good but not that all

 

You can change the head but get it from Hard disk from the same company and size and date of manufactured if you can (I thought that changing the head is2 dificult but it not2 diffecult you just must becarful when do it )

see this youtube

Clarence Edward
by Clarence Edward , Senior System Engineer , F-Secure Corporation

I'm not sure if this still work as its quite an old software. But I ever used spinrite, by GRC to recover data in your situation :

 

https://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm

Saqib Mehmood
by Saqib Mehmood , Technical Team Lead/Safety Supervisor , Xchange Technology Group

AS you mentioned that you don't want to open the hard drive and hard drive is crashed so there is nothing you can do without opening it and replacing the platters to recover the data as its not spinning anymore. Recovery software only work if the hard drive is working. Try replacing the PCB with the same type of hard drive and if it's still not working then there might be physical damage to head and you must open to replace the platter to recover the data.

AKINWALE AWAIYE
by AKINWALE AWAIYE , MANAGING DIRECTOR , SMILES TECHNOLOGIES

The best way to do this is to look for a similar drive. and swap the board.

it however require steadiness and patience

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