Computer Guys - Backup Hard Drive Fried?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I have a Seagate Backup Plus External Hard Drive that I've been using to back up my laptop and PC for about a year - it's been trouble-free until the other day when one of my cats knocked it off the desk and it fell about 3' to the floor (hardwood, no carpet so yes it was a significant jolt / impact to the unit which almost certainly killed it). Lesson learned - it (or its replacement) needs to be kept way down low and on a padded / carpeted surface.

Now when I plug it in, I can hear the drive inside spin up and get a "click... click..." and then it either powers down or beeps once. I cannot get the computer to recognize the device as being attached at all.

I'm assuming this means the drive is total junk now, or is it? I don't want to destroy a 4TB hard drive with a lot of backup data on it if there's any chance of resurrecting it, but I don't want to throw money after it or spend hours of my time on something with a low probability of success.

Anyone know anything I can or should try before I use the drive platters as target practice and go blow another $200 on a new replacement?

Seagate "warranty" is ridiculous and isn't even worth pursuing. Yes, it's warrantied but I'm sure they'll say because the drive failed due to shock it won't be covered (same thing they'd say about just about anything).

So should I be trying anything else here or just say screw it?

[Gogar]

Was it spinning when it fell?

All signs point to it being fried.


You could do a data recovery service if you really need to, but it's ridiculously spendy.

[imcarthur]

Is the data important? Or are you only asking about resurrecting the drive? If it is just the drive, toss it because you can't trust it anymore.

Ian

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Kinda what I figured. Data isn't worth anything (unless my laptop drive happens to crash before I can get a new backup drive and run a backup on that). Ok just ordered a new 5TB replacement and once I run a couple of backups on it I'll use the dead drive for sighting in my newest rifle (don't have to worry about someone else getting anything off it that way - standard disposal method of all old HDs)

[stomachmonkey]

Head crash.

Read / write heads are mangled

For perspective a read / write head flying over a spinning platter is analogous to flying a fighter jet at mach 5 one inch above the tarmac

Easy for things to get ugly in a hurry

[Por_sha911]

unless the data is priceless, spike it and toss in the trash.

[wdfifteen]

I'll give you the same advice I gave a guy about 50 years ago when digital watched first came out. He smacked it against something hard and it stopped working. brought it in to see if we could fix it. I told him to soak it in warm water overnight.
He asked me how to keep the water warm all night.

[wildthing]

Costco sells a new 2TB portable for 80. Just get a new one.

I have two backups of my backup now.

The main backup sits on my home desk, one I copy every month and stick it in my office drawer.

The other one, I'm not sure. I think my bank offers free safety deposit box use but I don't know how often I could go.

[flipper35]

Check this article before you buy a new one.

Putting hard drive reliability to the test shows not all disks are equal | Ars Technica

[intakexhaust]

Its about the odd's. Always have a backup of the backup and keep them in two different locations.

[RonDent]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Check this article before you buy a new one.

Putting hard drive reliability to the test shows not all disks are equal | Ars Technica

I could have told you that.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Great article - shocking difference between mfrs. going to go find a hitachi and transplant it into the shell. Thanks Pelican Brain Trust!

[RonDent]

You may have a bit of a hard time finding Hitachi (HGST) hard drives. And yes, they do cost a little more.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Nah, quick find on Amazon and about the same price as the new Seagate BP Unit (cancelled that order). No need to buy the shell twice - it's the drive inside that matters...

[john70t]

I've heard of freezing them(bearings usually), then drive recovery hard drive recovery software downloads - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Did that once before and recovered maybe 10-25%.
Not sure about read/write head damage.

[stomachmonkey]

Interesting.

My experience with Hitachi is great. The only drives I stick in my laptops.

But as far as Seagate and WD my experience is the opposite of the study. WD's fail on me all the time. I have not bought one in years but still get new ones from clients all the time and I really don't trust them. Had one literally go up in smoke about 30 seconds after pulling it from the package and hooking it up to format. Heard a pop then a sizzle then came the unmistakeable odor of electronics frying, looked over the thing was on fire.

Would like to see that study broken down by enterprise vs consumer grade drives.

[RonDent]

Here is a copy of the wallpaper on my work computer. Everyone asks if it is one of ours.