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I just had my third Western Digital HD crap out. This one was just replaced in October 2000. This time it went totally south on me.
CLANK CLANK CLANK!!
I can't get anything off of it because the computer won't even boot. I lost all of my flyers and business card layouts and new customer info. for the past week. This really stinks!
Western Digital said they can't cover the data loss, it would put them out of business. They are sending me a 10 gig drive instead of and 8 gig to make up for my troubles! WHOOPIE! I need my files back.
Western Dips**ts said I can call one of two company's to find out about data recovery without voiding my warranty. I called and get this....... $900 - $2100.
Sorry for the mega long explanation. I was just hoping to find someone that might be able to hook me up with someone about $800 cheaper than the two solutions above.
Thanks in advance for any input
------------------ Amy Brown AMBO Design Lake Helen, FL jabrown@cfl.rr.com
"If only my toddler was better with paint!"
Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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The problem with damaged hard drives, with mechnical malfunctions that the disks that the data is stired on. If the disks aren't damaged is to remove them and put them in a driver thatreads them and transfere the data to another storage media. don't think you will find a local geek with the equipment to do it.
First thing is by a zip disk drive and some disks. for back up and storage of files. IT sounds like you didn't even make copies of your customer files to floppies. Bad mistake, Zip drives and other mass storage devices are real cheap now. Local computer swap and sale has the for under $50.00 for internals. You will have to swap out HD's and while the case of your computer is cracked open put in a zip drive. it is cheap insurance for any future mishaps. Sorry I don't have better news.
------------------ PTSideshow been there, probally done that. Wizard Works Show Supply Magic Props FX Signage Banners Ect.
Posts: 120 | From: Mount Clemens,MI,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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One option is the $900-2100. Companies like that usually do good work, but it is usually closer to the $2100 price.
Another option that if known would probably void your warranty. The phone book method or the bottom of your fist method. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS!!! but it has worked for me in the past (probably 15-20 times out of 30-40 hard drives) when I did computer support for Bellsouth. While its trying to boot (clank, clank,clank) firmly hit the top of the hard drive with your fist a time or two, IF it boots you may be able to backup some of your files before it quits. You can also try removing it and slamming it flat and firmly on a phone book. Like I said its probably not a good idea so I don't advise trying it! But if it was mine thats what I would try before paying $2100, if your willing to pay the bucks go ahead and send it off DO NOT TRY THIS it may destroy any chance of saving data. Call me if you would like me to explain the unapproved method in more detail.
The best advise is to get a cd-r and backup regularly!!!!
I am sorry to hear of your loss, Is this the 3rd Hard drive in the same machine that has crapped out? If so in what time frame?
I have been using Western Digital Hard Drives since 1993 and have had some go bad bust most part they are very reliable and good drives.
I also have seen systems with other problems that translate to the hard drive.
I have zip drives and cd-r drives. I like cd-rw disks because I can save just my job files onto a cd. Zips work just as well but unlike a CD a zip disk can be damaged very easily. Also Zips have been plagued in past years with the "click" of death.
Not to burst anyones zip bubble.
Finally does this drive make any physical damaged noises like your post says?
If not you may be able to boot to another good drive with the old drive as a slave, then through windows access your files. I have done this before with drives that won't boot. I wish you the best of luck, I know how this feels.
------------------ Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA bob@creativesignworks.com
"Some people's kids"
Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hi Amy, The western digital on our file server crapped out after about 6 months too. It was suffering a mechanical failure but fortunately it was sporadic. I wound up hooking it up to another machine using its cd rom ide cable and rebooting several times till the mechanical failure "healed up" long enough for me to copy all the data files to another drive on the network. They replaced it with a higher rpm drive of larger capacity but now I run Disk Image Pro so that short of having 2 simultaneous drives crash it wont happen again HTH, David
------------------ D.A. & P.M. Fisher Signwriting Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com
Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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I actually tried the bang the drive method you described. I think it's history!
I am fairly good with computers. Did my share of tech support too for Veritas Software (wouldn't you know it is backup software!!)
Problem is I can't afford a tape drive to run the software!
Just so everyone knows, I do have a pretty decent backup. There were only about ten things on there that I would like to recover but it's not critical. I do have all of my customer stuff backed up. It's just the lost time that I am upset about.
Thanks for all the quick replies. I love this board!
------------------ Amy Brown AMBO Design Lake Helen, FL jabrown@cfl.rr.com
"If only my toddler was better with paint!"
Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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amy..since you ARE good with computers...add a 2nd hard drive....i have one in all my computers....use it for mp3's pitcures, and last but not least a mirror of all my graphic files...then the ones i really dont wana lose i put each file on a floopy...then when i get bored i make a cdr-w backup of all files and fonts....i just went thru this same problem with the neigbor across the street...his secretary didnt do backups of his QUICKBOOKS, and the computer craped out...took me a couple of days but got his info back to the day the computer died(is this a song?)....so like i tell all my computer clients...BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP.....then they dont need me....ive lost maxtors 3 times now....have yet to make it a full 3 yrs before they die....WD are good lost a couple of them to but they will send a new one and you return dead one....for the price of hard drives today...a 2nd h/d is the only way to fly...
------------------ joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-944-5060 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND
Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Amy; I can't tell you how to get the data off over this board. I can do it myself but it's too complicated to explain.
I don't us WD drives for this very reason. I've had nothing but bad luck with them.
Actually the banging or hitting method should work long enough to get the data off.
I had a jammed drive here last week. I took it out and dropped it on the floor from about 12" up. First on the bottom side then the top side. It worked long enough to copy files.
------------------ Dennis Veenema The Sign Shop Dresden, Ont. & GigaBytes Plus "Where the plus is the service!"
As long as I've been into computers I've never used anything but Seagate. All the other manufacturers have had their ups and downs with quality and reliability but Seagate has always been rock solid.
You'll pay more for it but hey, you just cant expect much from those 20 Gig drives they're sellin for $200 at the local computer chain.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Does it really make the noise? If not, I would take it to a good computer shop if you have Windows 95/98 on it, and ask them to run a REGFirst command on it. This goes back and picks up a bootable registry from when the computer worked well. This will not take care of a physical problem with the drive, if one exsists, but will restore it to get files and reformat if necessary.......It is simple for someone that knows what they are doing.
I know the heartache involved with the death of a hard drive laden with many hours of valuable data. (does the word "Chernobal" ring a bell?)
I would first try a local specialist. If it's a simple mechanical problem, they may be able to help you via a file transfer, if they cannot, then you'll need to use a recovery outfit.
Only you can know whether the cost of the recovery equals the value of the files, current and archival.
Hopefully, you've defragged recently and all of your allocation tables are intact. Even if the drive is badly damaged they can usually extract a lot of files by mirroring the disk.
I'll dig out the name of the Toronto based firm where I sent mine if you have to go that route.
Good Luck.
------------------ Purcell Woodcarving & Signmaking spurcell99@mediaone.net Cape Cod, MA
Posts: 902 | From: Cape Cod, MA | Registered: Oct 1999
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