 CylonRedPremium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County | [hard drive] Official freezer trick instructions... My mom's hard drive (IBM DeskStar 75 GXP) finally gave up the ghost with the click of death after 7 years.
Of course after me explaining how to back up her My Documents 3-5 times - she never backed it up on her own and her only backup is one I did last November.
She does not have anything super important since her last backup but I would like to try and get the data off anyhow.
Is this the correct instructions:
1) HD in heavy plastic zip lock bag (like a freezer bag).
2) Put HD in freezer for 2-3 hours?
3) Remove and insert either into a PC or enclosure asap and pray it boots...
I have an enclosure that would probably be best for doing this rather than trying to get it on my PC. I can then dump the data to my hard drive.
My concern is how long to put it in the freezer - I know I don't want it to long to prevent condensation of building up then freezing before I can get it in the enclosure...
Thanks,
--
Brian
"Just on the border of your waking mind,
there lies a another time, where darkness and light are one,
and as you tread the halls of sanity,
you feel so glad to be, unable to go beyond.
I have a message from another Time..." |
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 salzanExperienced OptimistPremium
join:2004-01-08
WA State | I've left them in overnight. Leave the drive in the bag and run the cables into it to help keep the condensation off.
Good luck.  |
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 AdamB
join:2001-01-07
Columbus, OH
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to CylonRed
Ideally, you would want to run it while it's in the freezer, but that isn't extremely practical. When I've frozen mine I left it in overnight to make sure it was nice and cold. Just gotta be fast.
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SBC/Yahoo DSL: 2478/427 on 3000/512 |
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 Sweet WitchBe the flame, not the moth.Premium,MVM
join:2003-07-15
Gallifrey | reply to CylonRed
I use an adapter with power switch so my computer is all set up and ready to go when I connect the damaged drive. Then I copy the drive as one huge file. After it's copied is when I go rummaging for particulars and wipe the junk off.
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"Love is three-quarters curiosity." - Giacomo Casanova |
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 javaManThe Dude abides.Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-15
San Luis Obispo, CA
1 edit | reply to CylonRed
I'd forget about the enclosure; that's going to take too long. By the time you get it into the case and working it may be too late. Plus putting it in a case is only going to cause it to thaw more quickly; remember, it is going to warm up when it is running. I'd open the case and have everything set up beforehand so all I needed to do was take it out of the freezer, set it down and plug it in. The less time it takes to get it running the better.
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Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness. . . Isa. 5:20 |
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CylonRedPremium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County | It is not like I am going to secure the hd to the enclosure case - not going to take the time - I am going to have the front open so all I have to do is attach the IDE cable and plug the USB plug in... |
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| reply to CylonRed
Me, I've always just wrapped it in a paper towel, toss it in overnight, and connect it up in the morning through a USB adapter. I've revived drives I thought were completely dead doing this.
Doesn't always work though.... |
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CylonRedPremium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County | reply to CylonRed
I will probably do this in our kitchen with my work laptop to attach it faster - at least she mainly has Word docs and probably less than 300 megs - hell - maybe less than 100 megs. I think I will get her a flash drive and she can backup to that every now and then.
IF I have any time I can try and grab her bookmarks...
I know it is 50/50 at best but it is better than nothing. Already ordered her a new WD 80 gig drive and sprung for the 2 day shipping from NewEgg as well.
--
Brian
"Just on the border of your waking mind,
there lies a another time, where darkness and light are one,
and as you tread the halls of sanity,
you feel so glad to be, unable to go beyond.
I have a message from another Time..." |
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Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| reply to CylonRed
1: try to avoid any condensation on the drive after removing it from freezer.
2: if you have access to a Disk Jockey or chassis to mount the drive and connect via USB or FW, do so. Makes it easy and quicker than putting it on another bus inside a PC.
IBM Deskstar (aka Deathstar) are notorious for failure. Hitachi now sells the line so...count your blessings if you recover the drive. And good luck! |
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CylonRedPremium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
1 edit | Well - the drive lasted for 7 years - not bad for a series known to fail... |
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OZOPremium
join:2003-01-17
kudos:2 | reply to CylonRed
I'd put into freezer the whole enclosure with HD already attached. It will save you time to make the connection (negligible) and, most importantly, HD will run in a cold environment for a while.
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Keep it simple, it'll become complex by itself... |
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CylonRedPremium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County | Heck - I might be able to run it in the freezer if I sit the laptop on the counter next to the freezer... |
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OZOPremium
join:2003-01-17
kudos:2 | It's even better  |
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salzanExperienced OptimistPremium
join:2004-01-08
WA State | reply to CylonRed
said by CylonRed:Heck - I might be able to run it in the freezer if I sit the laptop on the counter next to the freezer... And you thought this would be complicated. |
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| reply to CylonRed
Lol i had no idea people actually tried this, and had pretty decent success! I'm wondering if people have already wired Cat5 into their freezers :P |
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 Anonymous_AnonymousPremium
join:2004-06-21
127.0.0.1
kudos:2 | WiFi(N) FTW |
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CylonRedPremium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County | reply to CylonRed
Mom's hard drive is in the freezer - in a bag wrapped with 2 layers of paper towel and easy access to the connectors. It is in the enclosure and I have my laptop home as her hard drive is being delivered today so I am working from home. |
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| reply to CylonRed
good luck!
never heard of this method and it will defly come in handy. ive always used programs like O&O and crossed my fingers. obv doesnt work if drive isnt detected... |
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CylonRedPremium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County | reply to CylonRed
Unfortunately - hd no workie.... Oh well - I got her PC up and running with the backup from November. All she has to do is now is to remember all of her logins and bookmarks. |
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 ravencajunPremium
join:2004-08-12
Houston, TX
kudos:2 | reply to CylonRed
Has anyone ever tried using a chunk of dry ice in a plastic bag(vented) put on the frozen drive that is also in a plastic bag to keep it frozen longer? Seems like that would work well to keep it in a frozen state with out condensation. Easier than trying to get in the freezer LOL |
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