Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

Hi all.

Whilst building my new PC I accidentally (like a complete idiot) left the PSU plugged in, and whilst plugging in a molex into ah ard drive it sparked.....now the hard drive is completely dead. I cant believe I was so stupid, I was excited in having a new PC up and running and forgot I hadnt unplugged it that time (I NORMALLY ALWAYS DO IT).

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I've tried reconnecting this Hard Drive and no power goes to it. I have so many important files on there including hundreds of mp3s, stuff that I've bought off online mp3 stores which I would have to purchase again, not to mention personal files and pictures.

Its a Maxtor 250gb IDE Hard Drive.

Do you guys know of any good companies who would be able to recover the data for me and any idea how much it would cost?

Thanks.

Simon

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

It would cost a LOT

---------- Post added at 21:00 ---------- Previous post was at 20:58 ----------

http://www.flashguardian.co.uk/hdd.php

Up to 250GB£329

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

To be honest its worth it..I've lost so much stuff that is irreplacable.

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

I've not tried it, myself, but for a gamble, you may want check this out

http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm

- although it has to be said that I'm not sure if the electronics on the drive have failed, whether such 'software' recovery solutions will work - in which case the removal of the disk platters in a clean room & subsequent imaging of the data, will be required - up to £650 from the previous link ;)

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

if there is no power getting to the drive you need someone good with circuitry to have a look see whats blown . Chances are your scuppered without the exact same board off the exact same model drive to attach to it or as above mentioned the ridiculously expensive recovery

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

There was a blue spark when the molex touched the hard drive and the whole PC shut down....... :/

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

When did you buy the drive? If it's very recently then why not buy another one and hopefully you will get the same revision with the same PCB, which you can then try swapping over. If it works then all you have paid out for is a drive. You could then be a bit naughty and swap the PCBs over and then try the warranty route and see if Seagate/maxtor will swap the drive. If the new drive isn't exactly the same then just send it back.

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

I wouldnt know what the hell I am doing.....

I think the data on the drive is okay, its just the power isnt working on the HD at the moment.

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

Are you sure it is the hard disk? If you're "lucky" the ide/disk controller could be fried. Maybe try another ide or try it on another PC? Unless of course the disk doesn't spin up at all.

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

no mate, the disk doesnt spin up at all, which suggests to me its more of a power related thing than data loss of any sort, I bloody hope so anyway.

Cant believe i've been so stupid, im gutted. Could've been worse though, I could be errr, dead. :(

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

omg you plugged a molex in while the pc was on? I thought you said just plugged in as in not on. I mean omg . Im sorry but thats a fundamental your lucky the whole system didnt go pop. This is a lesson to be learnt and take the loss mate

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

What? take the loss? you must be kidding mate.

I think thats a bit unfair man.

I've built my own PC's for ages, and I've never done something like this.....its bad enough that I cant believe I did this, but I shouldnt take the loss.

I've got so much stuff on that Hard Drive.

I've been dealing with PC's for about 10 years and I've never done something this stupid, I feel bad enough as it is :(

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

ok take the loss or pay someone loads of cash at the end of the day its your own fault as you rightly say yourself. You have built pcs for ages and forgot the most fundamental of all . There should not even be power going to a board when your working on a pc let alone have the pc on. Its not even a case of bad luck its a case of tough luck

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

Thanks a lot :(

I always remembered to unplug the entire PSU at the back and turning it off, I guess the excitement of the huge upgrade got the better of me. But to say tough lucky to me is a bit out of order isnt it ?

After all, I've lost a huge amount of stuff that was business critical to me. Thanks for making me feel a whole lot better. I feel like absolute crap at the moment.

Re: Hard Drive Recovery Companies?
 

well im sorry dude but your gonna get it again. You obviously missed another important fundamental and thats back up anything important before working on a pc and back up anything important period.


Dude I know this sounds like im being very blunt but these steps should be taken. Me being tough on you may help someone else and save them from making the same mistakes. I feel for the loss of your data but if it was so important you should have had some type of offline back up should you not?