Panic! LaCie External Hard disk... whhirrrr_click won't mount!
in [UK Mac]
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From: J. J. Lodder on 17 Apr 2010 06:33 deano <d.heighington(a)btinternet.com> wrote: > Right... now back home in Blighty, although that was a close shave as > well, with the volcanic ash cloud moving steadily over the UK and > Europe... my flight in was one of the last allowed, before everything > was grounded... so one bit of luck there I suppose... could it be that > I'm on a luck roll? ;-) > > The disk is still exhibiting the same behavior... > > From power on, it spins up for about 5 seconds (audible acceleration), > until a click is heard, then about 1 second of whirring before another > click is heard. This cycle is repeated for about 30-40 seconds (a > timeout I suppose) before the process is aborted and the drive spins > back down zero. The disk doesn't pass it's self test. It can't get up to speed, or can't find the tracks. > Having read the various posts about putting the disk in the fridge and > then sealing it in a bag. > What would be the best procedure for me to adopt in trying to get the > drive operational... if only to recover what data I can from it? I once succeeded in rescuing a drive by taking it out of it's housing (a Cube actually) and connecting it by means of an IDE -> USB bridge. Perhaps slightly more power available? After that (and Disk Util repairs) it also worked in it's original housing. Mysteries. > Is there a step by step guide or other online documentation that I can > study that would enlighten me about what is actually wrong with it and > how > I might fix it? If it doesn't pass the self test there is nothing you can do. > As mentioned, I have tried Disk Utility, which can't see the disk... > would Disk Warrior have a better chance? No, not if it doesn't pass. > And what might I need the boot disk for... I can see why a disk > imaging program and a spare disk. > > Would it be worth me contacting the disk manufacturer do you think? No, they won't save your content, at best another drive under warrantee. > Not quite so panicky but now a little resigned and depressed when I > recall everything that's on the drive B( Not saying anything.... Jan
From: John on 18 Apr 2010 07:10 On 2010-04-18 11:50:12 +0100, Colin Harper <colinharper(a)x.com.invalid> said: > On Sat, 17 Apr 2010 09:23:12 +0100, deano wrote > (in article > <9691704c-5a66-42b0-ba82-c0a58ec70d41(a)w42g2000yqm.googlegroups.com>): > > >> Would it be worth me contacting the disk manufacturer do you think? >> > > Only if all you want is a blank disk and no data. > >> Not quite so panicky but now a little resigned and depressed when I >> recall everything that's on the drive B( >> > > Don't fridge it, freeze it, run any kind of surface scanning or disk 'fixing' > software on it. If it's had physical shock, there is probably head and/or > media damage, which most consumer software will only make worse, possibly > preventing the recovery of data by DR firms. > > Check the forums on hddguru.com where data recovery professionals hang out. > You can find all the information you need on there. > > If the data are of any value, and you want the data, at this stage the only > sensible advice is to send it to a pro. > > Which I'm not. Please check the HD is getting enough power. I have two HDs and a two Disc Burners, the problem has always been lack of power. John
From: deano on 19 Apr 2010 03:03 > Please check the HD is getting enough power. I have two HDs and a two > Disc Burners, the problem has always been lack of power. > > John Hi John The drive has its own AC power supply via a Lacie adaptor, whilst in Abu Dhabi (staying with my sister) I tried using the AC adaptor for her Lacie HDD, which happens to be identical to mine. The problem still persisted. I am keen to give the freezer trick a go, but want to find out more about it. Also what other diagnostics I can safely run to find out exactly what is wrong with the disk. I am tempted to try and fix this myself as DR is very expensive and while I'd like the data back, It doesn't warrant the kind of outlay that seems to be involved with DR. Dean.
From: Jaimie Vandenbergh on 19 Apr 2010 03:56 On Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:03:54 -0700 (PDT), deano <d.heighington(a)btinternet.com> wrote: >I am keen to give the freezer trick a go, but want to find out more >about it. Already well described here and elseswhere. Just google up "freezer hard drive" and read away. Bagging it up with the power and data leads hanging out and taped up to as airtight as possible is my recommendation to avoid condensation shorting out the whole device even more fatally. >Also what other diagnostics I can safely >run to find out exactly what is wrong with the disk. What wrong with it is that it got dropped and broke! There really aren't any user-servicable parts inside, and the LaCie warranty will only cover replacement of the disk not repair. But anyway: Open up the LaCie case and find out the disk make. Get a non-Apple PC, plug the disk directly into the mobo by ATA or SATA. Download and run the HD manufacturer's disk test program (often a bootable CD). This might still be able to talk to the drive and get some error condition. While you're at the mfr's site, check your drive's serial against their warranty checker - often an OEM-used drive will only have a year warranty, but sometimes they get the retail type 5 year warranty. Again, that's only replacement, not repair. >I am tempted to >try and fix this myself as DR is very expensive and while >I'd like the data back, It doesn't warrant the kind of outlay that >seems to be involved with DR. Have you got any quotes in? It may (or may not) be cheaper than you think - but if you're not really needing the data, then I guess you're fine. Cheers - Jaimie -- Rule #87: If the thought of something makes me giggle for longer than 15 seconds, I am to assume that I am not allowed to do it. -- www.skippyslist.com
From: deano on 19 Apr 2010 04:06
On 18 Apr, 11:50, Colin Harper <colinhar...(a)x.com.invalid> wrote: > On Sat, 17 Apr 2010 09:23:12 +0100, deano wrote > (in article > <9691704c-5a66-42b0-ba82-c0a58ec70...(a)w42g2000yqm.googlegroups.com>): > > > Would it be worth me contacting thediskmanufacturer do you think? > > Only if all you want is a blankdiskand no data. > > > Not quite so panicky but now a little resigned and depressed when I > > recall everything that's on the drive B( > > Don't fridge it, freeze it, run any kind of surface scanning ordisk'fixing' > software on it. If it's had physical shock, there is probably head and/or > media damage, which most consumer software will only make worse, possibly > preventing the recovery of data by DR firms. > > Check the forums on hddguru.com where data recovery professionals hang out. > You can find all the information you need on there. > > If the data are of any value, and you want the data, at this stage the only > sensible advice is to send it to a pro. > > Which I'm not. > > -- > Col Thanks Col. I'm gonna head over to that URL and see what I can learn. d. |