Clicking Drive C will not post

[graywolf1939]

I have a new SSD that I want to use to replace a failed HDD. It spins, clicks and will not post, I cannot even get F2 to work to enter setup. That being the case, if I installed the new SSD as the new drive C and reinstall Win 7 64, is it possible to migrate any files off the failed drive C?

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Hey there, graywolf1939. Welcome to the community!

Make sure to have all other drives (besides the SSD) disconnected from the motherboard during the Windows installation process.
As for you question - it depends on how bad is the situation with your HDD. If you're unable get your files when you connect it as a secondary storage drive, you could try out data recovery software: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-1644496/lost-data-recovery.html and http://pcsupport.about.com/od/filerecovery/tp/free-file-recovery-programs.htm. If that doesn't work, you could try to access the drive via Ubuntu Live USB/DVD, to see if it's properly recognized and if you can get to your files this way. However, of the data on the HDD is really valuable to you, I'd suggest that you go for a data recovery company.

Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD

 

[graywolf1939]

Hey there, graywolf1939. Welcome to the community!

Make sure to have all other drives (besides the SSD) disconnected from the motherboard during the Windows installation process.
As for you question - it depends on how bad is the situation with your HDD. If you're unable get your files when you connect it as a secondary storage drive, you could try out data recovery software: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-1644496/lost-data-recovery.html and http://pcsupport.about.com/od/filerecovery/tp/free-file-recovery-programs.htm. If that doesn't work, you could try to access the drive via Ubuntu Live USB/DVD, to see if it's properly recognized and if you can get to your files this way. However, of the data on the HDD is really valuable to you, I'd suggest that you go for a data recovery company.

Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD

Thank you for excellent info, I will install the new SSD after disconnecting my drive C and my external backup HDD before reloading WIN 7

Dick

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Sure thing, mate. Let me know how it went and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions whatsoever.

Cheers!

 

[graywolf1939]

Hey there, graywolf1939. Welcome to the community!

Make sure to have all other drives (besides the SSD) disconnected from the motherboard during the Windows installation process.
As for you question - it depends on how bad is the situation with your HDD. If you're unable get your files when you connect it as a secondary storage drive, you could try out data recovery software: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-1644496/lost-data-recovery.html and http://pcsupport.about.com/od/filerecovery/tp/free-file-recovery-programs.htm. If that doesn't work, you could try to access the drive via Ubuntu Live USB/DVD, to see if it's properly recognized and if you can get to your files this way. However, of the data on the HDD is really valuable to you, I'd suggest that you go for a data recovery company.

Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD

 

[graywolf1939]

Hey there, graywolf1939. Welcome to the community!

Make sure to have all other drives (besides the SSD) disconnected from the motherboard during the Windows installation process.
As for you question - it depends on how bad is the situation with your HDD. If you're unable get your files when you connect it as a secondary storage drive, you could try out data recovery software: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-1644496/lost-data-recovery.html and http://pcsupport.about.com/od/filerecovery/tp/free-file-recovery-programs.htm. If that doesn't work, you could try to access the drive via Ubuntu Live USB/DVD, to see if it's properly recognized and if you can get to your files this way. However, of the data on the HDD is really valuable to you, I'd suggest that you go for a data recovery company.

Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD

I just removed the cover to the HDD and powered the drive. The pick-up arm moves back and forth about 5 times then stops at the innermost part of the top disk at center. This inner area is all scored, the rest of the disk looks AOK. It would appear to me (untrained eye) that mechanically the arm is damaged. I suppose that the PC board could be the trouble also.
If I had another SATA HDD, I would attempt to remove the disks and place them on an old working HDD so that I could read the data. My old HDD sitting in an old DELL PC has an HDD that is IDE (fat old ribbon cable beast), I was wondering if I could somehow adapt the ribbon cable to SATA plug ???

Dick

 

[Boogieman_WD]

I can't agree with @DatarecoveryDotComMK more. His advice is right on the spot. Basically you should never attempt to open a hard drive on your own as this might make data recovery a lot harder or even impossible. You can't move the platters to a different drive and try if you can get the data off of them this way, unfortunately this won't work.

At this point, only a data recovery company might be able to help with recovering your files. Fingers crossed!

Please let us know how it goes.