Hard drive failure

[Karry_1]

My ultra slim backup plus 2TB seagate hard drive started making a clicking sound after 4 days use. It has 1.5TB of data on it can it be recovered. The seagate support advised me it was a known manufacturer fault with the head. That my device was only covered for replacement only no data rescue, however data rescue only covers for problems with the user deleting files it doesn't cover manufacturers problems ....so lose lose

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Needless to say, important data should always be backed up to another drive or optical discs regularly as a matter of good sense, not wait until disaster strikes then ask about recovering it.

If the drive has failed, only a data recovery service will be able to help you, but be warned it's very expensive because such services are mostly used by large corporations who are willing and able to pay the asking price to get their precious data back.

 

[PeruvianHighs]

My ultra slim backup plus 2TB seagate hard drive started making a clicking sound after 4 days use. It has 1.5TB of data on it can it be recovered. The seagate support advised me it was a known manufacturer fault with the head. That my device was only covered for replacement only no data rescue, however data rescue only covers for problems with the user deleting files it doesn't cover manufacturers problems ....so lose lose

Needless to say, important data should always be backed up to another drive or optical discs regularly as a matter of good sense, not wait until disaster strikes then ask about recovering it.

If the drive has failed, only a data recovery service will be able to help you, but be warned it's very expensive because such services are mostly used by large corporations who are willing and able to pay the asking price to get their precious data back.

QFT...

And just to add, OP you said manufacturer says its a common problem? Ah never-mind, maybe if it was a PCB you could have fixed it, but with a drive head issue, you need some expert to handle that. But saying that, I did fix my own failed drive once it was making the clicking sound, I opened it up, and have the actuator arm a little nudge and it unstuck the head, and worked long enough for me to get a game serial code from the registry. Back in the day when we when PC games where bought from the store and you had a disk, and a code inside. I lost the case, and didn't want to pay for a new serial code just so I can play C&C Yuri's Revenge online.

With cloud storage I don't even bother storing important files on my desktop, I just put them in a folder encrypt them and stick them on Google Drive.

 

[RolandJS]

If at all possible, usb or dvd boot any backup/restore/clone program and either make a one-pass clone or make a one-pass sector by sector full image of this HD onto any external HD; if successful, save that 2nd copy. 2nd best, and usually works, do an Intelligent Copy (that's what Macrium Reflect calls it) full image onto an external HD.

 

[Karry_1]

Thank you Roland I will give that a try. I appreciate your response. I have never had a hard drive fail before perhaps because I use the Silicon Power brand Each year I take one backpacking for 9 months to store that years photographs, unfortunately due to nursing a dying friend I haven't had time to drive to the silicon Power store to buy a 2TB hard drive to put them all on so I could make another copy. I popped into the store next to the hospital whilst she was having a procedure done. Costly mistake I know but thank you for your advice I appreciate it

 

[RolandJS]

Phillip and Peruvian also gave great responses; maybe someday we can have more than one "greenie".

 

[Karry_1]

Prior to posting here asking if the information could be recovered from a dead Seagate Hard drive that was 4 days old I emailed the manufacturers of Silicon Power Hard drives to seek advice on the possibility of recovering the files from the originating Hard Drives.

Each year I take a 1TB Silicon Power Hard drive backpacking overseas for 9 months at a time, they are rugged, shockproof even waterproof, amazing hard drives that have survive the worst that the public transport in South & Central America can dish up & I have certainly been on some teeth chattering, bone shuddering rides.

These drives are brilliant and around the same price as the unreliable Seagate products.

The support people at the manufacturers provided me with a list of software programs to try to see if any could find my files on the originating hard drives, I had already tried 2 that photographer friends had recommended but none of those found my files.

As I worked my way through the list I was ecstatic to see that the software recovery program Wondershare Data Recovery was able to locate all of my files in deep scan; enabling me to recover my files.

Once you see that your files can be located you go ahead and purchase the software. The cost was tiny compared to the quotes I was receiving from data recovery service providers.

I am so pleased I had been feeling very down as I don't normally buy Seagate drives but I have been busy caring for a terminally ill friend so have not had the time to travel too far from her house to buy another Silicon Power Hard drive to organise my photos on to so that I could create another copy to keep offsite.

Don't feel bad if you make a mistake take time to look at alternative solutions. I "copied" the files from the first hard drive onto the seagate one and since everything worked well & the hard drive was not moving from my desk I decided to "move" the files from my next hard drive to save time so that I could get everything copied & backed up to be held offsite.

I had no expectation that a brand new hard drive would fail after a few days use; especially since it was not moving anywhere.

When I called seagate what riled me more than their useless product more was that the support person advised me that the problem was a known manufacturer problem with the hard drive. I cannot understand how in good conscious that you can continue to sell a faulty hard drive when you understand that people will be using them for the purpose that it was intended for "Back up Plus" .

So before seeking recovery on the dead hard drive check if there is a possibility of recovering your files from the originating source.