Can freezing a hard drive help with data retrieval?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around methods for data retrieval from a failing hard drive, particularly focusing on the potential effectiveness of freezing the drive as a recovery technique. Participants share personal experiences, software recommendations, and various approaches to data recovery, including both DIY methods and professional services.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest using software like File Scavanger for data recovery, citing high recovery rates.
  • Others recommend using a USB docking station or caddy to access the hard drive externally.
  • A few participants propose the "freezer trick" as a potential solution for drives that may have issues with bearings, although this is presented as conditional on the specific type of failure.
  • One participant mentions the importance of checking if the drive is recognized by the computer and describes their experience with a blue screen of death error.
  • There are discussions about the possibility of recovering emails from mail servers if local recovery fails.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the effectiveness of freezing a hard drive and note that it may only work for certain types of failures.
  • One participant shares a personal success story of recovering data using a USB caddy after experiencing a boot sector issue.
  • Another participant recalls a past experience with a hard drive failure and the lack of warning systems in their device.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the effectiveness of freezing a hard drive, with some supporting the idea while others express skepticism. Various methods for data recovery are discussed, but no single approach is universally accepted as the best solution.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the uncertainty surrounding the specific type of hard drive failure and the varying effectiveness of suggested recovery methods. Some participants mention the need for specific conditions to apply certain techniques, such as the freezer method being contingent on the nature of the failure.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals experiencing hard drive failures, those interested in data recovery techniques, and users seeking advice on software and hardware solutions for retrieving lost data.

stewartcs
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Does anyone know of any programs/methods for this? I had a disk crap out on me over the weekend and there are some email I didn't have backed up that I would like to try and recover. I tried repairing it with chkdsk and the Windows Recovery Console to no avail.

Thanks...CS
 
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I had a hard disk die a few months back. I retrieved data from it using a USB docking station that I purchased for a few pounds. Perhaps that might help in your situation.
 
I've used File Scavanger (V 2.1) with better than 96% recovery rate.
http://www.quetek.com/prod02.htm

Otherwise one could put the HD in a USB caddy like Kurdt recommended. I've also had to do that when a boot sector became corrupted.
 
You might consider taking it to a professional rather than attempting to do it on your own.
 
Hi stewartcs!

How did it die?

Did it make a noise when it died (such as clanking?)

Does the computer still recognise it as a disk?

(… you have my sympathy …)
 
Astronuc said:
I've used File Scavanger (V 2.1) with better than 96% recovery rate.
http://www.quetek.com/prod02.htm

Otherwise one could put the HD in a USB caddy like Kurdt recommended. I've also had to do that when a boot sector became corrupted.

Thanks, both of these sounds promising!
 
tiny-tim said:
Hi stewartcs!

How did it die?

Did it make a noise when it died (such as clanking?)

Does the computer still recognise it as a disk?

(… you have my sympathy …)

It locked up and then upon reboot I got the blue screen of death.

DST 1000-something error. I googled it and found out that it means the hard disk is screwed.

Fortunately, I have a Mirra server that backs-up everything automatically. Unfortunately, I didn't tell it to back up my e-mails!

CS
 
If you believe that the failure was due to damaged bearings you could try the freezer trick. Supercooling the drive could possibly free up the bearings that's causing the lock down... if that's truly the trouble. An old laptop hard drive I once repaired for a friend seemed to fail due to excessive heat over a long life. Putting the drive in the freezer for a few hours may allow clearances to open up and let the drive spin freely again... at least until it heats back up.

When you ran the check disk command did you include the '/r' switch?
 
I had (or have) a program called something like "PC Wizard" that does that I believe. Whooo, my 100th post, can I be a contributor now? Ha ha
 
  • #10
B. Elliott said:
If you believe that the failure was due to damaged bearings you could try the freezer trick. Supercooling the drive could possibly free up the bearings that's causing the lock down... if that's truly the trouble. An old laptop hard drive I once repaired for a friend seemed to fail due to excessive heat over a long life. Putting the drive in the freezer for a few hours may allow clearances to open up and let the drive spin freely again... at least until it heats back up.

When you ran the check disk command did you include the '/r' switch?

Yes I used the /r switch. It wasn't the bearings as I got the Windows splash screen.

Thanks...CS
 
  • #11
stewartcs said:
Does anyone know of any programs/methods for this? I had a disk crap out on me over the weekend and there are some email I didn't have backed up that I would like to try and recover. I tried repairing it with chkdsk and the Windows Recovery Console to no avail.

Thanks...CS

I think got this type of software but you can not 100% retrieve hard disk data.
 
  • #12
stewartcs said:
It locked up and then upon reboot I got the blue screen of death.

DST 1000-something error. I googled it and found out that it means the hard disk is screwed.

Fortunately, I have a Mirra server that backs-up everything automatically. Unfortunately, I didn't tell it to back up my e-mails!

CS

If you have no success recovering your data some mail servers leave a copy of the emails at the server.

In the past I've had something similar happen and i was able to recover the data with BartPE loaded with some file recovery software.
 
  • #13
But how did it die in the first place? I thought most PCs today are equipped with an early warning system designed to detect possible hard drive failure? My Dell PC bought in 2001 had this installed. I saw the early warning message for hard drive failure back in 2004, and got it changed before the hard drive failed.
 
  • #14
-Job- said:
If you have no success recovering your data some mail servers leave a copy of the emails at the server.

In the past I've had something similar happen and i was able to recover the data with BartPE loaded with some file recovery software.

I have my Outlook options set to delete the email once it is downloaded. :frown:

Plus, I'm a pack rat when it comes to data. I had emails from 1999!

Thanks...CS
 
  • #15
Defennnder said:
But how did it die in the first place? I thought most PCs today are equipped with an early warning system designed to detect possible hard drive failure? My Dell PC bought in 2001 had this installed. I saw the early warning message for hard drive failure back in 2004, and got it changed before the hard drive failed.

It gave no warning. It is a Dell D600 that I bought in 2004. It just froze up one day, so I had to do a hard reboot. It would get to the Windows splash screen and then the blue screen of death with the DST error that I mentioned previously.

CS
 
  • #16
I can't remember what file outlook packages all the mails into, but when I changed PC's I managed to find out which on it was copy it and paste it into the outlook folder on my new PC and voila, I had all my old e-mails. Unfortunately I can't remember what file it was but perhaps I'll have jogged someone elses memory.
 
  • #17
Kurdt said:
I can't remember what file outlook packages all the mails into, but when I changed PC's I managed to find out which on it was copy it and paste it into the outlook folder on my new PC and voila, I had all my old e-mails. Unfortunately I can't remember what file it was but perhaps I'll have jogged someone elses memory.

Outlook stores them in .pst files. Unfortunately, I didnt have my Mirra server set to back those up.

CS
 
  • #18
The USB caddy worked great...the hard disk must have just had a bad spot in the boot sector or where ever Windows was reading from. Don't know if this matters or not but the disk was about full too (may have contributed to the problem somehow).

Anyway, I was able to recover all of my data with the USB caddy.

Thanks guys!

CS
 
  • #19
Freezing the hard drive in the freezer

I work at a computer shop for roaminggear.com, its a tech thing. Anyways we have had luck freezing hard drives in the fridge for a while and then using an external cord to hook it to another computer. Its only for a certain type of break in the hard drive which is usually indicated by a clicking.

Reference
Levtech LLC roaminggear. com


Its there quote so i just want to make sure I won't get into trouble. Great company by the way! Thanks for the awesome website.
 

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