Hard Drives in your freezer? Whats that all about? 1

[Zorlod]

I've read quite a few threads concerning hard drive issues on various systems. I just wanted to let everyone know that there is a last resort in case of hard drive failure. Note this will not work if the problem lies some where other than the acutal hard drive.
It *may* be possible to get your hard drive working long enough to recover data. This is what you do.

Place the failing drive in an anti-static bag, and then put it in a freezer for about 20-30 minutes. When you take it out, be ready to move quickly. Place the drive back in the computer, and try to recover as much data as possible. I've used this method of data recovery a few times. Keep in mind that MANY times this will not work, but whats the harm if you've tried everything else?
*SPECIAL NOTE*
Please only use this method as a last resort after consulting technical support for your hard drive. Also, keep any warranty you may have on the drive in mind. I dont think this is considered "normal usage" by any means.
Have a great day

 

[butchrecon]

Very interesting recovery method. "Iced" hard drive. Sounds like something you should put salt on.
anyway bad jokes aside. where did you come up with this? It actually works at times? James Collins
Computer Hardware Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

 

[Zorlod]

I learned it from my "mentor" at my first computer job. I have no idea where he got it from. Maybe a magazine or book. I've had it work a a few times. A really good reason to try it is if your drive has failed because of heat issues.

 

[ericksot]

I have found it usally only works if the drives are not spinning. I have heard put it in a freezes from 30 miuntes up to 24 hours. I think (IMHO) it removes any condensation and the cold air makes the bearings constrict. One note have your plan in place to as where you are going to put the data immediately when you put the drive back in the machine. The clock will be ticking.

 

[bjverzal]

Kinda reminds me of the days we used to clean card-edge connectors with a pencil eraser.

BV

 

[edfair]

This had valid use with the Seagate MFM drives around 1985. Platters would expand taking the cylinders with them and depending on how the machine was originally formatted tracks would become unreadable. Cooling the drive would bring the tracks back under the heads enough to recover data. You could generally get several minutes out of each cooldown. Maybe enough to allow Gibson's hot reformat to do the job of moving the track. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.