Reviving old hard drives

From: Philip Pemberton <philpem_at_dsl.pipex.com>
Date: Wed Dec 29 19:36:15 2004

In message <DJauNjVuMhvqgStMVhE00000031_at_dj>
          "Bob Lafleur" <bob_lafleur_at_technologist.com> wrote:

> Is there a repository of information regarding reviving old hard drives?
>
> Specifically, I have a Seagate ST3390N in a Mac Iici that appeard not to
> spin-up anymore. I'm wondering if there are any "tricks" that might get this
> drive running again? It's got my running copy of Opcode Vision on it, and
> I've not found any newer MIDI sequencing software that runs on current
> systems that I'm more comfortablr with... I'd love to get my Vision running
> again!

You could try the "freezer trick" - put the drive in an airtight container
(I usually use a Zip-lock bag), then freeze it overnight. Hook it up to the
machine and get the data off onto another drive post-haste.
This trick will most likely only work once.
There's also a trick to de-stick drives that are suffering from sticktion. I
can't remember the details though, but IIRC it involves holding the drive
so that the long edges are horizontal, then move your wrist quite sharply.
The idea is to force the head actuator (usually a voice-coil) to move.

After resurrecting the drive, get the data off ASAP. I usually do a file
copy to get the important stuff off, then use Ghost to clone the drive to an
image file on another drive (assuming the drive is still operating at this
point).

Later.
-- 
Phil.                              | Acorn Risc PC600 Mk3, SA202, 64MB, 6GB,
philpem_at_philpem.me.uk              | ViewFinder, 10BaseT Ethernet, 2-slice,
http://www.philpem.me.uk/          | 48xCD, ARCINv6c IDE, SCSI
... Copywight 1994 Elmer Fudd.  All wights wesewved
Received on Wed Dec 29 2004 - 19:36:15 GMT

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