harddrive heats up then can't access files

daluder · Feb 7, 2012

external drive that stopped working. I removed the drive and need to recover the files off of it. After it cools i hook it up thru a usb sata reader and i can pull about 400mbs off of the drive. Then it will error out. The drive is very hot. After it cools i plug it in again and i can pull another 400mbs. The problem is that i need about 300gb's off of the drive. The person i am trying to help did not have a backup so this is where we are at. is there software that can fix this or is it just overheating.

I haven't seen this before and appricate any advise you might have.

Thanks

tgell · Feb 8, 2012

There is no software for an overheating drive. You might want to try putting some ice in a zip lock bag and then placing the drive on the bag, making sure it stays dry. Also people put the drives in a zip lock bag and then place them in the freezer until cold. Do this at your own risk.

Jerry Withers, a data recovery expert at PC Forensic Solutions, has a few solutions for recovering data if it is lost due to damage to the hard drive (see Resources). He cautions that these methods should not be attempted unless the user has the knowledge and ability to disassemble the computer and remove the hard drive without doing further damage.
One of Withers' suggestions is to remove the hard drive, put it in a plastic bag and place it in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Withers states that "most damage to hard drives is caused by overheating" and that "putting the hard drive into the freezer will cool down the unit and keep it cool long enough to recover the data and back it up." This process can be repeated should the drive overheat during the process. A bag of ice can be used to cool down the unit, but care must be taken to ensure the unit remains dry while cooling.
Click to expand...

Rikky · Feb 8, 2012

Are you using and external power supply to power it? If so test it to make sure the voltages are stable with a multimeter, alternatively use a proper internal sata power cable to power the drive.

There's only two things that can be wrong if its overheating,either the power supply is giving it too much voltage or the motor/bearing in the drive has died in which case you need to find a way to keep it cool while you use it.

If we estimate the maximum transfer speed at something conservative 100mbps that's 50mins you need to keep it cool for,I'm thinking maybe a bag of ice 'not peas:-D' Put the drive on the desk circuit board down with the flat metal at the top then put the bag of ice on top making sure there's a little water at the bottom of the bag to transfer heat to the drive,for extra protection bag the hard drive to protect from condensation.

Make sure the bags are sealed tight and away from any AC and the rest of the computer,if there are any leaks turn off the computer clean the water off then start again,as long as you dry them off before turning the drive back on it won't do any damage.

EDIT As Tgell said

tgell · Feb 8, 2012

Rikky gave a hell of a better explanation than I did. :-D

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harddrive heats up then can't access files

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harddrive heats up then can't access files

daluder Private E-2

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