I think I need to do a HDD data recovery...

I have shot myself in the foot (not for the first time in my life). I had set up a Seagate 7200.8 250GB HDD as a removable. It is in an enclosure sitting on the computer desk. While I was exploring the innards of the case, I picked the 250GB HDD to move it. While doing that I twisted it around to look at the fan on the underside. It jerked, jumped and made a thump sound. I knew exactly what I had done. I had torqued the spinning discs. Now, when I boot up, it and which ever HDD it is slaved to does not show up during POST. If it is slaved to the HDD with my OS partition it will not boot the OS. If I slave it to the second HDD, it isn't recognized during POST either. It appears to mask or hide whichever HDD it is slaved to.

I am a bit leery of setting it to a master position. I'm afraid it may do damage to the MB of the new PC. Is that a valid concern?
I do have a BartPE disc.
I have an old Dell XPS T600 that could be used if need be and possible.

I'm looking for any suggestions on possible ways to access the HDD in order to pull the contents off. While it is almost full (~200GB worth) and it is important to me, if I can't do it myself, it isn't worth doing.

Thx for any help with this.
( I can't believe I'm that dumb!)

 

solo voyager;

I would like to ask how are these hd's are connected to the mobo?

What u may have is a bad ribbon connection (if it is standard ribbon) or a connector that is pulled apart and not making connection. If the bios can see each drive when they are independent, (single drive at a time), the drive's are most likely ok u have a connection problem that needs to fixed.

asturnacle

 

SATA cords are well connected. I did check that and do check them every time. They are not a firm connection and are easily disconnected.

The two original and remaining Hdds (drive0 & drive1) were set to master slots. Each had an open slot for a slave. The damaged drive (drive2) was originally slaved to drive0, the one with my OS partition. When rebooted with the damaged drive slaved to it, it would not show during POST and the OS would not boot.

I then tried slaving it to drive1. Same story, drive1 would not show during POST.
The OS would boot from drive0, but the contents of the 2 partitions on drive1 would not be available.

I have since tried slaving drive1 to drive0 and setting drive2 (the damaged one) as a master. I then tried accessing it with SpinRight. NoGo! The drive is not accessable.

I think it has only one use now, as a boat anchor! The damage is physical. My assumption is that the heads have been damaged and possibly the electronics on the drive has been damaged too.

 

Is the drive clicking or making any other death rattles?

And as mentioned earlier have you tried swapping cables and examining the pins.
Other then that it wouldn't make a good boat anchor, but perhaps a door stop. I have an old Slot CD-Rom drive I use for a door stop.
Is it under waranty, I think seagate has a reasonable waranty program.

 

Yep, I looked and checked it over quite thoroughly. I couldn't find any external problems. Being a Seagate it is supposed to run quietly. While it isn't grinding and crunching, it still is not running as quietly or as smoothly as it used to. When I touch it as it's running it has a very light harmonlc vibration, similar to the sound of a multi engine plane with the engines slightly out of sync.

It is still under warranty. But, this is a case of pilot error. I've got no one to blame other than myself for this one. I was just looking for a replacement earlier today. They are now running about $25 cheaper. Or, there is a new model (7200.9) to consider for ~$15 less than I paid for this one.

I think I'll have to write-off the contents of the drive. As badly as I want it back, it isn't wortht the expense of recovery. I can always replace it.