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I just ruined my hard drive  

post #1 of 52
7/12/02 at 1:59pm
Thread Starter 
Damn. I took some advice from a guy and it just cost me a hard drive.

The drive in my PC seemed a little slow, so this guy on the intarweb said he knew this cool new way to speed it up. He told me to take the drive out and clean the surface with Windex.

I did it, and now I can't get the thing to even boot. That'll teach me to take advice so openly. I figured since this guy was on the intarweb he must've known what he was talking about...




!


Maybe I should try some Pledge on it to get that nice sheen back.

[ 07-12-2002: Message edited by: murbot ]</p>
post #2 of 52
7/12/02 at 2:08pm
.
post #3 of 52
7/12/02 at 2:18pm
Thread Starter 
Damn! I noticed these little scratches going straight across the drive platter. I figured it was the industrial paper towels I was using. I knew they were too rough...

Anyway, I just tried to reshape the circular grooves in the drive with a Dremel, but I guess the attachment I used was too rough. Now I've got these wicked gouges on it. At least I know the drive bearings are in good condition still - the drive spun forever after I took the Dremel off.



Now I just have to figure out a way to smooth this thing out. I think I have a buffer for the car in the garage...

Please post any recommendations right away. And no funny stuff either, I need some serious help here - all of the financial information for my business is on this drive.

Thanks. I'll await and try any reasonable advice.
post #4 of 52
7/12/02 at 2:24pm
ok, now you have to follow these steps exactly and you should get your data off no problem.

get the thinnest dremel disc you can find.

very, very carefully start making a circular patter from the outside of the platter to the inside. vary your depth a tiny bit here and there.

when you're done take the plate off.

carefully (NO FINGERPRINTS) carry it over to your old turntable.

place the needle on the outside of the groove you just cut.

here's the hard part.

you'll have to spin the platter at 5,400 RPM's and extract the data in analog format. just plug the output from your turntable into the mic input on your Mac.

record the sound.

play it very slowly and your financial data should be read back to you.

-alcimedes
post #5 of 52
7/12/02 at 2:30pm
Thread Starter 
[quote]you could try some compressed air to clean it off, but you're basically f'ed.<hr></blockquote>



Compressed air didn't work. It actually flipped the drive over, so I think it's scratched more than it already was.

Thanks for trying though.
post #6 of 52
7/12/02 at 2:35pm
I love the week before a Macworld.....
Steve Jobs ate my cat's watermelon @ drewprops.com
Oldest Member of AI (Jan 99) until JRC snaps to his senses and starts posting again. (the blackout borked my join date)
Steve Jobs ate my cat's watermelon @ drewprops.com
Oldest Member of AI (Jan 99) until JRC snaps to his senses and starts posting again. (the blackout borked my join date)
post #7 of 52
7/12/02 at 2:36pm
Thread Starter 
[quote]you'll have to spin the platter at 5,400 RPM's and extract the data in analog format. just plug the output from your turntable into the mic input on your Mac.<hr></blockquote>

Won't work. All of my financial data is digitally signed, so outputting it analog might make it come out in a different currency, which will make my accountant FREAK.



I'm trying to see if I can take the tray out of the DVD drive in this other PC here... maybe if I can get it in there somehow.

<img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

[ 07-12-2002: Message edited by: murbot ]</p>
post #8 of 52
7/12/02 at 2:39pm
murbot: aka, one funny mo'fo Dude, you crack me up.
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for sale. or rent
post #9 of 52
7/12/02 at 2:42pm
  • Anders
  • Feared and Biased Moderator
See? Thats why that article on CNN is right. We Apple users just are smarter. PC users are not used to technology being easy to handle. They would probably just have bought a new HD.

If alcimedes suggestion doesn't work try scanning the plates in one bit depth (black/white), print then (in EXACLY 100% of the original size) and put them in the CD drive. The laser can read the optical information on the copies.
"I reject your reality and substitute it with my own" - President Bush
"I reject your reality and substitute it with my own" - President Bush
post #10 of 52
7/12/02 at 2:56pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the tip Anders, sounds like solid advice.

I don't have a scanner here, but I'm going to photocopy it and try that. I have a fairly new CD-RW drive here, so hopefully it's laser can pick up the data.



If not, I'll try and get my hands on some OCR software and convert the image of the disk to an editable text document. My accountant had Excel, so it's possible she can import it into a spreadsheet.

Phew, this is tough work.
post #11 of 52
7/12/02 at 2:59pm
Thread Starter 
Ah, it's not working. I've tried it like 6 times, and nothing. I only got 3 of the paper disk images back out of the CD-RW drive too, so I may have some other problems to attend to later...

PLEASE, I need some more suggestions. I'll try anything.

Thanks.
post #12 of 52
7/12/02 at 3:12pm
  • Anders
  • Feared and Biased Moderator
Just take out on of the plates on your HD, put some glue on it and put it on the tray. Shake the computer a little bit and wait. Then push out the tray and they should all be there.

For your original problem: Use you Dremel tool and cut fine rings of your HD platters, flatten them out and put them in continuation of eachother. Then use a compas to determine if its a 0 or 1. Write it all down into ProjectBuilder, compile it and make a disc image. Then your all set.
"I reject your reality and substitute it with my own" - President Bush
"I reject your reality and substitute it with my own" - President Bush
post #13 of 52
7/12/02 at 3:18pm
Thread Starter 
OK, I figured out the problem.

The freakin' hard drive had MAGNETS in it!

I thought magnets ruined drives!

Check this out:



The had magnets holding the drive reading thingamajiggy down inside. Totally unacceptable. I'm going to email Western Digital about this right away.

I also have to take off now, so I can't try any other suggestions until later tonight. Damn.

Thanks guys, I'm sure I'll see some great tips when I get back.

Have a great day!

[ 07-12-2002: Message edited by: murbot ]</p>
post #14 of 52
7/12/02 at 3:27pm
  • Anders
  • Feared and Biased Moderator
Those stupid fukkhead.

In the meantime lets try the advice on that firefly you have in the bagground of that picture. I've heard that a thin layer of pork fat spread onto the platters will make it not only faster but also much quieter due to less friction.
"I reject your reality and substitute it with my own" - President Bush
"I reject your reality and substitute it with my own" - President Bush
post #15 of 52
7/12/02 at 5:09pm
ROTFL!!!
No, the bazaar cannot satisfy users. Neither can the cathedral. Nothing can satisfy users, because software is written to enable rather than satisfy, and because most users are mewling malcontents...

No, the bazaar cannot satisfy users. Neither can the cathedral. Nothing can satisfy users, because software is written to enable rather than satisfy, and because most users are mewling malcontents...

post #16 of 52
7/12/02 at 6:28pm
Wrong, wrong, WRONG! You have to copy each side of the platters. Data is written to each side. VueScan software works well for this kind of work.
post #17 of 52
7/12/02 at 7:07pm
murbot, I thought you were smarter than that. How could you have listened to that guy?
post #18 of 52
7/12/02 at 7:28pm
Okay, now that you got those magnets out of there I think you're on the way to getting to that data.

From what I understand the people who do hard drive data recovery wear a lot of white clothes and gloves and a mask.....yes, you'll definitely need a mask.

They have some way to get all the dust out of the immediate area, remember, dust is very bad for a hard drive's platters and can cause irreperable damage. So try to make your work area totally dust free.

The data on hard drives is divided into sectors, so you might want to try and find out which sectors of the drive have that important data stored on them.

Finally, the information on a hard drive is stored magnetically. Those magnets you found might have been interfering with whatever the hard drive uses to store information. If you could use a magnet to detect the individual bit-writes then you might be able to synchronize that with a CD burner, or some type of laser device to burn the data off onto CD, or perhaps a wall where you could view it and videotape it.

I would suggest that you play some Pink Floyd music while you try this.


D
Steve Jobs ate my cat's watermelon @ drewprops.com
Oldest Member of AI (Jan 99) until JRC snaps to his senses and starts posting again. (the blackout borked my join date)
Steve Jobs ate my cat's watermelon @ drewprops.com
Oldest Member of AI (Jan 99) until JRC snaps to his senses and starts posting again. (the blackout borked my join date)
post #19 of 52
7/12/02 at 8:15pm
No. No. No. A hard drive is electro-magnetic, not electro-optical. Take it to the kitchen and place it in the microwave on one of those rotating platters. Remember to put a paper towel underneath to catch the melting plastic.

Then set up a Digital camcorder pointing at the LCD readout and start it. Since the drive is about the same size as a Orville Redenbackers packet, just hit popcorn and start(if it was a mac drive, otherwise enter in the precise number of bits you want to recover for time and the number of platters for power level.) Don't worry about the arcing and sparking, that is positive confirmation that those stuck bits have been knocked off the platters and are available for readout on the LCD.

Then you should be able to download you precious data into your accountants computer via firewire!

OBTW. Before you start make sure you know where the circuit-breaker panel is and have a fire extinguisher ready. Never can be too safe you know.
post #20 of 52
7/12/02 at 8:37pm
Go to the Terminal and type "fsck -y" (no quotes). That should clear up any problems you've been having.
We're investigating reports of indecent acts being committed at the YMCA.
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post #21 of 52
7/12/02 at 9:27pm
Thread Starter 
Success! Thanks for the direction, AirSluf.

Took some work, but it's done.

I piggybacked my old PII 300 processor into the main circuitry of the microwave. I patched a small bypass system, through the processor, to an external FireWire port I added to the microwave. Total time - 3 minutes.








My theory was, if I could get the internal components of the hard drive to reach the exact temperature of FireWire, 1394 degrees Farenheit, then theoretically the data on the drive would be expedited by microvial osmosis to the external FireWire port I had fashioned. On the other end of this port sits my 5 GB FireFly drive, ready to accept the data payload.





(Don't worry, I did have a fire extinguisher at hand, just in case)

Unfortunately, the microwave was unable to reach the temperature required for osmotic FireWire data transfer. It may have had something to do with my having to cut the test short, due to my intrusive and VERY unsympathetic wife, and her insistence on making microwave popcorn. Apparently the smell of searing hard drive platters is fairly close to that of popcorn. Interesting.

As a last resort, I took my drive down to the garage. Surely there is something here capable of getting the platters up to 1394 degrees. What's that in the corner Timmy? Ah... gasoline. Helping unsavory folks get high since 1898! Nectar of the gods.

So I carefully place just the right amount of gasoline on the platters, and ignite the beast. Unfortunately, I was unable to catch the actual moment of data transfer due to the searing heat I endured while holding the FireFly drive just in the right position to facilitate osmotic data transfer, but let me tell you - it was a thing of beauty.






What a day. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, it's great to know I have access to some of the finest minds on the planet.





BTW, I have a toasty little 6 GB hard drive here if anyone wants it. I'm asking $1.25 for it, AS IS.

[ 07-13-2002: Message edited by: murbot ]</p>
post #22 of 52
7/12/02 at 10:16pm
Thread Starter 
Hey Anders, I'm going to write that idea about cutting the platter into strips. Would be a lot of work, but it might just work!

Oh, and I think I'll keep the pork fat away from my FireFly drive, thanks.

BTW, holy crap the magnets that held the whateverthehell down in this hard drive are STRONG. It really takes some effort to pull them apart! Kind of cool taking one of these apart actually.

And yes, I was bored at work today. Was it obvious?

post #23 of 52
7/12/02 at 11:30pm
Hey Murbot, perhaps it is a little too late but you forgot the most obvious method to recover data : manually!

Just go over your hard drive with a big magnifying glass and have a pencil and paper handy. You can either write down + and - or 1 and 0 for all of the digital data; I'm sure that once you get the hang of it you will be done transferring those megabites in no time at all!
post #24 of 52
7/12/02 at 11:39pm
  • Leonis
  • AI Community Dictator
This shit surely is the winner of the thread of the year

Oh by the way. Murbot, I like your toaster

[ 07-13-2002: Message edited by: Leonis ]</p>
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post #25 of 52
7/13/02 at 1:33am
[quote]Originally posted by drewprops:
<strong>
I would suggest that you play some Pink Floyd music while you try this.
D</strong><hr></blockquote>

Might I suggest <a href="http://floydradio.org/" target="_blank">Floyd Radio?</a> You can also access it directly via the iTunes radio tuner. It's under Classic Rock.

(tig)
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"We do not inherit the land from our ancestors"
"We borrow it from our children"
post #26 of 52
7/13/02 at 1:47am
Oh my goodness. This has got to be one of the funniest threads I have read in ages. But that is all I can say, 'cuz I am extremely tired. Thanks for the laugh!
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
post #27 of 52
7/13/02 at 10:36am
As for the rest of the PC...



<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> Great thread. I honestly thought you were serious. Goes to show you how much I know about computers...
I AM THE Royal Pain in the Ass.
I AM THE Royal Pain in the Ass.
post #28 of 52
7/13/02 at 10:42am
Thread Starter 
It's sitting in my garage right now, waiting...

Another thread, along with the gruesome photos, coming soon...



&lt;sinister laugh&gt;
post #29 of 52
7/13/02 at 11:00am
This is confusing. Microwaves, copy machines, windex. My head is a spinning. So you actually got the shit off the HD? :confused: Damn, I wish I had an understanding of this stuff. Oh maybe I do, which is why it sounds so weird. Lighting a HD on fire to recover data, wtf? I think I need to go lie down. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />

[ 07-13-2002: Message edited by: G4Dude ]</p>
I have a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell.
I have a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell.
post #30 of 52
7/13/02 at 11:07am
Okay, I started this thread thinking "oh, poor murbot...". Then, like a good Phil Hendrie segment, it became hilariously clear to me.

The further I proceeded in the thread, the harder I laughed (my tummy hurts now).

Funny stuff, murbot.

Way to hook 'em in!

<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />

I think it was that photo of the air compressor and the hard drive sitting beside it (on the PAVEMENT, no less!) that tipped me off!

<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />

Weeeee!
post #31 of 52
7/13/02 at 12:06pm


That's gotta be the coolest toaster I've ever seen!
post #32 of 52
7/13/02 at 2:23pm
one funny thread !! <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
post #33 of 52
7/13/02 at 7:36pm
now take the Hard Drive and all the parts/screws into Best Buy....Set them on the counter and with the straightest face possible say "my hard drive broke, ....can i have a new one?"
ICQ: 41746288
Apple Computer: The company you love to hate, and hate to love...
ICQ: 41746288
Apple Computer: The company you love to hate, and hate to love...
post #34 of 52
7/13/02 at 8:12pm
  • Spart
  • Beloved Local Storyteller
Yea that is one kick-arse toaster...where'd you get it?

BTW, thanks for the funniest thread I've read in a loooong time.
post #35 of 52
7/13/02 at 9:03pm
[quote]Originally posted by gumby5647:
<strong>now take the Hard Drive and all the parts/screws into Best Buy....Set them on the counter and with the straightest face possible say "my hard drive broke, ....can i have a new one?" </strong><hr></blockquote>

<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> that would be great.
post #36 of 52
7/13/02 at 9:17pm
Encore! I can't wait for the sequel! I haven't laughed this hard since the original "Naked Gun". And before that, "Blazing Saddle".
Apple has no competition. Every commercial product which competes directly with an Apple product gives the distinct impression that, Where it is original, it is not good, and where it is good, it...
Apple has no competition. Every commercial product which competes directly with an Apple product gives the distinct impression that, Where it is original, it is not good, and where it is good, it...
post #37 of 52
7/14/02 at 6:36am
Thread Starter 
Hey, thanks guys!

BTW, here's that toaster:



Delonghi 4 Slice Retro Toaster
Extra-wide, extra-long toasting slots work together with self-adjusting centering grips to accommodate bagels, waffles, bread and english muffins.


Includes cancel, defrost and bagel functions
High lift feature for easy use
Slide-out, dishwasher safe crumb tray


Buy your very own today!

While it's a cool looking toaster, it is a little slow. I always find myself twiddling my thumbs waiting for the damn toast to finish. Definitely slower than most of the cheaper toasters. It does have some features that the cheaper beige models don't - electronic controls, so you push a little button with your finger to pop the toast out, switch to bagel mode (toasts only the cut side, just warms the other), or to defrost. No levers to yank on.

So basically it's slower but easier to use, really cool looking, and more expensive than the plainer models... the perfect toaster for a Mac user.



[ 07-14-2002: Message edited by: murbot ]</p>
post #38 of 52
7/14/02 at 6:59am
[quote]Originally posted by murbot:
<strong></strong><hr></blockquote>

Looks a little dirty. Try using some Windex on it. I read somewhere (right now I can't remember where <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" /> - just trust me) that Windex will make it perform better, too.

[ 07-14-2002: Message edited by: spotbug ]</p>
cygnuhchur
cygnuhchur
post #39 of 52
7/15/02 at 12:54am
Murbot, you rock :cool:

-robo
post #40 of 52
7/15/02 at 1:24am
Haha. I made some dead crapola 3.1GB IDE drives into book-ends. A little super-glue here, a little block of wood there. . .

What's also quite fun: I rigged up a tasty little flycutter into a drill press and shaved off alayer of a broken HD. I'm not sure if it fixed the drive, since I didn't try it afterwards, but I bet it would shave off your layer of chared carbon from the gasoline episode, along with anything else that gets in the way.
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