Clicking External Hard Drive Won't Load—Need To Get Data Off It

[earguy]

I have a client's external hard drive. It's an A-Power AP35UBK, a 1TB (I think) capacity. When I plug it in and connect it to my computer I get the tone indicating that a device has been connected, but the drive doesn't appear in the list of drives. Then I hear a "click" every two or three seconds from the external drive and then the drive powers off.

Any suggestions on how to retrieve the data off the disk? Will Acronis True Image Home 2012 PC Back-up & Recovery (never used) recover the data? Or is it too late and my client will have to employ the services of a professional data retrieval company? If so, any recommendations on a good company that provides this type of service?

Thanks

 

[Larry Sabo]

Probably has bad heads. Time for a data recovery specialist to take a look at it and provide a quote. Where on earth are you?

Edit: I wouldn't turn it on again or try to scan/image/repair the drive, as that will simply make it worse. Data recovery from drives with read/write head failure often cost $1,000 - $1,500 USD. Some models (e.g., Seagate DM series) cost even more and may not be recoverable at all.

 

[earguy]

Probably has bad heads. Time for a data recovery specialist to take a look at it and provide a quote. Where on earth are you?

Edit: I wouldn't turn it on again or try to scan/image/repair the drive, as that will simply make it worse. Data recovery from drives with read/write head failure often cost $1,000 - $1,500 USD. Some models (e.g., Seagate DM series) cost even more and may not be recoverable at all.

OK. Thanks for the advice. I am just outside St. Louis, MO.

 

[NYJimbo]

Some models (e.g., Seagate DM series) cost even more and may not be recoverable at all.

Delightful. Way to go Seagate !

 

[Larry Sabo]

DataSaversLLC.com is in Atlanta and is highly regarded, as are RecoveryForce in Guelph, Ontario, and Data-Medics in Cranston, RI.

 

[earguy]

DataSaversLLC.com is in Atlanta and is highly regarded, as are RecoveryForce in Guelph, Ontario, and Data-Medics in Cranston, RI.

Great. Thanks.

 

[cypress]

You can also check out www.300ddr.com I have done work with them and great guys. Owner is also a member here.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Brian at 300ddr.com is an upstandy guy. Unless things have changed, I think he out-sources recoveries that require head swaps. Still worth considering though.

 

[DataMedics]

Seagate, yuck! Got enough of those nightmares here. Send it to Guelph (www.recoveryforce.com)! haha.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Just outside St. Louis. I recommend datarecovery.com They are located over in Edwardsville IL, they used to be called ESS Data recovery, but have been around a few years. I work in St Louis and that's where we recommend our users go if they need those services.

 

[DataMedics]

Oh wait, I just realized it was Larry who said Seagate, not the OP. If it's not a Seagate the price for recovery here is usually about $650 + parts for failed read/write heads. Seagates are the only ones that are usually more expensive than that.

 

[earguy]

Just outside St. Louis. I recommend datarecovery.com They are located over in Edwardsville IL, they used to be called ESS Data recovery, but have been around a few years. I work in St Louis and that's where we recommend our users go if they need those services.

Just saw your post. Thanks, I'll check them out.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

No problem. I know when I started in a school system in the area that's who we used, and 7.5 years later, when I'm at a different company, they are still there, so they must do some things right.