emusonacid!

Hello

Can anyone offer any knowledge on DIY hard drive repair. I've got an internal IDE drive in my Ultra which is now making deathly clicking noises and wont spin up.

Thanks in advance.

Best Wishes.

Paz.

Your drive is already dead. Next time, keep backups! Does the drive spin up? If it does, and it's clicking, you're done. Get a new drive. If it's not spinning up, try hitting it against something hard on its edge (where the screw holes are) - this will dislodge the stuck platters and let it spin up. Then copy all your data off of it immediately.

Hard drives cannot be repaired by a mortal (i.e., you or me) when mechanical failure occurs - the inside of the drive is completely particulate-free and if you open it, you will contaminate it and instantly destroy the magnetic layer on the platters, and thus your data. The only way to attempt repair would be back at the factory or a specialized data recovery company inside a cleanroom - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleanroom.

Toss the drive and chalk this one up to experience; and remember - backup paranoia is good for you!

Hey Altus

I appreciate your reply.

Looks like its time to start over.

Best wishes

Paz