How to get data off a dead Hitachi Travelstar HTS548040M9AT00?

My old Dell Inspiron 8100 won't read my hard drive and I can't find information about getting data off of it on the internet.

How dead is it?

Since it uses a standard 2.5" ide, all you need is the proper cable adapter to hook it up to a standard desktop PC.

I have a useful little thing, like this one. Turns any internal HD into an external HD. So basically, get your screwdriver out, extract the harddrive from your old laptop, plug it to the adapter and plug the adapter to your PC and you can access the data from the old disk.

Gez said:

I have a useful little thing, like this one. Turns any internal HD into an external HD. So basically, get your screwdriver out, extract the harddrive from your old laptop, plug it to the adapter and plug the adapter to your PC and you can access the data from the old disk.

Does it work with my dead hard drive and are there any cheaper ones?

If the hard drive is truly dead, you're likely going to need something a lot more expensive -- like call a company that does data recovery.

Gez said:

If the hard drive is truly dead, you're likely going to need something a lot more expensive -- like call a company that does data recovery.

If it's truly dead, does it not make any sounds? Because when I run it in my computer it makes a weird scratchy-clicky kinda noise.

Put your hard drive in the freezer overnight.

Gez said:

If the hard drive is truly dead, you're likely going to need something a lot more expensive -- like call a company that does data recovery.

This is unlikely to be a realistic avenue. If the drive is truly dead I'd advise OP to spend some serious time thinking about a backup scheme to avoid the same thing happening again in the future.

Heh yeah data recovery services are usually 500 USD and up.

His hdd might be fine though, but can't really help with so little info

Jon said:

This is unlikely to be a realistic avenue. If the drive is truly dead I'd advise OP to spend some serious time thinking about a backup scheme to avoid the same thing happening again in the future.

Unless the platters are done for, it can be rescue

Wild Dog said:

Unless the platters are done for, it can be rescue

Only at enormous expense and most data recovery companies don't go to those lengths.

Jon said:

Only at enormous expense and most data recovery companies don't go to those lengths.

No need for a Data recovery company, you can do it at home. It's not ideal but you can get all the data and forget discard it. Basic tools and a healthy donor can make it happen.
Of course, it must be very important information, otherwise there is no point at all.

Vorpal said:

Heh yeah data recovery services are usually 500 USD and up.

His hdd might be fine though, but can't really help with so little info

What other info do you need?

Da Eediot said:

What other info do you need?

Sometimes i think you are messing with us.... But here

1)When did it stop working and how it happen for example: "I was using the PC and all the sudden there was an energy shut-off. After the energy came back the Dell was not able to read the disk"
2)Did you try your HDD on another Computer or external case?
3)Can you hear it spinning?
4)Did you try another HDD on your Dell?

Wild Dog said:

Sometimes i think you are messing with us.... But here

1)When did it stop working and how it happen for example: "I was using the PC and all the sudden there was an energy shut-off. After the energy came back the Dell was not able to read the disk"
2)Did you try your HDD on another Computer or external case?
3)Can you hear it spinning?
4)Did you try another HDD on your Dell?

1) It stopped working a week or two ago. It was working fine at the day before it happened and then the next day my Dell Inspiron 8100 stopped reading it.
2) I haven't tried it in another computer and I don't have an external case.
3) If by spinning you mean making loud clicky-scratchy noises, then yes.
4) Yes, and the other HDD worked fine on the computer.

Da Eediot said:

3) If by spinning you mean making loud clicky-scratchy noises, then yes.

Then your read heads are fucked. Unless the data is really valuable, you'll just have to say goodbye to your data.

chopkinsca said:

Then your read heads are fucked. Unless the data is really valuable, you'll just have to say goodbye to your data.

Would it not be possible to physically replace the platters in a working drive?

Quast said:

Would it not be possible to physically replace the platters in a working drive?

HDDs are firmly in the realms of "no user-serviceable components inside", though unlike CRT TVs this is a matter of "the device will die deader than dead if you open it in a domestic environment - or even an ordinary electronics assembly environment!" rather than "if you touch the wrong bits of the devices internals you might end up dead".

Specialist data recovery companies have the facilities (high-end cleanrooms, trained staff, precision tools) to open a hard drive with a good chance of not killing it (and if necessary to close it back up afterwards without necessarily killing it). Setting up those facilities entail recruiting skilled labourers and making large capital outlays, which is why they charge the big bucks.

Yeah a single mote of invisible-to-human-eye dust can create all sort of trouble if it gets on a platter, so making this kind of organ transplant is definitely not the sort of stuff you can do at home. If you try, all you'll achieve is busting the new, intact drive and make sure the data on the old, damaged drive will not be recuperable even by professionals with the right equipment.

So, there's nothing at all that I can do?

Gez said:

Yeah a single mote of invisible-to-human-eye dust can create all sort of trouble if it gets on a platter, so making this kind of organ transplant is definitely not the sort of stuff you can do at home. If you try, all you'll achieve is busting the new, intact drive and make sure the data on the old, damaged drive will not be recuperable even by professionals with the right equipment.

It can create trouble in the long run. Here he wants to recover the data and left it to Die.

If you want to be able to reliable use the HDD again, then YES you need a special room to do it. Just to get data not the case.

Does anyone know of a USB adapter that works with a Hitachi Travelstar HTS548040M9AT00?

Da Eediot said:

Does anyone know of a USB adapter that works with a Hitachi Travelstar HTS548040M9AT00?

Hahahahahahahahahahaha

Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha

AHHHHHHHHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Kirby said:

Hahahahahahahahahahaha

Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha

AHHHHHHHHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

I know, but those ones don't work with my hard drive. Plus, it's almost $30.