Mechanical Hard drive FAIL!!

Hi,
The hard-drive in my Macbook failed. I took it to an Apple Genius bar but they couldn't fix it. I also took it to a data recovery specialist but they said the hard drive had a mechanical fail and would cost $1000's to fix

Does anyone know if i have any other options to recover the data?

Thanks

Hi Claire Welcome to the Forum. Now is the time to plan your back up scene. As you are no doubt aware it would have saved our bacon had you had one in place.
Have a look here at McBie's comments and then sort a plan that suits you.

Here is the advice i just wrote out for another person new to forum;
Once you have your new HD then,
Reinstall Snow leopard onto the MB using install discs that came with it,
download and Install the Combo Updater here
Run Software update from Apple Menu until no further updates show up,
then download fresh 3rd Party Apps you use,
and if all is OK,
then make a Bootable Back up using Superduper to an Ext HD - insurance against future problems,
Then every week or so do a Superduper Smart Update - just saves any changes,
Then your computing life should be stable.

clairewu said:

Hi,
The hard-drive in my Macbook failed. I took it to an Apple Genius bar but they couldn't fix it. I also took it to a data recovery specialist but they said the hard drive had a mechanical fail and would cost $1000's to fix

Does anyone know if i have any other options to recover the data?

Thanks

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, the previous post didn't answer your question.
So...
Not much.

Here is something I suggested in the past.
1st: Get a new HD and get your system up and running.
2nd: Get a USB HD enclosure and mount the failed HD in the enclosure.
3rd: (This sound weird - but I've seen it work) - put the enclosure in the freezer for a day or so. Once it is nice and cold, take it out and hook it to your laptop - do this quick, before it has a chance to come up to room temp.
If it spins up and mounts to the desktop - open it and start dragging your important data to the new HD. I'd start with your home directory.
Be quick! It will fail again when it gets warmer.

If that doesn't work, you are stuck with a data recovery specialist and a big price tag.

BTW - Back up your data!!!

ticedoff8 said:

Unfortunately, the previous post didn't answer your question.
So...
Not much.

Here is something I suggested in the past.
1st: Get a new HD and get your system up and running.
2nd: Get a USB HD enclosure and mount the failed HD in the enclosure.
3rd: (This sound weird - but I've seen it work) - put the enclosure in the freezer for a day or so. Once it is nice and cold, take it out and hook it to your laptop - do this quick, before it has a chance to come up to room temp.
If it spins up and mounts to the desktop - open it and start dragging your important data to the new HD. I'd start with your home directory.
Be quick! It will fail again when it gets warmer.

If that doesn't work, you are stuck with a data recovery specialist and a big price tag.

BTW - Back up your data!!!

Click to expand...

I've actually done this myself. The reason it works is, anything electronic works better when it's cold; and will work if there is a heating issue (overheating). Just be aware, this is not a computer sanctioned method of getting your data back, however it is worth doing as a last ditch effort before spending $1000's.

Again, not the norm, and you do this at your own risk!!!!!!

Do you know what brand and model the hard drive is? Some Seagates in Macbooks had an issue where the heads actually moved and tore up the platters. In those cases even a Recovery company can't get the data.

ticedoff8 said:

Unfortunately, the previous post didn't answer your question.

BTW - Back up your data!!!

Click to expand...

That i realised, but my hope was that some other reading this thread may be galvanized into taking The Step before disaster strikes.

Thanks for all the replies.... have invested in a MAC time capsule and also a second removeable HD.
Have definitely learnt my lesson!! I don't mind about the software as i can easily re-install but have lost tones of music.

Will give the freezer trick a go!