| Author |
Message |
    
Blue Heeler
Citizen
Username: Blueheeler
Post Number: 49
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 10:07 am: | 
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A friend of mine has a Mac G5, whose hard drive has just crashed. I know nothing about MACs, but, was wondering if anyone could recommend a top-notch data recovery service that he can try? There was some important business-related data, so he is pretty anxious (I gently reminded him about the value of regular backups  )
Thanks!
BlueHeeler |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3473
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 11:12 am: |
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Well, if the drive is dead I recommend DriveSavers, if the drive is operational I use ProSofts Data Rescue to attempt data recovery.
Can you be more specific as to the symptoms the Mac has, what happened, what happened on a restart, what has been attempted on the users end, etc.?
Feel free to PM me for my phone number. |
Blue Heeler
Citizen
Username: Blueheeler
Post Number: 50
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 11:23 am: |
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Thanks, Monster!
Sounds like it won't even spin up, so DriveSavers (checked out their web site), seems like the right direction. But, I'll IM him for more details on the exact symptoms...
Cheers,
BlueHeeler |
Eponymous
Citizen
Username: Eponymous
Post Number: 192
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 1:16 pm: |
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Make sure the drive is actually cabled correctly before going further. It could be that the cable unseated itself somehow. |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2201
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 5:05 pm: |
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I wrote a really long explanation, but the MOL server barfed and I lost the post.
Long story short, try Tekserve (in the city on 23rd) before Drive Savers. They do a few tricks in house that might save you A BUNDLE. Drive Savers is NOT cheap and the files you get back from them might be almost completely unusable or not labelled in any way that is usable. I'm not saying they aint worth it, if you need the data and can't get it any other way, well...ya gotta pay them. Just try TekServe first. |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3476
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 6:01 pm: |
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the reason I asked if the drive was dead, is because if it is dead, DriveSavers is where Tekserve sends the drive to recover data, cut out the middleman.
If it's not dead, I would place a good bet that one of the tools they use, if not the first, would be Pro Softs Data Rescue II, I've used it to perform miracles.
Of course it could just be a bad connection, a bad connector, a bad board on the hard drive, yada-yada-yada....
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Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2205
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 8:15 pm: |
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Tekserve also remove the platter (the magnetic component where the info is stored) and put it into a new drive made by the same manufacturer to see if that will work. IT OFTEN DOES. And they do it in house for DRAMATICALLY less money than Drivesavers. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 14614
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 8:49 pm: |
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Wow, that's cool. I never thought of doing that. It shouldn't be too hard. I've taken drives apart after they've crashed and I didn't need the data. Putting them back together doesn't look too hard.
I did hear one story, from back when platters were eight or twelve inches, of a drive going south. The owner didn't expect to get the data back. He rolled the platters along the floor for fun. Then for more fun, he put the drive back together. And as luck had it, it worked again.
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Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3488
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 10:35 pm: |
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but if you get dirt, or even dust in it, it can severely compromise the the drive.
Alley, now that you mention it, I do seem to remember reading that TekServe has a version of a clean room for during platter transfers.
Also would like to note that the average price from DriveSavers is around $1,000 dollars (at least last year), of course this depends on the size of the drive, the urgency of the recovery, etc.
You may also find a discount coupon on the net for them, may even be able to get one from TekServe.
Of course I think TekServe may offer a no recovery, no pay plan, that's a plus.
Another thing I've done, stick the drive in the freezer over night, then hook it up (preferable in an external case still in the freezer), and have been able to get it to spin up long enough to recover data.
One final word
backup |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2208
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 11:03 am: |
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monster, I don't know if they have a clean room for this purpose. I'll ask my friend who works there. BUT I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THEY DO. But c'mon man, the interior of a HD enclosure is NOT a clean environment. (at least I don't think it is) |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 14619
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 5:09 pm: |
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It is supposed to be very clean. That's why it was very surprising that rolling the platters on a dusty floor improved the condition.
How much do you think a typical home user would pay for someone to provide a backup service? I'm picturing coming into the home for an initial backup and unattended, automated incremental backups (of changed files only) over the internet. Wouldn't it be nice not to have to think about scheduling, performing, and storing backups?
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Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2216
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 6:15 pm: |
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I don't know. But it's a good idea Tom. It's certainly one way to increase your porn collection.  |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3494
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 7:09 pm: |
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Tom, that's exactly what I've been thinking of doing, as well as a contracted monthly fee for computer maintenance, etc.
Getting an offsite storage facility for backup servers may be relatively inexpensive, besides the net connection I've been thinking that it should be in a somewhat secure location, would have to be bonded and insured.... |
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