Hi everyone! I have a Maxtor model 92041U4 HD here, that has Win ME on it, along with alot of files, music etc, that a friend of mine had on it. I cannot get this drive to start up at all, the BIOS on several computers will not see it, and no version of Windows will recognize it. I suspect its dead, but would like to see if anyone else has any ideas on how I can get the files and music off of it. When its connected to a comp, I cant hear it start spinning, and cant see any sign of it powering up at all. My next thing to try is to put it in the freezer for about 15 minutes, which I read something about a long time ago, which sometimes can help. I'm willing to try anything reasonable, LOL. I have tried using the Maxtor Hard drive utility to see if there's a problem, but it wont see the drive either, which is why I was thinking it's dead. I was hoping it merely had a virus on it, but since I cant get a comp to see it, I cant scan it. I use Avast! for my anti virus on this computer, and tried to hook the Maxtor up as a slave to scan it, but the BIOS wouldnt even see it. Ideas anyone?
chris
Posts: 820 | Location: Wytheville, va. USA | Registered: 09-03-02
Short of sending the drive off to a data recovery service, I doubt there is anything that you're going to be able to do to get it running again. If the BIOS doesn't see the drive, I know of no way to get it to "read" the data.
It may be worth your time to look at the Steve Gibson utility program "SpinRite". SpinRite I have used this product for several years and I belief that it is very useful. Whether or not it will help in this case is doubtful, but you may wish to give it a try.
"How possible is it to recover data from a crashed hard drive?
That depends entirely upon "how crashed" the drive is. But SpinRite is often credited with performing "true miracles" of data recovery. Please read some of the true-life SpinRite testimonials we have received to get a sense for what SpinRite has done and can probably do for you if you ever need it. It is obviously possible for a drive to be so totally dead that it is only useful as a door stop. But today's modern drives struggle to stay alive and to die slowly. So if they are given some periodic SpinRite maintenance you should have plenty of warning of impending failure and also the ability to keep the drive alive until it can be replaced.
Dwight
Posts: 4332 | Location: Anchorage, AK | Registered: 06-05-02
Hi Chris Some ideas for you to try. If it spins could have been used as a Master? and you are trying it as a slave? with the result your computer can "see" nothing And with a different OS Thats another possible conflict issue... You might be able (if it can peek at the drive contents?) to group the 2 hard drives together?(Like on XP) Here is some info about the specs http://developer.novell.com/yes/56616.htm Dates from 1999 .Had 20.4GB space. Original OS was DOS 6.22 Ps The drivers are listed on this page I think you aren't going to win on this one
Posts: 13330 | Location: 6 miles west of Wigan UK | Registered: 06-05-02
Well guys, its not going to work. This drive is so dead, the buzzards are circling it! I'm just going to tell my buddy that short of sending to a data recovery firm, its not possible to get the contents off this drive. Thanks for the suggestions!
chris
Posts: 820 | Location: Wytheville, va. USA | Registered: 09-03-02
