I don't know whether testdisk would be helpful in this case or not but your options are limited, might give it a try. ________________________________ From: CentOS <centos-bounces at centos.org> on behalf of H <agents at meddatainc.com> Sent: Friday, October 2, 2020 6:40 AM To: CentOS mailing list <centos at centos.org> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [CentOS] External harddisk CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. On October 1, 2020 12:03:34 PM EDT, Bruce Ferrell <bferrell at baywinds.org> wrote: >On 9/30/20 9:11 AM, H wrote: Harriscomputer Leroy Tennison Network Information/Cyber Security Specialist E: leroy at datavoiceint.com P: [cid:Data-Voice-International-LOGO_aa3d1c6e-5cfb-451f-ba2c-af8059e69609.PNG] 2220 Bush Dr McKinney, Texas 75070 www.datavoiceint.com<http://www..com> This message has been sent on behalf of a company that is part of the Harris Operating Group of Constellation Software Inc. If you prefer not to be contacted by Harris Operating Group please notify us<http://subscribe.harriscomputer.com/>. This message is intended exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. This communication may contain information that is proprietary, privileged or confidential or otherwise legally exempt from disclosure. If you are not the named addressee, you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this message or any part of it. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail and delete all copies of the message. >> On 09/30/2020 12:03 PM, Simon Matter wrote: >>>> Since you have taken the disk apart it will now be useless as >within the >>>> enclosure there could have been a vacuum or an inert gas. >>> From what I know gas filled disks didn't exist in the times when >3X0GB was >>> on a 2" drive. >>> >>>> You will never be able to recover any data on the disk unless you >go and >>>> pay >>>> for a professional data recovery organisation to read the platters. >>> No, if he did care that the disks didn't become dirty then the drive >>> should still work quite well to recover what is on it. Of course the >cover >>> should be put on ASAP. If you don't believe me, just try it our >yourself. >>> >>>> The price for a replacement 340GByte USB disk is about $25 which >would >>>> give >>>> you a better product than your old disk. >>> The OP wanted to recover what is on the disk, not use it as a normal >disk. >>> >>> Simon >>> >>>> Mark >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: H >>>> Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2020 4:47 PM >>>> To: centos at centos.org >>>> Subject: Re: [CentOS] External harddisk >>>> >>>> On 09/30/2020 05:40 AM, John Pierce wrote: >>>>> On Tue, Sep 29, 2020, 8:33 AM H <agents at meddatainc.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> I have an old external harddisk, Toshiba 320 Gb, with a USB >connector >>>>>> that >>>>>> I wanted to check for contents. It did not start up when >connected and >>>>>> I >>>>>> could not hear the motor spinning. After leaving it in the >freezer >>>>>> overnight the motor spins but it is not recognized by my >computer. I >>>>>> disassembled it and could see that the head assembly rests >outside the >>>>>> disk >>>>>> but when it is powered on, the head first moves to the center of >the >>>>>> disk, >>>>>> then to the periphery and finally back to the resting position. >This >>>>>> happens every few seconds and leaving it connected overnight >changed >>>>>> nothing. >>>>>> >>>>> That repeated seeking suggests it's not passing its self test, and >is >>>>> constantly retrying. It's probably searching for servo data on >the >>>>> disks, >>>>> and not finding it. >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> CentOS mailing list >>>>> CentOS at centos.org >>>>> https://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos >>>> I see. I have not searched for any low-level disk utility from >Toshiba, >>>> the >>>> manufacturer of the disk. Do you think that might be worthwhile to >>>> hopefully >>>> fix this? >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> CentOS mailing list >>>> CentOS at centos.org >>>> https://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> CentOS mailing list >>>> CentOS at centos.org >>>> https://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> CentOS mailing list >>> CentOS at centos.org >>> https://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos >> Simon, you are correct in all the above and I replaced the cover as >soon as I had ascertained the movements of the head assembly. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> CentOS mailing list >> CentOS at centos.org >> https://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos > >Opening up disk drives outside of a lab environment is NEVER a good >idea if you expect the device to be useful. > >I'm thinking this disk problem is tied to your more general usb >problem. > >There is a guy with a shop in NYC called Louis Rossmann who MAY be able >to help with your data recovery. Look him up on youtube or just google >the name. > >_______________________________________________ >CentOS mailing list >CentOS at centos.org >https://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos No. I tried this disk on other computers and it has nothing to do with USB. Further, I have other similar disks which do work on this computer. _______________________________________________ CentOS mailing list CentOS at centos.org https://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos