Comp won't load. Hard drive souns like angle grinder!

[christiani]

Hi everyone.
I just tried to replace the cd drive in my dsd' rather old computer with a dvd drive. However, when the comp loads up now, it goes to initiate the primary drive, starts making a noise like an angle grinder on a bit of metal (similar to the noise made when something touches the heatsink fan), then stops. The noise continues to sound every 2 or 3 seconds, then stops. The computer also doesn't get passed the initialisation of the primary drive stage. I also put the cd drive back in, but it still does it.
Does anybody know what may be wrong?

[moogle]

hard drive must be fubared i suppose. lets hope you backed up the data on it.

[christiani]

It's looking that way. I just chopped and changed ide cables, but it's still not working.
Any other ideas would still be appreciated though.

[peterb]

If the sound is coming from the hard drive, then the HD has suffered mechanical failure. If it was on its last legs (and is fairly old) the disturbance when you changed the CDROM may have been enough to tip it over the edge. It might be worth checking that there isn't a cable fouling a fan first, but I suspect it is new HD time.

[this_is_gav]

That definitely sounds like a mechanically broken hard drive (as in the head is touching the platter continually). Given it's nature, I doubt even sticking it into a external enclosure and connecting via USB would work (which normally does for me when a hard drive is dying). I'm going to say recovery company if you want your data back, though they aren't cheap, and I doubt you'd get it all back if the head really is dragging across the platters.

[jjw23]

This will be relevant to anybody looking for hard drive recovery specialists. I'm dropping this information on as many forums as possible to advise as many people as I can about the totally unprofessional service received from the supposed data recovery specialist: Rapid-Data.net. They may well appear to be cheap compared to other companies and the website certainly looks professional, but that's where it ends. I sent my "clicking" Hitachi Deskstar to them on the 26th October 2007 and have never seen it since. Neither have Rapid-Data.net, according to them. Even though I have the proof of signature in my possesion and they have confirmed it was signed for. They have physically lost the drive! It took them over a week to come back to me to confirm this as they had to check all there wht they term as "unknown" drives.. how many do they loose then?!! Since then it has been very frustrating trying to comunicate with them. Basically they accept no responsibility for losing my drive and have washed there hands of the whole affair. How I wish I'd never found them on the net. It was I understand a simple fix which is a known fault with the Deskstar range. A totally unreliable, non-professional company. The world should know that this company is a joke. Impressive address, however one of many companies registered at this address. Also check out there postcode with Royal Mail... it doesnt exist! If you want a decent service choose another company, steer well clear of Rapid-Data.net

[khalliday]

My experience (12 months later) of Rapid Data Recovery is very similar - it appears their standards haven't improved. I'm in dispute with them over the same charge for a drive repair that they promised in 2-4 days. 30 days later I asked for my drive and money to be returned, and now they're claiming the repair (which they said had 75%-85% chance of success) failed. Rapid Data Recovery just seem to get all their work done by Fields Associates, which means there's already a built in delay.

Complete waste of time, effort and money, and made more frustrating by the strange relationship between Rapid Data Recovery and Field Associates, and their general attitude that a late, unsigned, vague apology will sort it all out. Now I'm going to Trading Standards, Amex and the Small Claims Court.

I really would advise anyone to find an alternative data recovery service.

[angrysmurf]

Please post your negative experiences with Rapid Data or Fields Data Recovery (based in same offices) to:

rapid-data.blogspot.com

many thanks