Muidugi:

_Sergey_:

I let chkdsk run for 10-20 mins and then rebooted PC. I guess if I put HDD in a box with selicagel (or salt) and then place it in a freezer it won't get much condensation inside. I should try it. (If I won't appear on a forum after freezing my hard drive you know what mantal institution you can find me ;)

You run it with /F option first, right? Let it run overnight or so

I'll run it with /F option and leave overnight.

so here is your first tool: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-5512524-8822258?ASIN=B000AAYD6W&AFID=Froogle&LNM=B000AAYD6W|Foodsaver_Food_Sealer_Vacuum__V2440&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B000AAYD6W&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001

 I wonder how a vacuum would affect the data and components..  Interesting experiment.

Muidugi:

If chkdsk cannot finish successfully you pretty much can forget about using any software for recovery

There are utilities that scan for files and try to put them together. Large portion of a disk may still be intact and I hope to restore some files from that area. Actually I need only one file which is about 3MB in size.

Egor:

so here is your first tool: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-5512524-8822258?ASIN=B000AAYD6W&AFID=Froogle&LNM=B000AAYD6W|Foodsaver_Food_Sealer_Vacuum__V2440&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B000AAYD6W&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001

 I wonder how a vacuum would affect the data and components..  Interesting experiment.

I think vacuum and dry cold will prevent ones and zeroes from further oxidizing ;) 

But really putting HDD in cold will increase distance between magnetic head and disk surface in case of scratching and will reduce gaps in mechanical parts. If drive is old as mine mechanics can develop excessive clearance between moving parts.

_Sergey_:

Muidugi:

If chkdsk cannot finish successfully you pretty much can forget about using any software for recovery

There are utilities that scan for files and try to put them together. Large portion of a disk may still be intact and I hope to restore some files from that area. Actually I need only one file which is about 3MB in size.

Right, but no software can help when disk is not spinning

Muidugi:

Right, but no software can help when disk is not spinning

I agree. The disk is spinning and head is moving. But what I am afraid is damaged sectors appeared where disk logical information is located, like partition table and file table. I may never restore this disk as a valid logical drive to be recognized by Windows but there are chances I can get some files back by using special utilities. Like this one.

There will be no freaking condensation inside, c'mon people haven't you ever disassembled any hard drives ??

Freezing is perfectly safe, as long as external stuff is kept dry. 

I will get enclosure for HDD and place it in a freezer for couple of hours. Then connect it to the laptop while it is still in a freezer. According to other people it might work.

_Sergey_:

and will reduce gaps in mechanical parts. If drive is old as mine mechanics can develop excessive clearance between moving parts.

i think it will expand the gaps as parts get smaller..  at least until it warms back up..

_Sergey_:

I will get enclosure for HDD and place it in a freezer for couple of hours. Then connect it to the laptop while it is still in a freezer. According to other people it might work.

Just talked to other sysadmins here at work. Consensus was: Chkdsk ->SpinRite->Freezer.

Muidugi:

_Sergey_:

I will get enclosure for HDD and place it in a freezer for couple of hours. Then connect it to the laptop while it is still in a freezer. According to other people it might work.

Just talked to other sysadmins here at work. Consensus was: Chkdsk ->SpinRite->Freezer.

Thanks! I guess I am afraid to try chkdsk at this point because it will mark bad sectors as bad and that's it. Data there will be lost. I will try freeze it first, then try HDD Regenerator. The last utility should be able to recover data from unreadable blocks without marking them bad blocks. Will do update tomorrow. In a way to a Microcenter to buy external enclosure :)

If chkdsk marks bad sectors as bad you can use Undelete or something like it to recover the data. The main objective here is to get to the drive. I have SpinRite if you decide to give it a try.

Muidugi:

If chkdsk marks bad sectors as bad you can use Undelete or something like it to recover the data. The main objective here is to get to the drive. I have SpinRite if you decide to give it a try.

I will keep that as an option. Thank you!

I've bought IDE enclosure. After 2 hours of freezing I was not able to see the drive. I will give it more time to be in the fridge and try again tomorrow morning.