From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Aug 26 19:13:49 2009 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 97A07106568B for ; Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:13:49 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from freebsd@optimis.net) Received: from mail.optimis.net (mail.optimis.net [69.104.191.124]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 68B838FC1C for ; Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:13:49 +0000 (UTC) Received: from marvin.optimis.net (marvin.optimis.net [192.168.1.3]) by mail.optimis.net (8.14.3/8.14.2) with ESMTP id n7QJDmri037614 for ; Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:13:49 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from freebsd@optimis.net) Received: from marvin.optimis.net (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by marvin.optimis.net (8.14.3/8.14.3) with ESMTP id n7QJDmNA088161 for ; Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:13:48 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from freebsd@optimis.net) Received: (from george@localhost) by marvin.optimis.net (8.14.3/8.14.3/Submit) id n7QJDmFY088160 for freebsd-questions@freebsd.org; Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:13:48 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from freebsd@optimis.net) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:13:48 -0700 From: George Davidovich To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Message-ID: <20090826191348.GA85581@marvin.optimis.net> References: <1338880b0908241129p75b6845cg26d21804e118364@mail.gmail.com> <20090824223247.GD43410@slackbox.xs4all.nl> <1338880b0908252246s21191e83k7c251366b706532@mail.gmail.com> <20090826180741.GA23120@slackbox.xs4all.nl> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <20090826180741.GA23120@slackbox.xs4all.nl> User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.19 (2009-01-05) Subject: Re: hard disk failure - now what? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:13:49 -0000 On Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 08:07:41PM +0200, Roland Smith wrote: > On Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 11:46:50PM -0600, Kelly Martin wrote: > > plugging the drive in and accessing it, I heard those tell-tale > > signs of hard drive failure: clicks and pops and other unusual > > noises, so I know that it has some damage. I hate those sounds, > > having heard them on failing drives too many times before. > > If the drive is that bad, it is doubtfull if dd or ddrescue will be > able to get a good copy. Probably true. I hesitate to suggest this, but sticking the drive in a freezer (preferrably in a ziplock bag) for a few hours or overnight might help. Stories from people claiming "I swear it works!" go back years. To the exent it does work, it might give Kelly enough time to attempt recovery. If more time is required, he can try and find a creative workaround for the 5 meter max length for USB cables. Also, experimenting with dry ice or acetone baths might prove to be interesting, or at least educational. ;-) -- George