how to retrieve files from external hard disc?

[Lisa 15]

Hi!
My old external hard disc doesn't switch on anymore. Is there anyway I could still retrieve the files on it from the memory card? Is there any places that can do that for me?

[Pursuivant]

If its a hard disc or a memory card is the question is the question. Yes, no, maybe... depends.

[Lisa 15]

It's a hard disc:Lacie

[Pursuivant]

so it may be a problem with the power/case in case the inside disc is OK... or then the inside disk is fried... and then it starts costing money... theres a few tricks to try and revive it but then getting an image or files out is another thing.

[Jukka Aho]

Hi! My old external hard disc doesn't switch on anymore. Is there anyway I could still retrieve the files on it

Take it to someone who can crack the case open. (Actually, I have a web page up with instructions on how to do that for certain LaCie models, but yours might be different.) They can then connect the actual HDD directly to the SATA or IDE bus of a desktop PC and check if there’s any life left in it.

[Lisa 15]

Jukka: where do I find such a place?
Pursuivant: I think it is the on/off switch that died out as it was working ok last time I used it some years ago...

[Jukka Aho]

Jukka: where do I find such a place?

According to your “location” field you’re living in Kirkkonummi. Maybe these guys could help?

[Lisa 15]

I'll try them out. I also work down town Helsinki, so any other tips welcome

[AldenG]

Don't throw it away just because someone local concludes they can't help.

I have an internal drive I'm going to need to send to a place like this: Fields Data Recovery.

Of course that can run into hundreds of dollars plus shipping, so it depends on how important the data is to you.

But just because it doesn't appear to respond electrically doesn't mean it's toast. There are some strange things that can happen to drives and yet still be recoverable. In particular, my Western Digital has a one particular syndrome where most of the time, it appears dead to the BIOS and many other attempts to make it run, but certain unconventional sequences of electrical signals can still get data off of it. At least that's according to the website.

[Jukka Aho]

I'll try them out. I also work down town Helsinki, so any other tips welcome :)

You can check out these (note that the list continues on the following pages) but I’m not sure how many of them are actually willing to investigate non-trivial hardware problems such as yours where you need data recovery and not just a replacement part. Better to ask in advance what they charge for investigating such things. I guess you’re willing to pay for successful recovery but they are also likely to charge something just for looking at the problem even if they get no results.

[Upphew]

I'll try them out. I also work down town Helsinki, so any other tips welcome

You can check out these (note that the list continues on the following pages) but I’m not sure how many of them are actually willing to investigate non-trivial hardware problems such as yours where you need data recovery and not just a replacement part. Better to ask in advance what they charge for investigating such things. I guess you’re willing to pay for successful recovery but they are also likely to charge something just for looking at the problem even if they get no results.

And if the data is really important (and you are willing to prove it by cash) there is Ibas: http://www.ibas.fi

[jas_rho]

I have a friend who is starting up a business doing this. I dunno what he charges but I bet its pretty competitive since it's not his day job. PM me if you would like his contact info.