My hard disk on my IBM ThinkPad A31 just quit... Whenever I start my
laptopn there is a weird "clicking" sound from the hard disk, this
goes on for 20 clicks and then stops. It seems that the hard disk is
trying to start but the head is stuck or something. I have tried
turning it on and off for a few times and got it to work once... but
alas, it won't work again. I need reference of an "affordable" data
recovery lab/service. It is a 30GB hard drive and I just need to
recover about 1GB (at the least). I have done some research and have
found some of that sort in the range of $1000 - $2500 and I was
thinking maybe someone knows of something in the range of $300 - $500.

Hello -

Thank you for your question.

There may be an alternative to try first -- putting the drive in the
freezer (literally):

Hard Drive in the Freezer
http://www.meetmyattorney.com/slink/mt-archives/000275.html

You can find more discussions on the topic here:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=hard+disk+freezer

Here's a search term that will unearth more links on the topic:
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=hard+disk+%22in+the+freezer%22


Here are two companies that may fit the bill for affordable disk recovery:

Data Recovery BC
"Most jobs under $400"
http://www.datarecoverybc.com/
West Receiving Depot:
4960 Almaden Expressway, #150
San Jose, CA, 95118-2007

East Receiving Depot:
96 Linwood Plaza, Suite 503
Fort Lee, NJ 07024-3701

Toll FREE: 1-877-460-3670
Tel:  604-681-3770
Fax: 604-681-3739


Craftix
http://www.craftix.com/data_recovery.html
Craftix Technical Solutions
833 Hilltop Road
Baltimore, MD 21228-5310
Phone: 410.788.5651
Fax: 410.788.5651
Email: info@craftix.com


Search strategy:
"affordable data recovery"
"data recovery for only"

If at least one of them can't do it within your price range, please let me know.

Thanks,

jbf777

---

Request for Answer Clarification by bozz-ga on 01 Aug 2004 22:35 PDT

Actually the second reference "Craftix" seems to handle non-mechanical
problems...mine's literally mechanical.

---

Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 02 Aug 2004 01:10 PDT

My apologies; you're correct.  If the first one doesn't work out, try this one:

Iomega Data Recovery
http://www.iomegadatarecovery.com/
866-852-5649 

Free quote here:
https://datarecovery.iomega.com/online_request_form.asp

---

Request for Answer Clarification by bozz-ga on 02 Aug 2004 19:43 PDT

So far, the only valid reference is "Data Recovery BC" ... was
wondering whether you could provide some other references which are:
1. in the range of $300 - $500
2. repair for mechanical problem

PS I have already investigated the obvious solutions on my own and
thought that maybe someone has a not-so-obvious recovery lab.

---

Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 02 Aug 2004 20:46 PDT

bozz -

Here are several more.  Let me know if they don't meet your needs:

CD Data Guys
http://www.cddataguys.com/Price.htm
We charge according to the total hard drive size.  Find the total size
of your hard drive and look at the chart below for your Price.
   Up to .9 GB -   $295.00
   1.0 - 1.9 GB -  $349.00

ITS
http://www.i-t-s.com/datarec/google.htm
421MB to 1.2GB     $350.00

DTI Data
http://www.dtidata.com/
We guarantee the lowest price in the world for hard drive recovery. We
offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all hard drive data recovery.
If you are not completely satisfied with the data we have recovered,
you don't pay us anything.


possible:

Gillware
http://www.gillware.com/
For only $100.99 US plus the cost of media (DVD or CD) and shipping we
will recover your data.

I was expecting reference to a few hdd recovery service labs/providers
with a price range of $300 - $500. My problem is obviously a
hardware/mechanical hdd problem and cannot be solved via software. I
have already searched the net and have had the "obvious" references at
my disposal, the answer provided added nothing new.