recovering hard drives information

[Oliver]

motrucker wrote:
... I can already see hackles raising, but this really does work with being clean and careful.

Hackles raised:  Generally this is not a good idea.  I guess most people know, but HD's must stay very clean to work.  You're likely to introduce more problems (hat's off to motrucker: you must be a great house keeper).  Better to try a control board swap first, and leave the internal chambers clean.  If it still doesn't spin up, then maybe try your luck with more drastic measures.

Also worth noting, is that some drives may refuse to spin-up intermittently, but still work sometimes.  Did you try the drive many times?  I've used a number of Amigas which had to be 'started' three or four times before booting.

[Oliver]

Did you read the pdf linked to in BadBigBen's post?  Some good hints in there.  The refigeration technique sounds like a good idea.  I would avoid heating though, as it randomises particle direction, and increases noise, losing magnetic signatures on the platter surfaces.  One could consider it as a second last resort, prior to vacuuming etc.

[Oliver]

I use a dyson too.  Damn good.

Heating definitely can work, but I would try freezing first.