Hardrive Clicking noise?

[computerfix101]

I have a Dell Demension 3000 and it has it's years on it since i got it but the other day i was having a bad day and when i came home from school i turned on my computer and it didn't boot up. So i restarted the computer thinking it was a fluke and it turns out that when i turn on my computer my hardrive makes this clicking noise like it wants to boot up...

Does this mean my hardrive is as good as gone?

Let me know.
thanks

 

[Whyfly??]

Basically, back up your data fast and go shopping for a new one

 

[graw2]

This just happened to me. You could try a external enclosure or a usb to sata/ide adapter cable to recover your files. I used a external enclosure and it read the drive fine, I was still able to transfer all my files off of it. I would not give up on it yet.

Does this drive have Windows installed or was it a storage drive?

 

[~Darkseeker~]

id assume its an old ATA device? (e.g. not Serial-ATA or SS?)

anyway, im pretty sure if your hard drive is powered and spinning, but your computer isnt booting, that means she's a gone'er..

 

[graw2]

anyway, im pretty sure if your hard drive is powered and spinning, but your computer isnt booting, that means she's a gone'er..

The hard drive may be done but it is still possible to recover the files off of it.

 

[~Darkseeker~]

The hard drive may be done but it is still possible to recover the files off of it.

this be the truth, matey.

although, myself i wouldnt know how.

 

[lhuser]

Don't give any hopes as it might not work as well. If you let if cool off a couple of days, you could retry or try the freezer effect. I don't remember if it worked for me.

 

[cboucher]

I found this utility called HDD Regenerator that I used to recover files off of my nephew's external HDD (it too was clicking). I can't guarantee it will work in your situation, but it worked wonders for me and my nephew. If you do recover your files, definitely copy them over to another drive as soon as possible. Once a drive starts clicking it will eventually be unreadable.

 

[computerfix101]

freezer effect, i will try.

thanks lads