The LaCie Moon external hard drive is a popular storage solution for businesses, including plumbing companies, that need secure data storage for invoices, customer records, and operational documents. However, when an external hard drive starts beeping, it often indicates stuck read/write heads or spindle motor failure, preventing the drive from spinning and making data inaccessible.
This case study details how we successfully recovered business-critical files for a plumbing company in Glasgow from a LaCie Moon external hard drive, after mechanical failure rendered the drive unreadable.
As Glasgow Data Recovery, Scotland’s oldest and best data recovery company, we have 25 years of experience using cleanroom disassembly, head realignment, and spindle motor repair techniques to restore lost data.
LaCie Moon Hard Drive Beeping & Not Recognised
A Glasgow-based plumbing business contacted us after their LaCie Moon external hard drive stopped working, with the following issues:
- The drive was making a beeping sound and not spinning.
- The computer could not detect the drive in Windows/macOS.
- Attempts to connect the drive via different USB cables and ports failed.
- The drive contained essential business data, including invoices, customer records, and plumbing job details.
Since forcing a beeping hard drive to work can worsen mechanical damage, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the LaCie Moon external hard drive arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full mechanical and electrical diagnostic. Our findings:
- Stuck read/write heads – The heads were locked in place, preventing normal operation.
- Spindle motor failure – The platters were not spinning, causing the beeping noise.
- No PCB (Printed Circuit Board) failure detected – Indicating the issue was mechanical, not electrical.
Since physical issues like stuck heads or spindle failures require cleanroom disassembly, we prioritized mechanical repair and platter stabilisation.
The Recovery Process
1. Cleanroom Disassembly & Mechanical Repair
To restore access to the drive’s data, we:
- Opened the drive in our cleanroom to prevent dust contamination.
- Manually freed the stuck read/write heads and realigned them.
- Checked for platter damage and cleaned any debris from the drive’s interior.
2. Replacing the Spindle Motor
Since the spindle motor had failed, we:
- Transferred the platters to a donor LaCie Moon drive with a functional motor.
- Reassembled the drive with precise calibration to ensure smooth operation.
3. Imaging & Cloning the Repaired Hard Drive
Once the drive was stabilised, we:
- Created a sector-by-sector forensic clone of the repaired hard drive.
- Used advanced data recovery software to extract readable data despite prior mechanical issues.
4. Extracting & Verifying Business Data
Once the data was extracted, we:
- Recovered all customer invoices, job records, and financial spreadsheets.
- Checked all recovered files for accuracy and usability.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external backup device.
The Results: 95% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our cleanroom disassembly and spindle motor repair techniques, we successfully recovered 95% of the plumbing business’s lost data, including:
✅ Customer invoices and payment records
✅ Plumbing job schedules and service history
✅ Supplier details, financial spreadsheets, and tax documents
The business was able to regain access to all essential files, preventing financial and operational disruptions.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful hard drive recoveries, we are Scotland’s leading external hard drive data recovery specialists. Our expertise includes:
✔ Cleanroom hard drive repair
✔ Spindle motor and read/write head realignment
✔ Business document, invoice, and customer record retrieval
✔ Secure & confidential data recovery services
If your LaCie Moon external hard drive is beeping, not spinning, or preventing access to critical business data, stop using it immediately and contact us for expert data recovery.