Packard Bell PCs are widely used for personal and business tasks, often storing important documents, photos, and critical work files. However, when a hard drive starts making a grinding or scraping noise, it often indicates serious mechanical failure, such as platter damage or misaligned read/write heads, making stored data inaccessible.
This case study details how we successfully recovered irreplaceable files from a Packard Bell PC hard drive, after mechanical damage rendered the drive unreadable.
As Glasgow Data Recovery, Scotland’s oldest and best data recovery company, we have 25 years of experience using cleanroom head replacement, platter realignment, and forensic data extraction techniques to restore lost data.
The Challenge: Packard Bell Hard Drive Making Grinding Noises & Not Recognized
A client contacted us after their Packard Bell PC stopped working, with the following issues:
- The hard drive was making a grinding or scraping noise.
- The computer failed to recognise the drive in BIOS.
- Attempts to connect the drive externally resulted in freezing or no response.
- The drive contained critical personal files, work documents, and family photos.
Since forcing a grinding hard drive to work can worsen mechanical damage, an immediate cleanroom recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the Packard Bell PC hard drive arrived at our ISO 5 Class 100 cleanroom facility, we conducted a full mechanical and electrical diagnostic. Our findings:
- Misaligned read/write heads – The heads were scraping the platter surface.
- Minor platter damage detected – Increasing the risk of data corruption.
- No PCB (Printed Circuit Board) failure detected – Indicating a mechanical issue rather than an electrical one.
Since platter damage can permanently destroy data, we prioritized head replacement and platter stabilization.
The Recovery Process
1. Cleanroom Drive Disassembly & Read/Write Head Replacement
To repair the drive and allow data extraction, we:
- Opened the hard drive in a dust-free ISO 5 Class 100 cleanroom environment.
- Carefully removed the misaligned read/write heads.
- Replaced them with donor heads from a compatible hard drive.
- Recalibrated the heads to ensure smooth data reading.
2. Imaging & Cloning the Repaired Hard Drive
Once the damaged heads were replaced, we:
- Created a sector-by-sector forensic clone of the recovered drive.
- Used advanced imaging tools to extract as much readable data as possible.
3. Extracting & Verifying Recovered Data
Once data extraction was complete, we:
- Recovered all personal documents, work files, and digital archives.
- Restored family photos, videos, and scanned documents.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external backup device.
The Results: 92% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our cleanroom head replacement and forensic imaging techniques, we successfully recovered 92% of the client’s lost files, including:
✅ Personal work documents and critical business files
✅ Family photos, videos, and personal archives
✅ Organized file structures restored for easy access
The client was able to retrieve all essential files, preventing personal and professional loss.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful hard drive recoveries, we are Scotland’s leading data recovery specialists. Our expertise includes:
✔ Cleanroom hard drive repair
✔ Read/write head replacement & mechanical HDD recovery
✔ Family photos, personal documents, and work file retrieval
✔ Secure & confidential data recovery services
If your hard drive is making grinding or scraping noises, not spinning, or preventing access to important files, stop using it immediately and contact us for expert HDD data recovery.