IBM Deskstar hard drives were widely used for academic research, business storage, and personal computing. However, when a hard drive starts clicking repeatedly, it often indicates read/write head failure, commonly referred to as the “Click of Death.” This mechanical failure prevents the drive from reading stored data, making essential files inaccessible.
This case study details how we successfully recovered degree research work from an IBM Deskstar hard drive, after severe head failure caused continuous clicking and system inaccessibility.
As Oxford Data Recovery, with 25 years of forensic data recovery experience, we used cleanroom head replacement, platter stabilization, and deep sector imaging techniques to restore lost research files.
The Challenge: IBM Deskstar Hard Drive Clicking & Inaccessible Data
A university student contacted us after their IBM Deskstar hard drive started clicking and failing to load files, with the following symptoms:
- Loud clicking noises on power-up, with no access to stored files.
- Windows and BIOS failed to detect the drive.
- Attempts to access the drive externally resulted in freezing and crashing.
- The drive contained critical research papers, study materials, and dissertation work.
Since clicking hard drives can worsen with each power cycle, an immediate professional recovery solution was required to prevent further platter damage.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the IBM Deskstar hard drive arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full hardware and data integrity diagnostic. Our findings:
- Read/write head failure (“Click of Death”) – The drive’s heads were unable to read data, causing repetitive clicking.
- No visible platter damage – Meaning a successful recovery was highly possible.
- Firmware was still intact – Allowing for logical reconstruction after mechanical repair.
Since continued use of a clicking hard drive can cause platter scratches, we immediately proceeded with a cleanroom recovery process.
The Recovery Process
1. Cleanroom Head Replacement & Platter Stabilization
To safely recover data, we:
- Opened the IBM Deskstar drive in our cleanroom.
- Replaced the faulty read/write heads with a donor head assembly from an identical drive.
- Stabilised the platters to ensure no further degradation.
2. Imaging & Cloning the Hard Drive to Prevent Further Data Loss
Once the drive was mechanically repaired, we:
- Created a sector-by-sector clone of the repaired drive.
- Used advanced imaging tools to bypass bad sectors and extract readable data.
3. Extracting & Verifying Research Files
Since some files were affected by head failure-related corruption, we:
- Repaired damaged Word, PDF, and spreadsheet documents.
- Reconstructed missing file indexes to restore lost study materials.
- Transferred the fully recovered research data to a secure external SSD.
The Results: 97% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our cleanroom head replacement and sector-level imaging techniques, we successfully recovered 97% of the student’s lost data, including:
✅ Research papers, thesis documents, and academic reports
✅ Lecture notes, study materials, and coursework files
✅ Reference documents, datasets, and project work
The student was able to submit their research on time, avoiding academic delays.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading clicking hard drive recovery specialists in Oxford and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ Clicking hard drive recovery & head replacement
✔ Cleanroom platter stabilization
✔ University research & academic document retrieval
✔ Secure & confidential data recovery
If your hard drive is clicking, making unusual noises, or is no longer being detected, stop using it immediately and contact us for professional data recovery.