[Leica] Computer problems

[Aram Langhans]

If it is the hard drive, and you hear a clicking from the drive itself, the most likely cause is the hard drive head is fused to a platter in the drive.  There is something you can try.  You remove the drive, then open it up is a dust free a place as you can find.  Yes, this definitely will void the warranty.  Ha.  You will need a very small Torx driver.  I found a nice set at Sears.  When you remove the cover you will see the platters and the head mechanism.  If the head mechanism is NOT parked along one side of the platter, most likely it is fused to the platter.  That actually is good news at this point.  You will need to use a small hooked device, like a very small crochet hook.  I made one out of a dissecting needle I had since my wife I very possessive about her stuff.  Now carefully try to move the head across the platter just a little bit.  If it is fused, it will take a fair amount of force to break it free.  It if moves very freely, then that is not good news since the problem now is most likely electronic.  Let's assume it moves.  Carefully reassemble the drive an hook it back up.  Be sure to have another drive, either external or internal, so you can back up your data.  Turn the computer back on and keep your fingers crossed as you press the "ON" button.  If all goes according to plan, you will have a functioning drive again.  Hopefully long enough to clone it or back up your data.  

I have done this three times for clicking hard drives.  Worked every time.  Only lost one file on one of them.  One drive I am still using.  It is a portable drive.  I don't use it for anything critical, just for transferring stuff.  Drives are pretty well filtered so if you did not get any gritty dust stuck under the head while it was open, the filter will probably clean the air enough to have it work for as long as you might need it.  

Hope this helps.

Aram

Aram Langhans
(Semi) Retired  Science Teacher
& Unemployed photographer
 
“The Human Genome Project has proved Darwin more right than Darwin himself would ever have dared dream.”   James D. Watson

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Man [mailto:richard at richardmanphoto.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2015 2:49 AM
To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
Subject: Re: [Leica] Computer problems

If coming from the hard drive, and most likely it is, a clicking sound means the drive is dying and probably unsalvageable. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

On Tue, Dec 22, 2015 at 12:56 AM, Gerry Walden <gerry.walden at icloud.com>
wrote:

> My main computer appears not to like me any more. It is a Mac Mini and 
> will not start. I just get a white(wish) screen full of coloured 
> pixels and a clicking sound. I have to now use my ancient 2009 Macbook 
> which is still going strong but is restricting my photographic output.
>
> Gerry
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>



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