Just for the anecdote, yes, putting a HDD in the freezer (in a plastic ziplock bag) can work in some special cases (when the HDD is overheating too quickly and starts being unresponsive). I had an HDD do that and managed to backup the data.
Now, in case of damaged sectors, not sure it would help!
A great tool to recover files is PhotoRec (and it’s Free Software)
Tap water is actually pretty “clean” once left to air-dry. Ain’t like washing it in seawater or anything…
Even if some got trapped in little nooks’n’crannies, heat from the beastie in operation would help evaporate what’s left.
I never worried about it, not even soaking the yoke (big open coils) from around the CRT’s neck. Washed thoroughly, rinsed thoroughly, then left to air-dry a coupla days before reassembly, there’d be very little water left to cause any mischief.
And even electrolytics were end-sealed with rubber caps, so ain’t like anything would get ruined by water.
I did so many terminals and things, that all worked without any problems after cleaning, so I was confident that it was safe.
Off topic buuuuttttt…… here in NC we had a family owned pizza place that made NY style pizza. Ridiculously good! However ’“ Turk” swore the ones they sold in NYC were better. Said it was the water that made the difference.
Well, do show her howmuch dust has accumulatedinside the case when you open it. But omit the bath with toothbrush. Some people believe what they see on the Internet.
You should know that Aomei is Chinese made, and my antivirus detected it as malware. Switched to Macrium Reflect Free for system backups, and am using ViceVersa for backing up personal files. Macrium Reflect is much more sophisticated than Aoemei.
Take a look at SyncBack from 2BrightSparks.
This is a data backup program, not an image program.
There is a free for home users version.
I have had clients using it for many many years.
I like to do an image, I like Paragon the free version for home users.
Then setup a Syncback schedule to keep the data file backups up to date.
All the Best,
Jeff
I’m also a Macrium Reflect user. I used to use paid Acronis and abandoned it.
FWIW, for ALL of them, whatever you use, it’s a VERY good idea to have a spare drive around and test an image backup once in awhile. You don’t KNOW it works until you do this. I have had failures. That would be adding insult to injury.
I don’t really care who’s advice you take. Not my hard drive, not my problem. Your constant condescending and borderline sarcastic demeanor, heck it’s not even borderline, doesn’t go unnoticed. Not just by me.
I made two comments. One backing up sp5it’s advice and then a reply to you. It would have been only one comment but, well you know, you opened it up for a dialog.
FWIW, your OP entitled, “Computer programs for fixing damaged hard drives- tech support wanted”, should have ended with you calling tech support.
Oh well, the world will still spin, the sun will still come up and a new day will be begin. Good luck to you. Good day.