This is a story of my efforts to repair the drive myself, my research into the question of whether or not users can repair modern hard drives, and the results of my efforts. If your drive is still detected in BIOS, you may be able to use software tools to retrieve your data. Here, we’re going to focus exclusively on hardware-related failures, and what your options are.

via Raising the dead: Can a regular person repair a damaged hard drive? | ExtremeTech.

Surf the internet for more than two minutes, and you’ll find people who recommend you do one of the following things:

• Stick your hard drive in the freezer
• Pop your hard drive into the oven
• Give it a few taps with a hammer or rubber mallet

LOL. I have been desparate to try the freezer trick a couple of times without luck.