Is my desktop ready for the scrap heap?

[#1]

In danger of being bashed (or claiming I am hijacking this thread) use you Linux disk. It will (usually) boot to a desktop that will let you access the HDD and save the file to somewhere else (ftp site, pen drive, WHY)

[#2]

Comment withdrawn,  Hairy Biker (who posted just before me) is correct.
If that does not work, try putting the hard drive in the freezer for a while then read from it whilst it is warming up.

[#3]

Put the disc in a bag in the freezer for a while and connect it to another running system - you may have a couple of minutes to transfer some data...
Alternatively, it is possible to run Linux from a CD only (no disc), put the frozen disk in and copy the file to a USB key etc on your "broken" PC.
Requires a little Linux knowledge though.

[#4]

I've tried the frozen linux disc technique, and I've partly removed the hard drive, put it in a bag and surrounded it with ice packs but still the clicking starts when Windows tries to start up. I used an Ubunntu disc which sort of starts up OK but whenever I try to access TGF02T-4 the clicking starts up and I get the message 'unable to unmount because file system on device is busy'.

[#5]

If it is clicking even when trying to read from your Linux disk then your only real options are :-
1. put it in a sealed bag and leave it in the freezer for 24 hours then try again
2. send to a recovery firm for ££££££££££££'s
Looks like disk is FUBARED.

[#6]

I think it is the temperature cycling that sometimes frees-up stuck discs so you probably need to allow it to warm up whilst trying to read from it.  When I have got this technique to work it has often taken multiple attempts (as the drive warms up) before the disc will start spinning.

[#7]

Despite repeated attempts, this method did not work. Once the hard drive starts to click, the sands of time are quickly ebbing away.
Time/Tiny XP PC b.4Feb03 d. 26Jul11 RIP  

[#8]

RIP? Just put another drive in there the rest of the machine will be ok!