Dead hdd

I am assuming that you have a Windows platform. Take the hard drive out out and try it on a Mac. Sometimes a Mac will pick up faster than Windows. I would try that first for sure. Finding a Mac computer is not hard if you have a computer retail store near bye. Some smaller outfits may test it for you for free and hook it up to a Mac. If my solution sounds off the wall: consider opening your hard drive knowing that any wrong tinkering can easily result in a totally useless drive. If you are ready to open it if a Mac doesn't work, go slow and don't bang it around. You can't get very far, but you could check for any loose wires and check the board with a tester when no power is attached. You should not try to open the area with the physical drives, any wrong move there will destroy any chance of recovery. If all seems to fail, then yes, give it a tap or so. The FBI will do it for a crazy cost that would make buying a car easy.Good luck