In my experience it all depends on what the problem is caused by. Where files have been accidentally deleted or the file table or MBR have been screwed up then there are tools that might help.

Here is a free one:

http://www.pcinspector.de/Sites/file...htm?language=1

a commercial one would be Active@

Where you have physical damage then it is more problematic. Unstoppable Copier by roadkil is the one I go for................. it takes a long time, but it does the best job, as it attempts to reassemble the original files, damaged or not.

http://www.roadkil.net/downloads.php

Check out the data recovery section.............. there are Linux and Windows versions

The freezer and spinning techniques sometimes work when the disks have become stuck. However this is no help if the motor has burnt out, the heads have crashed, or the drive's controller card has blown.