Two things
Three things I didn't see mentioned: When you are checking to make sure the IDE cable is plugged in, try checking the IDE cable itself--I've only known it to happen a time or two, but sure was frustrating when drive would boot in a different machine & not "its" machine. Also, when talking to client about software used to self-diagnosis and repair..ask them if there has been any static shock; or if box lives on the floor, has it been accidently hit with a foot. Both have happened to me: client installed his own modem but gave the board a shock when he did it, and the one on the floor just got tripped over, it didn't fall over, but took a jump & a slam a/g a chair. The freezer trick works good, but depending on why it went out, you can sometimes hold the drive up to a light bulb and get it real hot..this can loosen things up inside and give you one last shot at recovery--just reboot sparingly, it might not want to spin-up again.
