string s = double.MaxValue.ToString("r");
double d = double.Parse(s); // No exception

private double convertToDouble(string str)
{
    double dbl;

    if (double.TryParse(str, out dbl))
        return dbl;

    if (str == "1.79769313486232E+308")
        return double.MaxValue;

    return double.MinValue;
}