IanBrace
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| posted on 13/1/10 at 09:08 PM |
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Help.. Hard drive recovery
My hard drive failed suddenly today and as always happens there are some photos I'd like to retrieve if possible. Anyone know of any free or
locost software or companies who could help.
Thanks in hope.....
www.aerialphotography.org.uk
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Breaker
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| posted on 13/1/10 at 09:12 PM |
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Is it internal or external hard drive ?
Perhaps the drive is ok, but the power supply is dead.
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locostbuyer83
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| posted on 13/1/10 at 09:29 PM |
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has it completely given up / making random noises?
sometimes you can stick it in a caddy and retrieve files from it.
otherwise google data recovery but its not cheap
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m8kwr
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| posted on 13/1/10 at 09:30 PM |
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is it ide, sata or ssd.
If its ide, then it may just be the boot sector gone, try using it as a slave drive.
I had a sata drive go on me, the bad news was i sent it away to recovery, it is like writing a blank cheque, and still they could not get anything off
the drive.
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locostbuyer83
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| posted on 13/1/10 at 09:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by m8kwr
is it ide, sata or ssd.
If its ide, then it may just be the boot sector gone, try using it as a slave drive.
I had a sata drive go on me, the bad news was i sent it away to recovery, it is like writing a blank cheque, and still they could not get anything off
the drive.
how does it make any difference which interface, IDE or SATA as they both use magnetic discs to store the data?
but as you mention a hdd caddy would be handy at this point.
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jamiebenger81
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| posted on 13/1/10 at 09:54 PM |
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The best program I have used is called Get Data Back for NTFS - or FAT. Depending on your file system.
If you download a helpfull CD called Hirens. the full version is on there. along with a lot of other very helpfull tools.
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Peteff
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| posted on 13/1/10 at 11:05 PM |
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Does the drive spin up and does the bios still recognise it ? If it doesn't you are pretty much shot for recovering anything off it using
programs available for free.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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locostbuyer83
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| posted on 13/1/10 at 11:25 PM |
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if you need recovery software u2u me but like the others have said if its dead theres little point doing to yourself
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MikeR
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| posted on 14/1/10 at 12:02 AM |
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if you get really desperate (and i mean really). Put the drive in the freezer overnight and have a cool bag + packs handy.
Cooling the drive down can (and i've actually seen it) help recover data. The problem is the drive wont work at -20 ..... so you have to let it
warm up a bit (i don't know to what) then grab your data as quick as possible before it gets too warm and fails.
There is some science behind this - but as i said, when all else has failed try it, not before.
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mad4x4
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| posted on 14/1/10 at 07:39 AM |
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if the drive is going CLunk CLunk CLunk and not spining a good hard tap with the blunt end of a screwdriver or a sharp drop on a desk from about
6" may force it to start spining.....
Then grab all the data before it powers offf.
If it is USB and in a caddy worth checking that the caddy is working and trying it on anthoer machine as well.
Scot's do it better in Kilts.
MK INDY's Don't Self Centre Regardless of MK Setting !
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IanBrace
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| posted on 14/1/10 at 09:12 AM |
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Thanks guys, it's an integral sata drive. Bios can see it's there but not the size etc. It is spinning but no noises, bad or otherwise.
I've tried it as slave drive and again it appears in my computer but cannot access it.. is it all lost????
www.aerialphotography.org.uk
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l0rd
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| posted on 14/1/10 at 09:41 AM |
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With a bit of luck, everything should be there.
I am awaiting for a HD from a friend to try and recover files.
In his case, it might be the board that is shot and i might have to find another hd or a new board for it.
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locostbuyer83
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| posted on 14/1/10 at 09:58 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by IanBrace
Thanks guys, it's an integral sata drive. Bios can see it's there but not the size etc. It is spinning but no noises, bad or otherwise.
I've tried it as slave drive and again it appears in my computer but cannot access it.. is it all lost????
Get hold of a drive caddy and try it in there. It may just be currupt. Recovery software could be the answer.
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 14/1/10 at 12:27 PM |
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If the drive electronics have failed then it's possible to replace the PCB from another, identical (but working!) drive.
I have actually managed to recover data from a laptop drive where this trick didn't work as there appeared to be a problem with the heads, so I
completely dismantled both drives and swapped the platters from the duff one into the good one and managed to recover all the data.
The drive starting getting bad sectors and errors quite quickly though (in under an hour), as expected due to dust etc.
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