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Data Recovery?
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Data Recovery? // Archive: Tech Forum
Post by 2much4U // Jan 5, 2007, 5:49pm
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2much4U
Total Posts: 430
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As many of you may know from another thread, my hard drive stopped working and I lost most of my files. That was about three weeks ago, and since then, I've bought a new drive, installed WinXP onto it, and now have a working station.
That's great news, but I still have some things to iron out, and what's worse, all of my data is gone, which I am in no mood to try to recreate. Honestly, my hope is that someone here is just as good with PC technicalities as they are with 3D art, and could help me out somewhat. It might be best if I explain the situation in full.
Here goes: I have a Dell Dimension 4700, with an HT Pentium 4 Processor. I got it in 2004, and ever since then, it has been turned on almost every single day.
When the hard drive started failing, it was making a whole load of clicking noises, as well as a scratching, high pitched sound that was almost like an exaggeration of the "usual" things you might hear. The computer crashed 3 times in total: The first while I was somewhere else, the second when I booted it back up, unaware of it's bad condition, and the third during my stupidly planned attempt to get my data off it (This happened in the middle of a drag-and-drop).
After that, the PC was what I might call "dead." No OS. No BIOS. No Boot Menue. Then, about two weeks later, I went to Best Buy and got a new WD SATA hard drive off the shelf. I reinstalled WinXP, and since then, everythings been great. The only problem is that I don't have any data.
Now, I'll make this clear: if I do anything to fix this, it will be something that I can accomplish myself; I don't intend to pay for a data recovery service, their too expensive. I also won't do anything that's possibly a stupid idea, like putting the hard disc into my freezer. If there is a solution to this, please say it. The data I am trying to recover is quite valuable to me.
That's it for now, I'll be checking back on this thread to see if anyone has, is, or will help.
ThanX.
P.S. I read up somewhere that it is possible to access data on a failed hard drive if you hook it up as a slave. Is this true? |
Post by rj0 // Jan 5, 2007, 7:28pm
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rj0
Total Posts: 167
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P.S. I read up somewhere that it is possible to access data on a failed hard drive if you hook it up as a slave. Is this true?
If you stopped using your damaged hard drive before Windows no longer recognized it (and its directories/files), you stand a good chance of being able to perform some some recovery this way. If Windows no longer recognized it, then your chances are slim at best.
When a hard drive starts making odd noises, it is likely on its last legs (and about ready to crash). If you're not certain it's going bad, quickly run a SMART disk utility (if you don't already have one, get one, most are free), then shut down the system as fast as possible to minimize further damage. At that point, transfer the disk to either another system (as a non-boot disk) or put it into an external USB case (some are available at places like Tiger Direct for as little as $15), and don't start up that system (or plug in that external USB case) until you are ready to start pulling files from the bad drive (have a strategy in place for what's most important, grab that first).
I went through this scenario with a bad disk that started making noises and was rapidly eating up the last of its spare sectors (yes hard drives have extra replacement sectors for when in-use sectors go bad) as identified by the SMART utility. I rebooted just 'once' from the bad hard drive, and watched almost all the remaining spare sectors get eaten up (It actually dropped to '1'). As a non-boot drive, I was able to access that bad disk for the better part of an hour without losing that last spare sector (while recovering everything that I really needed). If I had tried to boot again from it, it likely would have failed completely.
rj |
Post by Asem // Jan 5, 2007, 8:10pm
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Asem
Total Posts: 255
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There is a slight chance to get some of that data back. One of the ways and imo the best is to set the damaged hard as secondary. Windows will boot regularly and possibly see the second drive. Then you'll be able to access the drive. now only some things will transfer over since most everything will be corrupt or not seen. I've done a few times even with drives that make sounds and it works okay sometimes. Give it a try if not and it's really important than you'll have to take it to some recovery place (doesn't pc club do this?).
good luck |
Post by hemulin // Jan 6, 2007, 1:23am
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hemulin
Total Posts: 1058
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Stick your IDE hdd in on you first IDE channel, on master.
Make sure your bios is set to boot to your SATA hdd first.
Boot windows.
Download GetDataBack for NTFS V3.03 (http://www.runtime.org/downloads.htm)
If getdataback can't read it. Nothing else can.
However if it can read it then either buy the software - which is quite expensive.
Or try and find some free software.
At least if you install the demo you will know whether your data is recoverable or not. |
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