HDD Dead, Backup failed, Data Recovery Looming

[Jeeepcat]

HDD spins at startup but will no longer boot. Most certainly a mechanical failure

In the freezer now....

Backup apparently wasn't running as schedule for a loooooooooooooong time. I am an idiot.

Data recovery $500 to $1700 so far

Any insight?

[PedroDaGr8]

have you tried urnning it in another PC in a USB enclosure. That is the first thign I would do. Unless it is making weird noises, then don't run it at all. Costs sound about right.

[Jeeepcat]

I had it hooked to my laptop (loose) with a USB to SATA adapter.

When warm, spins up then nothing.
When cold (frozen), spins, clicks - but no click of death.

This was as far as I got (next post). Couldn't get it to mount.

[Jeeepcat]

1647

[BigBlueBrock]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Lyt9wWIqTmE/THXizX0XBzI/AAAAAAAADLE/4T3jzlA5Z3M/s400/Equals5.jpg

[dethbylt]

1647

I don't know how much you trust doing so yourself, but I have used Spinrite to recover data from drives that were otherwise unreadable.

http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm It shouldn't mess anything up that is on the drive but read through the detailed instructions just in case.

[dethbylt]

your boot record may be corrupted or have physical disk errors in the sector that hold the boot record. Spinrite does a good job of ignoring NTFS or FAT boot tables and pulls the data directly off the drive. Doesn't always work but has over 50% of the time for me. Still, any recovery should be carefully researched.

[dethbylt]

If there is no physical error with the drive hardware, i.e. bad circuit board or broken read/write head, spinrite can rebuild the drive or backup all of your data. more: http://www.grc.com/sr/faq.htm

[Jeeepcat]

well, here's the pic I tried to post.


1648

[Jeeepcat]

Spinrite has come up multiple times in my quest. It's worth a shot I just don't wanna hose myself further if possible (as I am capable :) )

In the end I will pay to restore if needed but would like to exhaust options first.

[dethbylt]

well, here's the pic I tried to post.


1648

That is a good sign that the USB controller recognizes the drive. Looks better for your chances of the hardware being operational. This was an internal drive, right? It wasnt a USB external was it?

[dethbylt]

I ask because if it was a USB connected drive, the chances of the USB enclosure being bad are far greater than the drive itself. It could be as simple as removing it from the enclosure and putting it in a known good one.

[Jeeepcat]

No it's an internal drive that I removed and connected to laptop with USB to SATA adapter

[Jeeepcat]

Just couldn't get beyond the step above LOL
Tried disk management, etc

[Darrell KSR]

Have you tried Windex?

Torx screw extraction kits?

I got nothing else.

[ukcatlvr]

No it's an internal drive that I removed and connected to laptop with USB to SATA adapter

This has worked for me twice. Once on an internal and an external backup.

This is the one I have:
http://www.neIegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=12-156-017&Tpk=N82E16812156017

[PedroDaGr8]

I can't see the images but that being said, the fact the controller can see the drive implies that it might be a file system issue more than a physical harddrive issue. Most drives will not even report if the drive is physically inoperable. So its a ray of hope if you will. also, something I forgot to mention before. The drive may show up as visible and readable in Linux but not in Windows. Windows is very picky with corrupted drives. You can boot a Linux livecd (the OS loads from a disk and doesn't touch your computer) and see if you can read the drive from there.

[Jeeepcat]

I can't see the images but that being said, the fact the controller can see the drive implies that it might be a file system issue more than a physical harddrive issue. Most drives will not even report if the drive is physically inoperable. So its a ray of hope if you will. also, something I forgot to mention before. The drive may show up as visible and readable in Linux but not in Windows. Windows is very picky with corrupted drives. You can boot a Linux livecd (the OS loads from a disk and doesn't touch your computer) and see if you can read the drive from there.



It says:
USB Mass storage device - ready to use
WDC WD25 00AKS ... USB Device - ready to use

I'll try linux

Thanks!

[Jeeepcat]

Should I use one of these:

http://www.linux.com/directory/Distributions/livecd

[PedroDaGr8]

I usually use Ubuntu LiveCD (which can be run from a thumbdrive :D).
Link on how to run Ubuntu from a DVD/thumb-drive (http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/try-ubuntu-before-you-install)

It's the most user friendly distro.

[Jeeepcat]

LMAO, I have Ubuntu on this laptop. Why don't I just boot into that environment and try it there LMAO

What is wrong with me :4chsmu1:

[PedroDaGr8]

HAHAHA! Good luck mate!