HELP: Hard disk, data recovery Am i doing it right?

[lapalikao]

Hi I am using a 500gb Seagate hdd from my old laptop as a external hard disk. I have many important data inside. So basically yesterday I tried transferring the files to my new laptop but encounter so problems. First is my laptop took a long time say 5mins or so after I plugged in the USB to detect the external drives. Second problem is that when I am transferring the files(it take super long like 200kb/s) I have like 50gb of important files. Actually I dont mind waiting. However, after transferring say 5min, it will auto disconnect and my transfer will stop. So basically I cant get the copying of files done.

Then in the night I went to sim lim, i was told its bad sector and will cost me a lot to do a data recovery. So I decided to go home to try on my own. However, a new problem occur, this time I can see the drive but not the files when i try to open the drive. It prompt that I have to format the drive. Obviously I hit not. Then followed by a Cyclic Redundancy Check error prompt. So basically I cant access my drive at all this time.

I went to search online and found this power data recovery 6.5. I run a full scan. However Im shocked to see how long it needs to run. Shown below:

Its weird to see after 6hours and no files found. Can someone please advise me, I really need help...
I have memories of my beloved late grandmother. Dont wish to have them be gone

 

[Nirvana]

Yes. Data recovery cost a Bomb.
Slowly search the step the advice given if not your HDD will be severely damaged if you're careless.

 

[xhlee87]

I have to say u have not much choices. professional data recovery service looks like the only solution which going to cost thousand over for 1gb.

If something that's so important, do backup them.

 

[lapalikao]

Is what I am doing currently right?

 

[Sambuca78]

Hi lapalikao,

Try accessing your HDD via Linux.

You may download a Linux Distro, load it into a USB thumbdrive and boot it up.

 

[2fast2drive]

Actually go look for freeware that helps with bad sector, lost of MBR and things like that. Personally I find myself using Diskgen quite often when I encounter problems with HDD. Of course, our problems might be different in nature, but give it a shot and do google more solutions. In my opinion, anything that does not require to open the HDD case can be done by yourself. You just need the right software.

 

[Red_Panda]

Hey Lapa, if it is a bad sectors problem, it can usually be fixed by running Disk Check utility which is a built-in function inside Windows OS itself.

Based on your symptoms given, I would say it could likely be a cause of mechanical failure rather than soft errors (bad sector, corruption, etc...). To ascertain that, you can download a HDD tool called Seagate Tool(for windows) and run the diagnostic tests (SMART, Short Drive, Short/ Long Generic) from it, but skip the Advanced test.

If it is a non-mechanical problem, good for you - try the methods given by previous posters on recovering the hdd. Otherwise, there is a semi-professional shop(with clean room) at SLS basement near the escalator, when i needed to recover my hdd a few years back. It is a small and quite concealed shop run by an old couple, but for just the initial diagnosis it caused me about $250. They will quote you a separate price for the recovery if you decide to proceed. However, i am not sure if it still exists since it was 3-4 years ago for my last visit.

One thing to note is not to install any additional programs into the problematic hdd, which could lower the chances of a recovery. And last, from what i learned after my "backup" disk crashed years ago, always have at least 2 copies of your important data inside 2 different devices at any one time, otherwise it could be a costly lesson to pay for in future.

 

[lapalikao]

Can someone tell me whether running this full scan from power data recovery helps?

 

[Red_Panda]

You can try; nobody can say for sure. Personally, software-based recovery only helps me to recover files from formatted hard disk. If it is a mechanical failure, software will not help.

 

[junialum]

Frankly, very hard to tell what the right steps are to do. Some people use Spinrite (GRC) - old program but works beautiful in some cases. The point here is every mechanical failure of the drive will only respond to certain methods of treatment dependent on how badly damaged the drive is. Because there's no way one can tell how badly the drive is damaged and where the fault lies (unless you open up the drive - which is not recommended) so the methods suggested are hit miss.

As you experiment different methods, there's a big chance your drive gets further damage. I know it sucks and this post doesn't really help you but I'm just saying you won't get a 100% guaranteed success answer here.

Drive recovery folks (usually those that charge high for lab work) will open up your drive and read off each platter with their own tools if all else fails. This has to be done under controlled conditions. Some of them (if there is no mechanical damage to the head and there's no chance that the platter is getting scratched), will run software that will repeatedly read the drive a few thousand times over to recover data. That process can take weeks. (Source: Reddit AMA)

 

[Louisloo]

Is what I am doing currently right?

Your hard disk has encountered bad sectors and you had done a full scan, which had auto reboot due to the serious bad sectors and timeouts by the system

If the heads of the drive are still working and it hangs because of the bad sectors, your data is still recoverable at this stage. To further do scanning relentlessly may result in heads being burnt out due to repeated scanning, scratching your platters and resulting in your data totally unrecoverable.

Data recovery is still possible using specialised data recovery equipment which can scan and recover your data, head by head and exclude the damaged head or bad sectors. You may lose some data, but at least you can recover some.

Contrary to popular belief, it need not cost an arm or leg (thousands per 1GB??) at this stage as there is no need to find donor drive for the head replacement, no need clean room facilities. Some DR companies would lead you to believe it to be so in order that they can charge you exorbitantly high prices.

My favourite is Data Recovery Singapore - Accplus Technologies for its good pricing and fast professional service.

 

[terryhoho]

Try more self-help.

You either get it done for free,fortunately case, or Cost more to do additional mess,unfortunate case. LOL

 

[harky]

if ur hdd is still working.. think u try to transfer one file at a time...