Recovering Data From A Bad Drive

#1 Adamsappleone

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Posted 29 May 2008 - 06:23 AM

This would be a recovery process from a mechanical failure of your hard drive, not bad/damaged sectors or corrupted/damaged files;

http://www.datarecoverypros.com/hard-drive...ery-freeze.html

http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/2006/01/f...cover-data.html

Seems to work long enough to recover your files

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#2 Martel

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Posted 28 June 2008 - 12:05 PM

I have a Hitachi 2.5" laptop drive and cannot get any data of of it.

Are you saying this can recover it

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#3 Adamsappleone

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Posted 29 June 2008 - 05:23 AM

Martel, on Jun 28 2008, 10:05 AM, said:

I have a Hitachi 2.5" laptop drive and cannot get any data of of it.

Are you saying this can recover it

Yes, if it's a mechanical failure, ie; drive stops spinning or doesn't spin up.

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#4 Martel

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Posted 29 June 2008 - 01:42 PM

Actually it spins but I am not sure how well.

I have been trying to read it with no luck.

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This post has been edited by Martel: 29 June 2008 - 01:43 PM

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#5 nigglesnush85

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Posted 29 June 2008 - 06:27 PM

There is a recovery guide called 200 ways to revive a dead hard drive http://www.scribd.com/doc/2199096/200-Ways...ve-A-Hard-Drive its a good read and has had some good results.

Also http://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm never used it myself, but has had some good reviews.

Regards,

Alan.

#6 Martel

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Posted 29 June 2008 - 06:56 PM

nigglesnush85,

Thanks, I will dig into that and see what I can glean.

I'll be back

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#7 deuce23

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Posted 26 July 2008 - 07:05 PM

Aww man...I already reformatted my hard drive. :thumbsup:

This post has been edited by deuce23: 26 July 2008 - 07:05 PM

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#8 Martel

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Posted 26 July 2008 - 08:09 PM

deuce23, on Jul 27 2008, 09:05 AM, said:

Aww man...I already reformatted my hard drive. :thumbsup:

That may not be an issue, some of the reading I have found says even a formatted drive can be recovered.
I have not tried that ..

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#9 deuce23

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Posted 27 July 2008 - 12:28 AM

Martel, on Jul 26 2008, 06:09 PM, said:

deuce23, on Jul 27 2008, 09:05 AM, said:

Aww man...I already reformatted my hard drive. :thumbsup:

That may not be an issue, some of the reading I have found says even a formatted drive can be recovered.
I have not tried that ..

Maybe this will work. I hope so!

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#10 zarraza

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Posted 22 June 2009 - 12:24 PM

Adamsappleone, on May 29 2008, 04:23 AM, said:

have you actually tried it?

I have - and not once have I ever had the drive spin up or be able to recover anything - even when placing it in a plastic bag, I still would up with frost INSIDE the bag - and we all know what frost can to do electronic devices when it melts!

If you aren't backing up your data - SHAME ON YOU - if your data is that important, you can call someone like data doctors to disassemble the drive in their clean room and remove the platters and recover SOME of your data - they do not guarantee they can recover anything - it's over $300 JUST TO LOOK AT THE DRIVE - and close to $1800 for recovery!

#11 Adamsappleone

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Posted 23 June 2009 - 10:37 AM

Quote

have you actually tried it?

Yes, as a matter of fact I have, with success and I have read quite a few other people that have tried it with success as well.

The ideal method is to use a freezer zip lock with the air compressed out. You must have everything ready, so when you take the drive out of the freezer you can immediately hook it up and turn on the PC, no hesitations, no delays.

As stated in the original post, it has to be a mechanical failure, if it's a fried logic board, then that's electrical and would have to be replaced by same make/model/matching part number and swap the boards to recover your data.

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#12 Mr LunchBox

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Posted 27 June 2009 - 03:03 AM

If data recovery is from an HD that has only windows issues then data recovery is simple.

If a drive is formated data recovery can be performed. However, if the formated drive is used then you reduce the chances of recovering data since the data will start to be written over sectors that contain erased data.

If a drive spins you only have 50% chance of recovery. Why you ask? Well, if the read/write arm is broken and it doesn't move that you can't recovery anything.

Spinrite is great, but 99% of the software out there for data recovery either will not let you, or will give you many warning about recovering data and saving it in the same disk you recover from.

I'll have to check out that guide, I am always looking to learn more about recovery procedures

#13 techextreme

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Posted 29 June 2009 - 12:11 AM

If you can find an identical model drive with the same specs ( GB size, model number ) you can try swapping the logic boards and try again.

It may fire up and allow you to get your data.

Worth a shot,

Techextreme

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#14 Mr LunchBox

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Posted 29 June 2009 - 01:49 AM

Specifically you need an identical dirve. Not just the same size or model number it must have the same firmware date. I have never replaced one but my buddy has a few times if you find one you should be able to recover your data.