Suggestions on disk utility programs...

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Can anyone recommend a good utility for restoring data from a corrupt hard drive?
One of my PCs will not boot, not even recognised as a drive in the BIOS, won't even boot when connected as a slave drive....help!

 

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I've read a number of articles suggesting that a Knoppix Live CD can help you recover data under all but the most dire of circumstances. Here are some links:

http://www.marcelgagne.com/node/44

http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=04/08/05/1552243

http://www.shockfamily.net/cedric/knoppix/

 

great links Trip- especially the last one

 

Knoppix is good and worth and try but if its not recognising it in the BIOS then chances are your drive is either physically damaged or not getting power.

If possible, open your base unit and see if your hard drive is actually spinning, either by placing your hand on top or putting your ear near it, check to see the power cable is securely pushed in.

If its spinning then you may have a chance, if its not, then there are ways and means if the data is that important.

Neall

 

Great Thanks!

I agree - that last link looks to be a well written guide to using Knoppix...looks like it will come in very handy...

 

Last link was a peach, Trip - will be using this solution at the weekend to retrieve my bro's data from a wrecked HDD, so good to see a good guide through it.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again...Google is your friend.

 

Excellent links Trip, thanks!

 

Your drive is probably faulty as already mentioned, it may not be spinning or no power. There is no software solution to a hardware failure.

If you come to the conclusion it is a hardware failure then there are a couple of things you could try if you are desperate.

1) Remove the drive, put it in a sealed plastic bag and shove it in the freezer for an hour or so. I have read that this trick works sometimes. The cold makes the metal contract and can therefore free up the internal mechanism.

2) Give the drive a mild thump with a rubber hammer or such like. This can also free up the mechanism and get it going again.

Note, these are not long term solutions, if they work, you should copy all of your data off the drive immediately and not use the drive anymore.

 

Yeah, there are ways and means, but be assured that it will cost you more to recover than just about any personal data is worth. Data recovery is a highly specialized, very expensive business.

 

Not necessarily, you could purchase a hard drive exactly the same as yours, then exchange the logic boards.
This is going on the assumption that its just a circuitry/power problem, and the disk surface itself isn't damaged.
Done it once myself but i have heard of plenty other sucessfull attempts.

For example;

http://forums.hardwaresecrets.com/showthread.php?threadid=865
http://www.deadharddrive.com/
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/245/7 - The tutorial.

Doesnt work all the time but if the data is important to you, its worth a shot.

Neall

 

if you hear a tock tock sound you're screwed !!

 

Yes and quickly run for cover

 

Downloading Knoppix now.

 

Knoppix 4.0 downloaded and burned to cd.

I rebooted with cd in drive.

Daddy likes!!!!!!!

 

Thanks Neall, some great links - TA