Hard drive recovery 101

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QWEREWQ

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hi
My drive stopped without any shock and isn't readable in bios and/or windows.
its WD 2TB full of data !
i did every thing that is with dis/connecting with diff. sata/power connectors.
what should i do before disk recovery labs or replacement ?!

Thanks
 
a)
does the drive spin up ?
b)
Is its presence listed in the bios ..even though it doesn't boot ?

If the answer to the first questions is no ..
Then the next question is can you try it just to see if it spins in another pc ..
and lastly to prove conclusively ...is there a second drive in the pc ...?if so ..does that one spin ..and is it recognised in bios?
If the answer to a and b is no ..after trying the other options I've listed ...then sadly its dead ..and the only possible ways to recover data ..is first to try replacing the drive pcb ..with one from another drive ...same type ..same size ..same batch if possible ..
If its still no go ..then only professional data recovery in a clean environment ...under lab conditions will give a slight chance of recovery ..
Expensive ..and _not_ guaranteed to work ..
Always back up you important data ..
ie ..clone to second drive of equal size ..and put it away safe ...
I do just that ..and I have over 10 terrabytes of data ..so double the cost ..
but less expensive that heartache..

rgds
VS
 
it spins with something like smooth friction sound.other drives work normal.the drive doesnt read up at all ! (no listed in bios)
also there is strange magnetic field around the disk ,when i move the disk while running it has a repulsive force opposite in direction of my force.
if i plugged the disk while the pc is running all disks stop working!...
 
The force is the gyroscope action of the spinning disk, and as it seems to be spinning, replacing the PCB with an identical one is worth a try.
 
The force you are experiencing is normal ..
Its called inertia ...and is caused by the action of the drive cylinder spinning at high speed ...much like a gyroscope ...
But is a good sign ..that at least the cylinder is spinning internally ..
Now begins you search for a replacement drive board ...but keep in mind that defective heads could still be an issue ..
However the fact that the drive is loading the psu ..and that its not recognised points more toward electrical damage to the drive pcb ..rather than cylinder motor ...platter surface ..or heads ..though nothing can be discounted ..
Try the drive in another pc ..to make sure its completely dead and isn't recognised ..rather than too heavy a load for the psu ..
Once the drive is established 100% that it is faulty ..try buying an identical drive ..swap out the pcb ..obey all rules regarding static ...ie ground yourself ...
If you do succeed in rescuing data ..
Copy it imediately to available storage space ..
Do not make the mistake of thinking you've fixed up the old one ...
Get the data and run ...then return the drive pcb to the donar drive ..

I stress there are NO guarantees this will work ..you try it at your own risk ..
Thats as much as anyone on here as amateurs can do ..
After that ..its the data rescue labs ..and the big bucks ..
Good luck
VS
 
Beat me to it PGH ..
;)
Serves me right for such long winded answers ..
lol
 
There are various disk tools available for download, but you need to know what you are doing with them.

Linux utilities can occasionally read discs that windows fails to initialise, but to be honest the disc is probably only fit for the scrap bin. If you can afford a professional recovery lab then DONT try your own recovery - you may well make things worse!
 
Analoguesat said:
There are various disk tools available for download, but you need to know what you are doing with them.

Linux utilities can occasionally read discs that windows fails to initialise, but to be honest the disc is probably only fit for the scrap bin. If you can afford a professional recovery lab then DONT try your own recovery - you may well make things worse!
Click to expand...
Agreed AS ..disc recovery tools are very useful ..but only work IF the drive is spinning ..(which it is ) ..the heads are moving and are not damage (unconfirmed) ..and the bios recognises the hardware ..ie mounts the drive ..(which it isn't)..
and in this case suspected of loading the psu ..which points to a fault on the drive pcb ...or internally ..the chip mounted on the heads themselves ...internally ..(head drive chip) ..
..known to be a point of failure ..
But ..as you say ..the drive should Never be opened by anything other than a dedicated lab ..
..certainly not large multiplatter drives anyway..
rgds
VS
 
...Noticed you're reading this Nelson ..
;)
Sound familiar buddy ..
lol
 
Vipersan said:
...Noticed you're reading this Nelson ..
;)
Sound familiar buddy ..
lol
Click to expand...

yes -- been there --
and i know you tried your best for me too --- :)

cheers -- :cool:
 
Thanks for help.

question about the soft friction sound...
will the PCB failure and/or Head Mechanical fail cause the disk surface to be scratched?(also + data corruption)

I contacted disk labs uk by free phone # and the guy on the phone told me that would cost 395 GBP.
is it a good price!
which is the best Data recovery lab in EU,ME,A area.
If i send them the disk world they see whats inside or not(hackintosh ! +win7)

Thanks
 
QWEREWQ said:
Thanks for help.

question about the soft friction sound...
will the PCB failure and/or Head Mechanical fail cause the disk surface to be scratched?(also + data corruption)

I contacted disk labs uk by free phone # and the guy on the phone told me that would cost 395 GBP.
is it a good price!
which is the best Data recovery lab in EU,ME,A area.
If i send them the disk world they see whats inside or not(hackintosh ! +win7)

Thanks
Click to expand...

Only you can decide if its a good price.

Its impossible to say what internal damage might have been done without taking the drive apart and doing microscope analysis of the platters.

No point askng which is the best recovery lab - we are a satellite forum not a computer drive recovery outfit.

No idea.
 
will there be legal issues with the data?(mac osx on pc and etc...)
 
There might be if you have illegal pictures and/or videos stored there.
 
what kind of pictures/videos?movies?
 
Yes, I agree: Your O/S and Licensing is probably not of concern, but your personal data might be.



And we do not know what you've got stored on there - only you do!
 
be direct...
is it to do with fakenamegenerator or hacking tools?
all my tools are legal opensource
 
No point asking us bud - only you know whats on that drive.

If theres just 10 years of digital holiday snaps and a few dozen mp3 albums on it then you are ok.

If theres stuff on there thats very illegal in your country OR in the country you might be thinking of sending that busted hd to then think very very carefully before taking that step..

If you want specific detailed help I suggest you find a computer technical forum. We are just you hobbyist level computer users. Some of us work with them as well - I can take a computer apart and put it back together again in half an hour, but busted hard drives get hit with a big hammer and slung in the scrap bin in the corner of the office!
 
We're always direct when we have something direct to respond to.

But is what to do with with fakenamegenerator or hacking tools?
 
Tivù said:
We're always direct when we have something direct to respond to.

But is what to do with with fakenamegenerator or hacking tools?
Click to expand...

they are some content
else i have movies games and software arent those illegal?
 
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