Help getting files of a dead Hard Drive.

GUTLES · 31-01-2007, 11:29 PM

Hi Guys,

I've been given a computer from a work mate to fix.

It needed a new powersupply & it looks like the Hard Drives dead.

The bios picks it up but it says 'Insert System Disk' when booting up.

I thought I'd put it in another PC as a Slave Drive, copy his files off it, format it & reinstall Windows, the other PC picks the Hard Drive up when booting but won't let me access it either.

The hard drives an Western Digital 80GB & I've tried downloading the Windows Drivers but still cannot access it.

Next I thought I'd boot off the XP CD & go into Recovery Mode, it shows the Hard Drive but says it cannot access it either.

Any idea's of what could be wrong with it? Or does anyone know an expert who could repair the Hard Drive to get the Info off it? It has my mates Wife's school work on it & says its very important to get it off it & would pay a few hundered dollars to get it!

pertuan · 31-01-2007, 11:55 PM

If there is data on it, recovery centers will charge about 600 bucks to look at it. Actual data recovery is an extra on top of that.

We had a drive fail at work and we had to use a data recovery place.

EvilChief · 01-02-2007, 12:27 AM

check jumpers

but yer WD tend to crash and burn

GUTLES · 01-02-2007, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pertuan

If there is data on it, recovery centers will charge about 600 bucks to look at it. Actual data recovery is an extra on top of that.

We had a drive fail at work and we had to use a data recovery place.

I knew it would be expensive, but geez! I don't think it will be worth that much to her

GUTLES · 01-02-2007, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilChief

check jumpers

but yer WD tend to crash and burn

Checked them, even changed from Cable Select to Master & tried running it as a slave, no luck :(

FPV329 · 01-02-2007, 08:00 AM

Remove the HD and install to another PC, if the error is Windows based on the old machine this might clear that hurdle.

zhodak · 01-02-2007, 08:05 AM

Had exactly the same thing happen to me on Sunday. Download a programme called "Recover My Files". It works a treat got all my data off the drive.

elgt146 · 01-02-2007, 08:10 AM

The drive is stuffed. Don't waste any more time.
If there is important information on the drive yes it will cost you anywhere from $600-$1000 to recover.
Buy a new drive, reload OS and start again.
It is their responsibility to ensure they have a full restorable backup.

I had a cllient once who asked for their system to be reloaded. Ia sked if they had backup and they said yes. As a precaution I backed up common areas and formatted.

2 weeks later they asked wher all their photos were. They were an insurance assessor and had photos inside wheat silos etc before they were filled for insurance assessment. No chance of getting new photos.

Anyway we sent drive off and were able to restore photos even after formatting drive, and reloading newer version of windows.

Cost him a bit but he got them back. And I lost a cllient because apparently it was my fault for not knowing the spot where he saved his files.

Hmmm

jonk · 01-02-2007, 08:21 AM

I use getdataback. I charge a minimum of $400. However, I have been known to do freebies. It can sometime take's days, depending on the size of the drive. Have always be able to recover data.

Still surprises how many bods don't back up data, I mean businesses who should know better etc.

Lukeyson · 01-02-2007, 10:02 AM

goto your fave torrent site and download a program called "EasyRecovery Professional", about 50mb, it can do so much, i recovered a drive of my own which was corrupted and if i tried to read it, it would say 'need to be formatted'. that program made a start up disc that was dos based and recovered all files on the drive, i was amazed. Took well over 18 hours all up though.

if you want to try it, and have problems getting it, let me know and i can email it to you with one of those large file sites

GUTLES · 01-02-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPV329

Remove the HD and install to another PC, if the error is Windows based on the old machine this might clear that hurdle.

Tried that, still doesn't work!

GUTLES · 01-02-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgt146

The drive is stuffed. Don't waste any more time.
If there is important information on the drive yes it will cost you anywhere from $600-$1000 to recover.
Buy a new drive, reload OS and start again.
It is their responsibility to ensure they have a full restorable backup.

I had a cllient once who asked for their system to be reloaded. Ia sked if they had backup and they said yes. As a precaution I backed up common areas and formatted.

2 weeks later they asked wher all their photos were. They were an insurance assessor and had photos inside wheat silos etc before they were filled for insurance assessment. No chance of getting new photos.

Anyway we sent drive off and were able to restore photos even after formatting drive, and reloading newer version of windows.

Cost him a bit but he got them back. And I lost a cllient because apparently it was my fault for not knowing the spot where he saved his files.

Hmmm

He brought a new Hard Drive for it & I set it all up for him, so its all up & running.

This PC wasn't running any Anti Virus/Spyware software!

& no he didn't do any backups, hopefully he will learn.

You nearly have to get it in writing when formatting a Hard Drive for a client hey?

GUTLES · 01-02-2007, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonk

I use getdataback. I charge a minimum of $400. However, I have been known to do freebies. It can sometime take's days, depending on the size of the drive. Have always be able to recover data.

Still surprises how many bods don't back up data, I mean businesses who should know better etc.

I'll let him know, you sound like one of the cheapest people doing this, I can understand that it would be very time consuming.