Hard disk failure- Data Recovery

bokka1

bokka1

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I have a Western Digital External USB 3.0 Hard Drive that have failed. It is still under warranty but at this stage I need the data on it.

Windows sees the disk but wants to initialise it which means that the data will be wiped. I have used some recovery software but most don't see the disk and the ones that does states that it is a bad disk.

I think I will have to go to the professional route for my problem.

Do you guys know of any people thats not going to cost me a fortune to get my data back? I am in the Cape Town area.
 
Begore spending your hard earned dosh, please download easus data recovery wizard and try it. It works with usb drives and until now, it has worked everytime. Unless the hard drive controller board is shot, or you are getting the click of death, it should work. If you need help, PM me.
 
The best thing I have used is a Live Linux Distro with TestDisk - whole boot sector was completely borked on the disk, but I managed to recover the data on the disk using TestDisk - Windows would let me do nothing with the disk. You need to run TestDisk as administrator from the Live CD, otherwise you'll run the whole process and retrieve no data.

It takes a long time but it is worth it: http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk
 
It could also be insufficient power via the USB port.

Does the drive have it's own power supply ?

If not, try switching USB ports / removing it from a USB hub (if you are using one) / etc.
 
ddrescue that comes with the Ubuntu Rescue Remix live CD

Not very user-friendly but if you do your homework and use with caution you can clone or create an image of your disk that is only missing the unreadable blocks. Hopefully they aren't the important ones.

ddrescue can retry unreadable blocks and do reverse reads.
 
Thanks guys, I will try all of the above.

@P00HB33R: Easus Data recovery wizard does not work.
 
No no no, do NOT use spinrite unless you want to lose your data for good. Do not use any other 'data recovery software' as the issue with your drive is a physical issue. It's most likely degraded, can't read parts of the disk and so is wanting to initialise.

The only option is ddrescue if you want to go the risky DIY route, otherwise book the drive in with us if the data is important to you.

Running any other tools on the drive will only make the matter worse.
 
SouthBit said:
No no no, do NOT use spinrite unless you want to lose your data for good. Do not use any other 'data recovery software' as the issue with your drive is a physical issue. It's most likely degraded, can't read parts of the disk and so is wanting to initialise.

The only option is ddrescue if you want to go the risky DIY route, otherwise book the drive in with us if the data is important to you.

Running any other tools on the drive will only make the matter worse.
Click to expand...

I will do that, I must just get some money first.

Thanks.
 
Any reason why you did not make backups of your important data bokka1? HDD's have always/will always fail.
 
MickZA said:
I think the last time I achieved anything with spinrite was back in the nineties on 5.25 MFM HDDs (10/20Mb).
Click to expand...

If you email Greg McIntyre (aka Mr Spinrite) he will tell you with absolute honesty that spinrite will not fix things like bad sectors or any other physical failures, that you will actually do more harm than good and tell you to contact a data recovery company.

Why people keep on punting spinrite I honestly have no idea.
 
ponder said:
If you email Greg McIntyre (aka Mr Spinrite) he will tell you with absolute honesty that spinrite will not fix things like bad sectors or any other physical failures, that you will actually do more harm than good and tell you to contact a data recovery company.

Why people keep on punting spinrite I honestly have no idea.
Click to expand...

Please repeat that every time someone mentions Spinrite on this forum.
 
I disagree, it is sold as a product that will fix bad sectors by recovery, and has done on drives I've used it on.
 
SouthBit said:
Please repeat that every time someone mentions Spinrite on this forum.
Click to expand...

It's a bit tiring and you end up feeling like just smacking the person on the ear :D

But hey carry on, it's your data...
 
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