Crashed Hard Disk - Data Recovery?

bigman · 17th October 2007, 13:04

I friend has given me a Laptop to look at as it does not run properly. I have run HDATA2 on it and it looks as if the HDD is faulty. There are lots of Unrecorrectable CRC or ECC errors on read.

Is there any software out there that could mark these as bad and allow the HDD to be used ?

Thanks in advance.

spadival · 17th October 2007, 13:51

I suggest you change the HDD instead of trying to fix it. Atleast, right now you are able to recover the data on the drive. It will soon reach a point where the HDD will stop working all together.

bigman · 17th October 2007, 14:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by spadival

I suggest you change the HDD instead of trying to fix it. Atleast, right now you are able to recover the data on the drive. It will soon reach a point where the HDD will stop working all together.

Thanks. I just needed a stopgap arrangement to be able to use the laptop. I have ordered another one but it will take another week to arrive. There is no data on the HDD that I need. I just wanted to get it up and running so he can access internet etc.

nura · 4th November 2007, 15:44

I am not sure if I'm posting this too late. Have you tried HDD Regenerator? It's available as a free download.

5th November 2007, 12:48

Hii bhpians

For all kinds of computer related softwares go on to the site

MajorGeeks.com - Download Freeware and Shareware Computer Utilities.

the site has all the essentials softwares & freewares that will solve your computer related problems..

MC Mayank · 8th November 2007, 18:04

Fellas, my computer screen just went blank yesterday. The LCD monitor turned off. I tried restarting in normal mode/safe mode/ last settings that worked mode. In all cases, windows startup screen showed up but after that the screen would again go blank.
I have never had an encounter of the HDD crashing kind before but Vid tells me this is what it is.

Need some help guys. Please suggest how I could try and recover the data.

Thanks

Rehaan · 8th November 2007, 23:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC Mayank

Fellas, my computer screen just went blank yesterday. The LCD monitor turned off. I tried restarting in normal mode/safe mode/ last settings that worked mode. In all cases, windows startup screen showed up but after that the screen would again go blank.
I have never had an encounter of the HDD crashing kind before but Vid tells me this is what it is.

Need some help guys. Please suggest how I could try and recover the data.

Thanks

This could be due to a lot of things, not neccessarily your HDD crashing.

However, recovering data should be easy > just put your current HDD in an external enclosure / or set it up as a secondary drive (not a boot drive) and boot from something else. You should be able to access your data then.

cya
R

MC Mayank · 9th November 2007, 08:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rehaan

This could be due to a lot of things, not neccessarily your HDD crashing.

Some other symptoms, don't know if its connected in anyway. My UPS has been making strange noises last couple of days. When I start it up, for about 3 min there is a loud grinding sort of a noise, of the type that would be characteristic of a winding rotatating. Slowly the sound fades away

sfilinto · 9th November 2007, 09:19

To me this looks like a hardware issue & no software will help you until the harddisk is detected in the bios.
i have used the refrigirator trick to some level of sucess in the past. you could try that if the issue is with the spindles. if this is an issue with the board then the only way would be to replace it from a working hdd.

Rehaan · 9th November 2007, 11:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC Mayank

a loud grinding sort of a noise,

Is that coming from your UPS or your HDD ?

Have you tried plugging the computer directly into mains?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfilinto

To me this looks like a hardware issue & no software will help you until the harddisk is detected in the bios..

If this is a reply to MC mayank, his computer is detecting the HDD in the bios (since its starting to boot windows), if its a reply to the earlier problems, then ignore my message.

cya
R

MC Mayank · 9th November 2007, 11:50

The sound is from the UPS. I'll get back home and confirm. And ya was thinking of plugging the computer to the mains directly. Will try to do that as well and let you guys know

gopz · 9th November 2007, 12:05

Try this FREEWARE program for data recovery (including formatted drives)

Freeware file recovery software to undelete files or recover lost files

MC Mayank · 11th November 2007, 19:31

I connected the PC to the mains directly, it works fine and thank God for that. So looks like the UPS is gone. Why would the UPS cause such an effect on the windows starting up? The CPU still remains powered up so what could be causing this sort of behaviour.

PS:While fiddling around with the cables at the back, I dropped the CPU. Since then, the mouse has stopped working. What do I do?

Amey · 11th November 2007, 23:42

Try resetting the CMOS, see if the Mouse works, is it a PS2 or USB mouse ?
Tried connecting another Mouse ?

MC Mayank · 12th November 2007, 10:57

I connected a USB mouse and it works fine. The PS2 is not working. How do you reset the CMOS?

17th October 2007, 13:04	#31
bigman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NA Posts: 1,224 Thanked: 93 Times	Faulty Laptop HDD I friend has given me a Laptop to look at as it does not run properly. I have run HDATA2 on it and it looks as if the HDD is faulty. There are lots of Unrecorrectable CRC or ECC errors on read. Is there any software out there that could mark these as bad and allow the HDD to be used ? Thanks in advance.
	() Thanks

17th October 2007, 13:51	#32
spadival Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne, AU Posts: 1,773 Thanked: 26 Times View My Garage	I suggest you change the HDD instead of trying to fix it. Atleast, right now you are able to recover the data on the drive. It will soon reach a point where the HDD will stop working all together.
	() Thanks

4th November 2007, 15:44	#34
nura BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 599 Thanked: 17 Times	I am not sure if I'm posting this too late. Have you tried HDD Regenerator? It's available as a free download.
	() Thanks

5th November 2007, 12:48	#35
Nos007 Posts: n/a	Hii bhpians For all kinds of computer related softwares go on to the site MajorGeeks.com - Download Freeware and Shareware Computer Utilities. the site has all the essentials softwares & freewares that will solve your computer related problems..
	() Thanks

8th November 2007, 18:04	#36
MC Mayank BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 108 Thanked: 3 Times	Fellas, my computer screen just went blank yesterday. The LCD monitor turned off. I tried restarting in normal mode/safe mode/ last settings that worked mode. In all cases, windows startup screen showed up but after that the screen would again go blank. I have never had an encounter of the HDD crashing kind before but Vid tells me this is what it is. Need some help guys. Please suggest how I could try and recover the data. Thanks
	() Thanks

9th November 2007, 09:19	#39
sfilinto BANNED Join Date: May 2006 Location: mostlly bangalore Posts: 102 Thanked: Once	To me this looks like a hardware issue & no software will help you until the harddisk is detected in the bios. i have used the refrigirator trick to some level of sucess in the past. you could try that if the issue is with the spindles. if this is an issue with the board then the only way would be to replace it from a working hdd.
	() Thanks

9th November 2007, 11:50	#41
MC Mayank BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 108 Thanked: 3 Times	The sound is from the UPS. I'll get back home and confirm. And ya was thinking of plugging the computer to the mains directly. Will try to do that as well and let you guys know
	() Thanks

9th November 2007, 12:05	#42
gopz BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: India Posts: 452 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	Try this FREEWARE program for data recovery (including formatted drives) Freeware file recovery software to undelete files or recover lost files
	() Thanks

11th November 2007, 19:31	#43
MC Mayank BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 108 Thanked: 3 Times	I connected the PC to the mains directly, it works fine and thank God for that. So looks like the UPS is gone. Why would the UPS cause such an effect on the windows starting up? The CPU still remains powered up so what could be causing this sort of behaviour. PS:While fiddling around with the cables at the back, I dropped the CPU. Since then, the mouse has stopped working. What do I do?
	() Thanks

11th November 2007, 23:42	#44
Amey BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 679 Thanked: 248 Times View My Garage	Try resetting the CMOS, see if the Mouse works, is it a PS2 or USB mouse ? Tried connecting another Mouse ?
	() Thanks

12th November 2007, 10:57	#45
MC Mayank BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 108 Thanked: 3 Times	I connected a USB mouse and it works fine. The PS2 is not working. How do you reset the CMOS?
	() Thanks