BKennington
asked on
Recovery of data from a failed hard drive (IDE)
My computer runs (or used to) on Windows XP on a small office LAN, for which my computer has functioned as the server for several years. I have a less than 3 year old hard drive in my computer and arrived at the office last week to find my computer screen (black) displaying NTLDR (or something like that): Fatal error reading Boot.ini. My hard drive has failed since that day and I am interested in attempting recovery of data from my recent failed Quantum Fireball IDE hard drive myself to avoid paying high recovery costs by a pro.
I began trying to research recovery of the data myself and found a downloadable NTFS program, which I have been unable to get to function properly when booting to DOS. I have also placed the failed drive in another computer's slave slot, but start up is very slow and attempting to view files on the failed drive through Windows Explorer is met with an "invalid parameter" error message.
If you can offer an suggestions or help, I would greatly appreciate it.
I began trying to research recovery of the data myself and found a downloadable NTFS program, which I have been unable to get to function properly when booting to DOS. I have also placed the failed drive in another computer's slave slot, but start up is very slow and attempting to view files on the failed drive through Windows Explorer is met with an "invalid parameter" error message.
If you can offer an suggestions or help, I would greatly appreciate it.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
>>>Wow, that was a nice scripted cut+paste answer above...
Took me a couple of years to put it together. :)
Took me a couple of years to put it together. :)
hi ,
As raybass was saying if the drive is noisy & not being recognized in the post test then there is not much you can do that won't cost an arm & a leg.
If however it is being seen in the cmos there is a good chance of recovery.
Everyone has a fav recovery tool, mine is recover2000 pro & like most of them it has a free but limited demo available from the link in the massive list above. This package has performed 100% so far.
If the drive is not being accessed by windows but can be formatted, then you could do this & then do the recovery.
For a satisfactory recovery you are probably going to have to part with some cash & buy one of the above mentioned tools.
If the data is mission critical then you had better have a spare limb or 2 lying around.
Most of these places work on no recover , no pay.
good luck with it
As raybass was saying if the drive is noisy & not being recognized in the post test then there is not much you can do that won't cost an arm & a leg.
If however it is being seen in the cmos there is a good chance of recovery.
Everyone has a fav recovery tool, mine is recover2000 pro & like most of them it has a free but limited demo available from the link in the massive list above. This package has performed 100% so far.
If the drive is not being accessed by windows but can be formatted, then you could do this & then do the recovery.
For a satisfactory recovery you are probably going to have to part with some cash & buy one of the above mentioned tools.
If the data is mission critical then you had better have a spare limb or 2 lying around.
Most of these places work on no recover , no pay.
good luck with it
Why dont u try this method.
Take the hdd up about 1 or 2 inch, then drop it.
I got this from War.
I have just try it recently and it work :).
Take the hdd up about 1 or 2 inch, then drop it.
I got this from War.
I have just try it recently and it work :).
There are many "tricks" to kick starting a problem HDD like the "drop" or the "freeze" but you also risk further damage to the drive which in turn could make a relatively small expense into a serious one.(you may cause physical damage when there isn't any to start with)
These should be done as a last resort only
These should be done as a last resort only
Beside Crazy's LIst, if you have a Cd Burner, YOU could order
a Knoppiz CD if you Bios will allow you to boot from a CD and
run it to see if it can read and then burn any files on the hard
drive.
KNOPPIX 3.2
KNOPPIX Linux Live CD
http://www.knoppix.org/
What is KNOPPIX®?
KNOPPIX is a bootable CD with a collection of GNU/Linux software, automatic hardware detection, and support for many graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI and USB devices and other peripherals. KNOPPIX can be used as a Linux demo, educational CD, rescue system, or adapted and used as a platform for commercial software product demos. It is not necessary to install anything on a hard disk. Due to on-the-fly decompression, the CD can have up to 2 GB of executable software installed on it.
Knoppix talk, May 2003 (PDF, German) [screen presentation] [print version]
Knoppix reloaded - Remastering Knoppix, May 2003 (PDF, German) [screen presentation] [exercises]
Slides for the cloop presentation at the Chemnitzer Linux-Tagen 2002 (PDF, German)
Paper for the Annual Linux Showcase 2000 (English) [HTML] [PDF]
Slides for the presentation at the Annual Linux Showcase 2000 (PDF, English)
Slide updates for the presentations at the IFA 2001 (English) [Postscript] [PDF]
Sources for the special components of the KNOPPIX-CD
What software is installed on the KNOPPIX-CD?
The following Highlights are available in version 3.2 of this Debian-based (www.debian.org) CD:
Linux-Kernel 2.4.x
KDE V3.1 as the standard desktop with K Office and the Konqueror WWW-browser konqueror
X Multimedia System (xmms) an MPEG-video, MP3, Ogg Vorbis Audio player and xine
Internet connection software kppp,pppoeconf (DSL) and isdn-config
Gnu Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) Version 1.2
utilities for data recovery and system repairs, even for other operating systems
network and security analysis tools for network administrators
OpenOffice(TM), the GPL-developed version of the well-known StarOffice(TM) office suite
many programming languages, development tools (including kdevelop) and libraries for developers
in total more than 900 installed software packages with over 2000 executable user programs, utilities, and games
What are the minimum system requirements?
Intel-compatible CPU (i486 or later),
20 MB of RAM for text mode, at least 96 MB for graphics mode with KDE (at least 128 MB of RAM is recommended to use the various office products),
bootable CD-ROM drive, or a boot floppy and standard CD-ROM (IDE/ATAPI or SCSI),
standard SVGA-compatible graphics card,
serial or PS/2 standard mouse or IMPS/2-compatible USB-mouse.
Question: "But my computer doesn't have that much RAM, so some programs on the CD won't run at all or will only run very slowly. Is there some trick that I can use to run KDE and the office programs/graphics/games?"
Yes. After a swap partition has been initialized, Linux can add the missing RAM from an area of the hard disk that has been reserved for this purpose. KNOPPIX recognizes and automatically uses any available swap partitions. Optionally, a swap partition can be added manually. However, only experienced users should try this, since repartitioning of the hard drive is required.
Version 1.5 and later of KNOPPIX can use an existing DOS partition for its Linux swap data (command mkdosswapfile or in the KDE menus under "Knoppix"). This also allows one to work with less RAM. The swap data knoppix.swp on this partition can be erased later to free up space for other things.
How is KNOPPIX started?
To start the CD, set up the BIOS of your computer to boot off the CD, put the CD in the drive, and power up the computer. If your computer doesn't support this option, you have to use a boot disk. You can create this disk from the image in KNOPPIX/boot.img on the CD.
Q: My computer won't boot from CD. What should I do?
A: Look in your computer's BIOS to see whether it's set to boot from CD
(on most computers you need to push the "delete" key during the RAM test). If this is already set, your computer may not be able to read the CD (some notebooks have problems with black-coated CD's, for example). Some computers will only use the new BIOS settings after a hard reset. If your computer doesn't support booting from CD, you can create a boot floppy using the "rawrite" program in the "KNOPPIX" directory on the CD.
You can obtain a CD Knoppix 3.2 here for $2.49
http://www.edmunds-enterprises.com/linux/cart.php/ba/pdtl/product/160
CD is 99¢ plus shipping & handling.
**************************
The Perfect Rescue Tool Langa Letter: June 23, 2003
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=10700681
a Knoppiz CD if you Bios will allow you to boot from a CD and
run it to see if it can read and then burn any files on the hard
drive.
KNOPPIX 3.2
KNOPPIX Linux Live CD
http://www.knoppix.org/
What is KNOPPIX®?
KNOPPIX is a bootable CD with a collection of GNU/Linux software, automatic hardware detection, and support for many graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI and USB devices and other peripherals. KNOPPIX can be used as a Linux demo, educational CD, rescue system, or adapted and used as a platform for commercial software product demos. It is not necessary to install anything on a hard disk. Due to on-the-fly decompression, the CD can have up to 2 GB of executable software installed on it.
Knoppix talk, May 2003 (PDF, German) [screen presentation] [print version]
Knoppix reloaded - Remastering Knoppix, May 2003 (PDF, German) [screen presentation] [exercises]
Slides for the cloop presentation at the Chemnitzer Linux-Tagen 2002 (PDF, German)
Paper for the Annual Linux Showcase 2000 (English) [HTML] [PDF]
Slides for the presentation at the Annual Linux Showcase 2000 (PDF, English)
Slide updates for the presentations at the IFA 2001 (English) [Postscript] [PDF]
Sources for the special components of the KNOPPIX-CD
What software is installed on the KNOPPIX-CD?
The following Highlights are available in version 3.2 of this Debian-based (www.debian.org) CD:
Linux-Kernel 2.4.x
KDE V3.1 as the standard desktop with K Office and the Konqueror WWW-browser konqueror
X Multimedia System (xmms) an MPEG-video, MP3, Ogg Vorbis Audio player and xine
Internet connection software kppp,pppoeconf (DSL) and isdn-config
Gnu Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) Version 1.2
utilities for data recovery and system repairs, even for other operating systems
network and security analysis tools for network administrators
OpenOffice(TM), the GPL-developed version of the well-known StarOffice(TM) office suite
many programming languages, development tools (including kdevelop) and libraries for developers
in total more than 900 installed software packages with over 2000 executable user programs, utilities, and games
What are the minimum system requirements?
Intel-compatible CPU (i486 or later),
20 MB of RAM for text mode, at least 96 MB for graphics mode with KDE (at least 128 MB of RAM is recommended to use the various office products),
bootable CD-ROM drive, or a boot floppy and standard CD-ROM (IDE/ATAPI or SCSI),
standard SVGA-compatible graphics card,
serial or PS/2 standard mouse or IMPS/2-compatible USB-mouse.
Question: "But my computer doesn't have that much RAM, so some programs on the CD won't run at all or will only run very slowly. Is there some trick that I can use to run KDE and the office programs/graphics/games?"
Yes. After a swap partition has been initialized, Linux can add the missing RAM from an area of the hard disk that has been reserved for this purpose. KNOPPIX recognizes and automatically uses any available swap partitions. Optionally, a swap partition can be added manually. However, only experienced users should try this, since repartitioning of the hard drive is required.
Version 1.5 and later of KNOPPIX can use an existing DOS partition for its Linux swap data (command mkdosswapfile or in the KDE menus under "Knoppix"). This also allows one to work with less RAM. The swap data knoppix.swp on this partition can be erased later to free up space for other things.
How is KNOPPIX started?
To start the CD, set up the BIOS of your computer to boot off the CD, put the CD in the drive, and power up the computer. If your computer doesn't support this option, you have to use a boot disk. You can create this disk from the image in KNOPPIX/boot.img on the CD.
Q: My computer won't boot from CD. What should I do?
A: Look in your computer's BIOS to see whether it's set to boot from CD
(on most computers you need to push the "delete" key during the RAM test). If this is already set, your computer may not be able to read the CD (some notebooks have problems with black-coated CD's, for example). Some computers will only use the new BIOS settings after a hard reset. If your computer doesn't support booting from CD, you can create a boot floppy using the "rawrite" program in the "KNOPPIX" directory on the CD.
You can obtain a CD Knoppix 3.2 here for $2.49
http://www.edmunds-enterprises.com/linux/cart.php/ba/pdtl/product/160
CD is 99¢ plus shipping & handling.
**************************
The Perfect Rescue Tool Langa Letter: June 23, 2003
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=10700681
O.K., I had the same thing happen in 2000, and in XP at different times. Here is what you have to do: go to a good working xp machine and insert a floppy into it's drive. Select start, all programs, accessories, command prompt, type format a: and press enter. When it asks you if you want to format another floppy, just type "n" and hit enter again. Type the following commands and make sure to press enter after you type each command
xcopy c:\boot.ini a:/h
xcopy c:\ntdetect.com a:/h
xcopy c:\ntldr a: /h
now type exit and then press enter to close the window. Now remove the floppy that you made and write on it win XP boot floppy.
Put this floppy in your non booting xp machine. You should be able to boot up your machine now without a problem. If so, you could always boot it with the floppy or you could fix your machine by typing in the following command in the machine. (after booting it with the floppy you made, and leaving it in the drive)
xcopy a:*.* c:\/h
then press enter. This should restore the required files from the floppy you made to the boot record of the machine and should fix it. If this doesn't work you could try to put in a winxp setup cd in the machine and try to boot it up. Just make sure you hit enter when during boot up if it asks you to press any key to boot from CD. If it boots from the CD, just got to the repair prompt and it will fix the install you already have. Just don't tell it to install xp, or you will loose everything on your hard drive. Good Luck, hope this helps.
xcopy c:\boot.ini a:/h
xcopy c:\ntdetect.com a:/h
xcopy c:\ntldr a: /h
now type exit and then press enter to close the window. Now remove the floppy that you made and write on it win XP boot floppy.
Put this floppy in your non booting xp machine. You should be able to boot up your machine now without a problem. If so, you could always boot it with the floppy or you could fix your machine by typing in the following command in the machine. (after booting it with the floppy you made, and leaving it in the drive)
xcopy a:*.* c:\/h
then press enter. This should restore the required files from the floppy you made to the boot record of the machine and should fix it. If this doesn't work you could try to put in a winxp setup cd in the machine and try to boot it up. Just make sure you hit enter when during boot up if it asks you to press any key to boot from CD. If it boots from the CD, just got to the repair prompt and it will fix the install you already have. Just don't tell it to install xp, or you will loose everything on your hard drive. Good Luck, hope this helps.
i had a hdd that failed to detect sometimess.
i found that if i go into bios setup, auto detect hdd, after a retry of about 5-10 mins, the hdd could be brought back to life...maybe the heat of electricity passing through it, or the reset signal caused this...
but u can try to do it...
is the drive completely dead now, no spinning noise?? in that case you can be out of luck as the software may not be able to help you out..
but if assumed that only the controller ckt has gone south...u can search for a trashed drive of same model and swap the ckt board with its..this will work if the new controller is working in the first place...
controllers going bad is rarer than head/surface problems and hence this could work in many cases...
hth
i found that if i go into bios setup, auto detect hdd, after a retry of about 5-10 mins, the hdd could be brought back to life...maybe the heat of electricity passing through it, or the reset signal caused this...
but u can try to do it...
is the drive completely dead now, no spinning noise?? in that case you can be out of luck as the software may not be able to help you out..
but if assumed that only the controller ckt has gone south...u can search for a trashed drive of same model and swap the ckt board with its..this will work if the new controller is working in the first place...
controllers going bad is rarer than head/surface problems and hence this could work in many cases...
hth
Hard drives fail in MANY ways. I do data recovery all the time nowadays... "Invalid parameter" means file system damage. This may or may not mean that the disk is damaged. If you've heard any crazy noises coming from the drive, there's a good chance it's gone for good or close to it.
My favorite tool out of the above is R-STUDIO, from www.r-tt.com. They do have a demo available for download, and it can grab files that it finds that are below 64k for free. Above that you have to pay, but I think it's a reasonable cost.
If your hard drive has physical damage beyond the file system, you should try and make an image of it immediately to pull data from later, using a tool above. There are instructions on the r-tt.com website I believe.
My personal favorite tool is Linux when I'm doing hard drive analysis and recovery. Even booting with a knoppix (www.knoppix.org) CD is good enough for me. I can often mount the damaged NTFS volume and copy files over the network or to a FAT32 volume without worrying about it stopping with "invalid parameter".
A few weeks ago I had a drive that had both filesystem and physical damage. I copied what I could using linux to another hard drive (about 50 gigs worth) and recovered an additional 11 gigs with R-STUDIO. That was out of 77 or so gigs originally on the drive.
best of luck