mcpp661
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Recovering a failed hard disk
Question.......I have a 20 gig Quantum Fireball Plus SA hard disk that has failed. I have it plugged into an IDE USB enclosure and have it connected to my computer. The hard disk shows up in Device Manager but I don't see it in Explorer. Also, the LED shows up as amber. I do hear the hard drive spinning though. Obviously I'm trying to avoid the cost of sending it out to a data recovery house......are there any other ways that I may not be thinking of that I can use to recover the contents of this hard disk? Before you mention it, I already know about backing up my stuff. This wasn't my hard drive, it was someone else's.
ASKER
No, it doesn't show up in Explorer at all. Can I assign it a drive letter if it doesn't show up in Explorer?
ASKER
Trying to get Disk Management to see this disk but it does not. Looks like this hard disk is dead........just hoping there is a way to get into this disk to retrieve the data. Nothing was deleted, I think there's a physical failure somewhere in the disk.
Go into Disk Management. See here for XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000
Which OS are you using?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000
Which OS are you using?
Right click on my computer > manage > and then select disk management. Does the drive so up in there? If it does show up in there, then right click the drive and then select change drive letter, chances are is that since it's connected via a usb connection it may try to use a drive letter that is already assigned.
Once you get the drive letter issue figured out then you can run a chkdsk /r from the command prompt. Start>Run> cmd > chkdsk *Drive letter of the hard drive* /r
Hopefully the check disk will fix any of the errors on the drive.
Also a great file recovery tool is WinHex - Go to download.com and then search for WinHex, it's free and works great.
Good Luck!
Once you get the drive letter issue figured out then you can run a chkdsk /r from the command prompt. Start>Run> cmd > chkdsk *Drive letter of the hard drive* /r
Hopefully the check disk will fix any of the errors on the drive.
Also a great file recovery tool is WinHex - Go to download.com and then search for WinHex, it's free and works great.
Good Luck!
ASKER
I can't get it to show up in Disk Management at all.........I guess that's probably a good indicator that this disk is gone.
You guys are to quick for me... lol One other thing you could try is disconnecting and connecting the drive a few times in hopes it will come alive. One last desperation attempt would be to stick the drive in the freezer for a few minutes...never actually got it to work though. But I've heard stories it has. Worth a shot!
I would try third party disk crash tools
see www.undelete-all.com
when you plug in the USB enclosue does the PC notice anything? (beep?)
try plugging it directly into another PC as a slave drive - soemtimes better.
see www.undelete-all.com
when you plug in the USB enclosue does the PC notice anything? (beep?)
try plugging it directly into another PC as a slave drive - soemtimes better.
ASKER
Other than sticking it in the freezer, I've tried all of those............I think this drive is dead..........I'll try the freezer thing though.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Are you connecting this HDD into a Laptop via USB? or in Desktop?
If you are trying in a desktop, try to connect it directly into one free IDE port inside the PC. Obviously, turn the PC off, remove the power cord, flush all energy (press power button without the power cord for 10 seconds) Turn the PC check if your PC is installing a new detected device, check in Disk Management or in Explorer.
After you get the Disk detected in your PC, good for you, there are several useful tools to recover data if you need it, (e.i. GetDataBackforNTFS, GetDataBackforFAT)
Hope this help you
If you are trying in a desktop, try to connect it directly into one free IDE port inside the PC. Obviously, turn the PC off, remove the power cord, flush all energy (press power button without the power cord for 10 seconds) Turn the PC check if your PC is installing a new detected device, check in Disk Management or in Explorer.
After you get the Disk detected in your PC, good for you, there are several useful tools to recover data if you need it, (e.i. GetDataBackforNTFS, GetDataBackforFAT)
Hope this help you
Often times a Linux based boot CD like knoppix can operate on a damaged drive where Windows can not. See here for one persons experience http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=3214
If the drive is recognized in knoppix but significantly damaged you can often recover all data that exists on non damaged sectors using a program called ddrescue http://www.gnu.org/software/ddrescue/ddrescue.html
The best thing is this is all free.
If the drive is recognized in knoppix but significantly damaged you can often recover all data that exists on non damaged sectors using a program called ddrescue http://www.gnu.org/software/ddrescue/ddrescue.html
The best thing is this is all free.
ASKER
Sharply tapping the central spindle did the trick. Thanks man.
cool....back it up as it will fail again.....
also if there is already a drive letter assigned, format the drive and then download and buy :http://www.partition-recovery.com/partition.htm if you dont buy the program you cannot get your data back.