Start Free Trial

asked on

Hard Drive Failure - Software to Extract Files

We have a hard drive failure and want to extract files from it. It spins up and a computer can see it but when we go to open it, it says can't open. I know there is software to extract files just as long as it starts spinning, so I'm looking for a name of software that's good to get data off the hard drive, freeware preferably.

ASKER

For background - we had a BSOD that said un-mountable volume and it would just cycle, never starting XP so I can't get the mini dump.

http://www.piriform.com/recuva/download

ASKER

I'd like to start with a free software

ASKER

I tried that but it says "access denied" so wont scan it

you can also do a boot from cd and use erd commander to access your drive,than you can if partitions are ok copy files it to another drive
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/enterprise/products/mdop/dart.aspx

ASKER

I'm tyring "recover my files" and if it doesnt work I can try erd commander. thanks

or you can just connect the hard disk to another computer and than copy the files

ASKER

thats what i tried...quote from above:

"It spins up and a computer can see it but when we go to open it, it says can't open."

It doesn't allow me to open the drive when connected to another computer.

there any strange sound comming from harddisk like click of death?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

ASKER

No

ASKER

ovolume - thanks sounds good, I will try that when "Recover my files" is done - any opinion of "Recover my files"?

recover my files is excelent but not freeware

how did you connect the disk to computer, directly or via usc connection

ASKER

Yeah, i'm hoping it allows me to get the files when its done scanning - I'm afriad its going to say I have to purchase it before I can get the files

ASKER

usb external enclosure

cant you connect it directly?

ASKER

I could, but assumed it would do the same thing. When "Recover my files" is done, I will directly connect it before using testdisk

before that try freware http://www.filehippo.com/download_recuva

ASKER

pukyplay.....again I said above:]

"I tried that but it says "access denied" so wont scan it"

thanks for your input but please read my messages

"... It spins up and a computer can see it but when we go to open it, it says can't open ..." ==> Are you referring to the drive itself (i.e. won't even show the drive letter) or to the files on the drive?

If it's the latter, this may simply be a case where you need to "take ownership" of the file structure. A very simple process, but done differently in different versions of Windows. Just Google "Take Ownership with xx" [where xx = XP, Vista, Windows 7, Server 2003, etc.] or post your OS details here for more help.

You indicated the failed drive was using XP ... but not what's on the system you're using to try and recover the files. If that's also XP, here are the details for taking ownership of the file structure: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

One other thought: Was this by any chance an encrypted volume? If so, recovery is virtually impossible unless you have a saved key file.

Try Try GetDataBack http://www.runtime.org/ Free to try. If it sees the missing files you pay for full functionality.

GetDataBack is commercial and good. If the demo (free) version sees files then you know your data is there and may well be recoverable.

However if you tried TestDisk (mentioned earlier by someone) and that couldn't access the disk then it is quite possible your data is NOT recoverable.

ASKER

I am running TestDisk now and it sees the files but when it extracts them, it renames and sends them to dir.1 dir.2 and so on, which is obviously a huge pain and would have to go through every single file.

Any other programs? I know I used one a couple years ago where I could save it to a new folder just it nothing happened (minus a few files that couldn't be recovered) and I didn't have to pay.

Look at PCInspector http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm

ASKER

THAT sounds familiar, I'll give that a try! Thanks dbrunton

ASKER

looks like that is just like testdrice photorec but not command line.

any programs that actually keep the same directories and names and all that?

Recuva I think does. But that gave you the "No access" message.

Recover the partition first using TestDisk, then copy files. Another option is to place the drive in a USB enclosure and boot using Knoppix. It will mount the USB as read-only, if partition is good.

try also HDDregenerator, it has saved several disks for me
you have to connect the drive directly though - not via USB
http://www.dposoft.net/

ASKER

It looks like testdisk got windows to access the disk. I am currently copying everything from that hard drive to a good computer. I'll let you know if it makes it the whole way.

dont try any more software please..... you would kill the disk...

pay and get Ontrack Easy Recovery, and scan the entire drive.
then recover all you can.

i run a professional recovery agency, and Ontrack is best investment i have made so far.

ASKER

When they don't give the cost on their site....I assume I can't validate the purchase for this single time. Anyway, the testdrive got it working in windows.....like I said above....

I was able to get the whole drive copied over btw

ASKER

Worked fine. Pretty straight forward program, uses command prompt though.