cannot access files on laptop drive, have a usb/cable to connect to pc and have parted magic and windows cd..

well i took the disk out of the laptop, put in to the adapter for my pc.
windows explorer wont recognize the g: drive.

i was able to download a 'TESTDISK_WIN & PHOTOREC_WIN AND IM RUNNING THE PHOtorec, and it seems to be doing something, i assume its recoverinbg files as it is indeed creating many folders in the folder i created for it to copy/restore to...'

i dont think the disk is bad, i just think that it had a problem, then i put it in another pc and tried to take ownership to access files, then it seemed to get worse...
its a ntfs partition that seems to be recogonized but isnt readable for whatever reason...
i just hope the photorec process will include all the documents and pictures for the primary user folder
photorec-1.jpg

Try one of the tools I suggested (in the carrier) to see if you can improve upon recovery.

You should still run the disk's manufacturer's diagnostic tool on it. You mentioned chkdsk fails, and that is almost a sure sign that the disk is bad, and not just the file-system.

I agree with rindi on running diagnostics tools and you should probably do this before running recovery tools.

You can run CHKDSK in non-destructive mode (no /F parameter) to determine if errors exist. I think that is a reasonable thing to do .

chkdsk doesnt work as it says there is a master file table error? it tries to fix and cannot and exits chkdsk, ive tried with and without the /f

looks like alot of products to choose from to try to recover data, different costs too... no options that are out there as free tools or moderate price, the last one was 99.00 (isnt alot, but i dont know which ones really work best to recover the disk, or just grab the files, or recreate the folder/files, accessibility from windows explorer, etc...

GetDataBack is free to try. At least it will show you if you could restore anything.
The free tool is Recuva https://www.piriform.com/recuva or PCInspector: http://www.pcinspector.de/FileRecovery/confirm.htm?language=1&placeValuesBeforeTB_=savedValues&TB_iframe=true&height=400&width=550&modal=true

Photorec is free and it is very good, but unlike getdataback it is not easy to use, you have to check it's site online for help on how to recover the files. Also, it is likely that your recovered files will end up with names that don't make too much sense to you, and directory structures that don't either, So after recovery there is a lot of work looking at each file by opening it within it's original application, then saving it again with an understandable name and to a directory structure that makes sense.

Getdataback at least tries very hard to keep your original directory and file structure as it was. It is the best recovery tool available. You can use the trial version to scan the disk, and then pay and register it to copy the data off. So you only have to pay if it finds the files you are interested in recovering.

Anyway, good backup strategies to multiple disks (not just one, as also backup disks can fail), is much cheaper in the long run than having to recover the data...

i have an few years old licensed version of r-studio im scanning the drive with now.
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R-Studio was one of the best but I don't know of they are developing this program further.

i had to use recovery software to get data back.
thx for the assistance experts.