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

hi
ive got a screwed up drive i need to get the pictures/documents off of.
it was a windows 8.1 system that got locked into safe mode.

when i connected it to my pc using an adapter for laptop drive it said i need to format the drive...?
i put it back into laptop and and trying to run chkdsk /f on it now... but that gets an unspecified error... and exits, cnanor access c: in the command prompt.

basically, what can i do to save these docs before i reset from image...
i tried the parted magic and the file manager gets an error trying to mount the OS drive... i can see/mount the usb ext drive i wanted to copy the files off to, but it wont mount the drive.
any assistance is appreciated.
MarcHelfandAsked:
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JohnBusiness Consultant (Owner)Commented:
Put the drive in a carrier, attach it to a good computer and use something like Recuva or GetBackData to recover the data.
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rindiCommented:
The Partedmagic liveCD includes photorec you can use to scan the disk for data, and copy it off if something is found.

Restoring an image is not a good idea if the disk is bad, which is very likely. Test the disk using the disk manufacturer's diagnostic tool, and if it shows errors you'll have to replace the disk, and then restore your image to the new disk. You'll find the manufacturer's diagnostic tools on the UBCD:

http://mirror.sysadminguide.net/ubcd/ubcd535.iso
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MarcHelfandAuthor Commented:
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
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JohnBusiness Consultant (Owner)Commented:
Try one of the tools I suggested (in the carrier) to see if you can improve upon recovery.
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rindiCommented:
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.
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JohnBusiness Consultant (Owner)Commented:
I agree with rindi on running diagnostics tools and you should probably do this before running recovery tools.
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noxchoGlobal Support CoordinatorCommented:
Before you recover the data - don't run chkdsk or diagnostics on the drive. This is very important. Fixing issues sometimes makes the problem more complicated. Especially chkdsk. Thus you need to recover data at first. www.runtime.org with their GetDataBack is the best recovery tool available. Give it a try.
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JohnBusiness Consultant (Owner)Commented:
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 .
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nobusCommented:
i have had many drives repaired with HDDregenerator (not free)
http://www.dposoft.net/hdd.html      

and i never had a case of data loss either
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MarcHelfandAuthor Commented:
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
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noxchoGlobal Support CoordinatorCommented:
Were you able to recover the data using GetDataBack?
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MarcHelfandAuthor Commented:
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...
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noxchoGlobal Support CoordinatorCommented:
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
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rindiCommented:
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...
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MarcHelfandAuthor Commented:
i have an few years old licensed version of r-studio im scanning the drive with now.
m
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noxchoGlobal Support CoordinatorCommented:
R-Studio was one of the best but I don't know of they are developing this program further.
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nobusCommented:
GetDataBack is the best imo
it also will scan the drive for free - and show you what is recoverable
if you agree on it -buy it to be able to save the results
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MarcHelfandAuthor Commented:
i had to use recovery software to get data back.
thx for the assistance experts.
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