Failing hdd or bad sectors, will not boot, how to recover data?

Long story short I shipped a lenovo x220 for mobo repacement with the HDD. I got it back, but windows bsod on boot. I found out this was a conflicting driver issue due to the new motherboard, so I used a tool in hires boot CD to resetthe hard disk controller or something like that. Win 7 then booted and I reinstalled all the system drivers and updated windows. Worked great for Two days until I had HDD failure warnings from windows and crystal disk info. I ran chkdsk and it fixed some things, and then crystal diskinfo only sshowed a warning, current pending sector count. Next day it won't boot. Startup repair hangs and fails to fix problems, and safe mode doesn't boot. Its definitely a HDD issue, but I dont know if it's physical since theres no clicking, sounds fine. I know there are a bunch of bad sectors and I can't boot. I tried using a USB sata adapter but my other win XP machine says I need to format it to view the drive, which I didn't of course.

In hiren's, it shows the HDD and its correct size and partitions, but it cant open or explore it. i also viewed the smart data and it says its failed because of pending sector count and reallcoated sector count.

What's weird is I can view all the files and file structure and everything only using the "disk genius" tool in hirens mini XP mode, but not in windows explorer. I tried creating a full image but both acronis and macrium threw read errors. Right now I'm running a disk rescue DD program thats supposed to skip the unreadable sectors and hopefully recover some of the data. I have a new HDD coming but it to be shipped. I am using a 1tb external HDD to put the .DD image. I am wondering how come I am able to see the disk in disk genius but not anywhere else? Should I try and make a backup using disk genius?


My plan was to make a clone of it, then format and Zero write it to see if the drive is physically dying, but I can't clone it because of the bad sectors, and I can't boot. I dont have the windows 7 installation disk and my data and the is are on the same partition I believe. What do I do? If I can still see the files in disk genius does that mean there is a good chance of recovering some files? I am wondering if the bad sectors that are preventing me from imaging or cloning the drive might just be affecting replaceable movie files/large steam game files I have? Is it possible to make an image and put it on a new drive? Help!


I apologize for the spelling I'm using my phone for the time being.

I backed up most of my smaller documents on drop box or Google drive, but not any of the media on it. I was going to do a macrium clone beforehand but I didn't have a external HDD larger than my 500 GB internal, only a bunch of 300gb ones. I have since gotten a 1tb drive and made 2 images of the HDD, one using the datarescue DD software and one using disk genius that could actually read the filesystem, folders etc. Both ran into CRC and read errors on some files, but a lot of the data seemed preserved. I have yet to try and restore and recover and files from the images yet. I'm running spinrite now that I already made two backups, so I'll take the risk of it getting worse. I will try the freezer method but I'm afraid of damaging it more due to moister etc.

I've never started brand new with a blank HDD without even an os on it, and I have a feeling its going to be a pita.

Ive actually made a Ubuntu live USB but its file browser won't open the drive, I've also pit it into an enclosure but XP would ask me to format it. Only a few recovery software recognizes the drive and allows me to browse through the folders and everything, which is all still there. Smart status is still showing reallocated sector count as bad.