Desktop not working: I need my hard drive back!

Ok, that sounds like a plan. I do caution you though that data recovery is very sensitive.

What I mean by that is too many attempts might over write the data you really need. It happened to me... go all my pictures and most of my documents - I could not recover some of the document(s) I really needed. It just happened that those were the ones I needed and those were the ones that were over written - lousy luck on my part. I ended up rewriting the docs before seeing the client.

It's a cautionary tale - just so you are aware. Your results will differ, that will be determined by the condition of the drive and the data.

If you can access the data - grab it and put it in a new folder on a different HD (a partition on your laptop perhaps). Writing to the HD with the problem can and will over write data and then it's lost.

If you get all of your data - great! Post your results.

After that you can test the integrity of the HD itself - but only after your data is safe! If the HD diags show that the drive is still viable, you have a decision to make. Do you trust that drive? Yes, use it as a data drive fro non-essential storage (stuff you can easily replace).

Whether you trust it or not I suggest not using it for critical purposes, such as a boot drive or critical data storage.

Let me know when you're all set up and ready to give it a go. Once you get started, I'll stick around and help as best I can. Until then, I'll be in and out of the forum.

I'm not the only member that can help - I've worked with a few members on data recovery and always learn something in the process ( a new tool, a faster approach...).

Bill
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Okay, I got the enclosure, but because this laptop uses 1GB memory, I switched to another with 6GBm memory, but the result was mostly the same: the 1GB laptop set up the USB and wen I accessed it, the loading that is seen on the computer bar got passed the "X" but then didn't move for a while. I got concerned, got it out, and tried the 6GB one and it was the same result, though it forgot to set up the USB (I think) and told me to redo it. I decided not to, and wait for my computer to come so I can dive into this instead of the laptops.

I still wanted to update this so you guys can give me your POVs over what might be happening. The HD is connected right, otherwise I wouldn't have seen "local disk", or in this case another one, so it can't be that.

Could it be because out of a 500+GB total, 187GB was left remaining, and that's why it took so long? Doubtful, but still.

Thanks for the updates.

What is the capacity of the problematic HD?

Did you get the enclosure you posted before?
SIIG Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Enclosure for 3.5" SATA 3Gb/s Hard Disks
If you got a different enclosure, please provide a link for the specs. Some enclosures have problems over 2TB - just want to check.

Either laptop should have seen the drive. Did you create the bootable PW DC? Did you boot either laptop with it?

When you say got past the X are you referring to the address bar in explorer? The green progress bar fills the address field as explorer / search finds files and folders. It's not unusual for a index operation to take a while, especially if the drive or data are corrupted.

Yeah, it's almost impossible to connect a USB device incorrectly.

If you want, go ahead and create the PW CD, boot the 6GB laptop with it and see if you have better luck with the drive.

At this point, all I'm interested in is seeing the condition of the drive - can PW "see" it, can PW read it?
For this exercise, it would be helpful to have camera shots of the information on your monitor. Do you have a phone with a camera, or even a web cam on the other laptop?

Bill: What is the capacity of the problematic HD?
Nate: If you mean memory capacity, I had to look it up, but it's 4GB.

4GB or 4TB? Disk capacity, not memory. Lots of people call it memory. So I'll ask a different question. What is the make and model number of the drive - if you have a link to the specs, please provide that as well.

Bill: Did you get the enclosure you posted before?
Nate:The enclosure I bought was a Dynex153 3534 Serial ATA Hard Drive Enclosure. Here is the best buy link:
Dynex 3.5" Serial ATA Hard Drive Enclosure DX-HD303513 - Best Buy

Bill: Either laptop should have seen the drive.
Nate: It did, it was just the loading as I said in the previous post.

Bill: When you say got past the X are you referring to the address bar in explorer?
Nate: Yup, that's it.

Nate: I still insist that the HD shouldn't be corrupted, it was my computer and its DVD player that were the problems.
Bill: ok

Bill: Did you create the bootable PW DC? Did you boot either laptop with it?
Opps - should be PW CD. If you read back to post# 19, Partition Wizard (PW) Bootable CD (not DC).
Nate: ...Umm, what PW DC?

Dynex Model: DX-HD303513 Docs
Mfgr page: Dynex? - 3.5" Serial ATA Hard Drive Enclosure - Black - DX-HD303513 | Dynex
User manual: http://www.dynexproducts.com/cms/doc...N_Final_lr.pdf
QkSetup: http://www.dynexproducts.com/cms/doc...N_Final_lr.pdf

I'm a bit concerned by the specs in the user guide that state support up to 3TB - but not as concerned as if they said up to 2TB. The 2Tb is a change in controller and firmware. A review on Best Buy stated that the enclosure was used for a 4TB drive and there weren't any issues.

Take a look at the docs linked and make sure all connections are snug in the enclosure. Make sure that you use the power adapter - the USB port probably does not provide enough power.

BinkerNate said:

It was a Gateway SX2802-07. Google it,because I don't know which is the best site for info.

That's the machine model # - that information won't help me much. You have the drive right there, the label tells you the capacity and the make and model. I won't be searching for the information.

BinkerNate said:

Now I remember, and I don't know if I'll be doing that. Afterall, a) this just took a long time to load because of this laptop being slow to begin with that I got concerned, and b) I'm gonna need the new machine anyway before I do anything. Let methink about it, but either I don't think I'll be doing that, or I don't want to.

That's fine, but there is no magic here. You'll need something to diagnose the drive. Your machine, your issue, your decision.

BinkerNate said:

I already have the manuals and have read them. One thing they did say was that if its slow, it may be ue to the USB: having a 2.0 for a 3.0 (I think the 1GB laptop has 2.0, the 6GB one has 3.0). I'm using the power adapter it came with, and I know the HD inside is secured before the covering was placed, so that's fine.

Did you try the USB 3.0 port?

I've given you a lot of information already. I read the 1st post again just to be sure I wasn't missing something. Loud pop, broken DVD, pieces in the case, opening and shutting the drive door, Geeksquad couldn't repair the machine of recover the data.

I don't know what to tell you if you won't or decide not to create the tools that might help. I guess you'll see how the drive behaves connected to the new machine.

Early next week then. Post any progress you make.

Cool - 640 GB is not an issue with enclosures and the specs for the one you have state supports up to 3 TB. Plenty of breathing room there. (40 GB seemed small, so I looked up the model number-thanks)

It will be best to connect the enclosed HD to a USB 3.0 port on the rear of the new machine (better shielding=better performance)

....and we wait for the new machine.