Dropped my 2TB data storage HDD

[AaLF]

Dropped my 2TB data storage HDD. Cannot see it in disk management. Any chance of there being some program that can see it & recover the data??

 

[Golden]

Does it still power up?

See if this helps:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ate-live-cd-dvd-usb-use-emergency-backup.html

 

[AaLF]

Not sure about power up? Its the eDrive data storage - not the cdrive. its not appearing. This is my worst disaster if we cannot save it. HELP!!!!

 

[DocBrown]

Is this an internal or external HD ? What brand name is it ?

 

[AaLF]

Its my eDrive data HDD - not the Win7 cDrive. If this data is lost I'm as good as dead. Must be a way??

 

[AaLF]

2TB Western digital internal 3.5 HDD. cannot see it in disk mgmnt - not in top section nor in lower section.

 

[DocBrown]

We really need more info about you HD's ?


rb: Start :ar: Computer Management :ar: Disk Management
Maximize to full screen
Take a Snip of it with the Snipping Tool, Save snip, then upload the snip here in your post.


Sometimes putting an internal HD into a HD Dock unit will read a damaged HD

 

[AaLF]

here is jpeg. the missing drive is 'Terra original". not seen anywhere.

 

[DocBrown]

Big Red is showing up as your E: HD (approx 30gb) Try changing the Data & Power cables to the WD 2tb HD with new cables.

 

[AaLF]

No matter what cable combo - no 'Terra' appears.

 

[crankypenguin]

There is an old trick that has worked for me once to recover some data from a corrupted HD. Basically you put the HD into a ziplock back, close it, then another ziplock bag and maybe 2-3 more. So it's sealed properly, and then you put it into your freezer for a few hours. This may give you a few minutes to a few hours to recover some data if it works. I don't know why it works, but it does. The reason for the many ziplock bags, is so no moisture gets into the HD, as that would totally ruin it.

 

[King Arthur]

If the contents of the HDD are important to you I sincerely advise that you look into (proper!) professional data recovery. Yes, it will be expensive, but "do it at home" recovery techniques can run the risk of making the drive completely unrecoverable.

 

[AaLF]

1. Try to install the HDD to another Computer, or install it to another computer from USB.
2. Do NOT attempt to write any data to the HDD.
3. If it can be accessed on another computer. Make a regular backup for you important data, then copy you data out.
4. If the HDD can displayed on another computer's Disk Management, but you can't access your data. In this case, the follow data recovery tools may help you.

Recuva Bring your deleted files or lost data on a formatted drive back. It's URL iriform - Products

M3 Data Recovery Hunter Free Free Data Recovery Software to free recover deleted files recover deleted files from Hard Disk Drives, Smart Media, Compact Flash, Memory Sticks, and other types of removable media in Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008/Win 7/Win 8. - M3 Data Recovery Hu

R-Studio A professional data recovery tool, and you can recover data from raw binary .It's URL : Disk Recovery Software and Hard Drive Recovery tool for Windows, Mac, and Linux

Plugged the 2TB HDD into another win7 PC. first off it cannot see it. But in Disk Management I clicked on refresh scan and something has been detected:

UNKNOWN DEVICE - NOT INITIALIZED

So is that something to hope in? And what do we do next??

There is an old trick that has worked for me once to recover some data from a corrupted HD. Basically you put the HD into a ziplock back, close it, then another ziplock bag and maybe 2-3 more. So it's sealed properly, and then you put it into your freezer for a few hours. This may give you a few minutes to a few hours to recover some data if it works. I don't know why it works, but it does. The reason for the many ziplock bags, is so no moisture gets into the HD, as that would totally ruin it.

I'll keep in mind as plan B. Thank you.

If the contents of the HDD are important to you I sincerely advise that you look into (proper!) professional data recovery. Yes, it will be expensive, but "do it at home" recovery techniques can run the risk of making the drive completely unrecoverable.

That's big time $.

 

[King Arthur]

Indeed, I'm not going to sugarcoat the fact that professional data recovery services will cost a pretty dime and I am most definitely not implying in any way you should go for it without thinking through it first. I merely put forth the option for you because if you truly value the data on your HDD and you do not have a readily available backup then all practical and reasonable options should be on the table for your consideration.

 

[Golden]

Plugged the 2TB HDD into another win7 PC. first off it cannot see it. But in Disk Management I clicked on refresh scan and something has been detected:

UNKNOWN DEVICE - NOT INITIALIZED

So is that something to hope in? And what do we do next??

Did you try the Linux option suggested in post #2 - you have nothing to lose, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[LMiller7]

I know this doesn't help now but hopefully in the future:
All important files need at least one backup copy while those of particular importance need 2 or more backup copies. No drive ever built or ever will be can be trusted without a backup. Data can be lost for a variety of reasons, not all of which can be prevented.

Having no backups is asking for trouble. Unfortunately, so many people do not learn this simple truth until it is too late. Data recovery, even by a professional, is always hit or miss.

The problem may be the enclosure and the drive OK.

I would avoid the freezer trick. It only works with specific types of failure and the risk high. This is a last resort only.

You have to decide if the data is worth the cost of professional data recovery. Continued DIY attempts can damage a drive to the point that even professional recovery is impossible.

 

[Faladu]

Big Red is his 32 gig USB external pen drive, probably.

When that drive is plugged into your USB port does it have a light that comes on? Just seeing if the power to it is dead or not....

How bad a drop was it? [How violent and what did it land on?]

I'd be trying to take it apart and get to the raw drive and see if IT will come up once the enclosure fare is out of the picture, and it may if just the electronics involved in powering up and/or using as USB are broken. [Helps having a SATA/IDE to USB cable for this, though]

Hope is not entirely lost, yet.

Data recovery for a full 2TB, ouch you are easily into thousands of bucks, anything that critical should not be kept just on an external drive... but you know that.... NOW :devil:

 

[AaLF]

.

Plugged the 2TB HDD into another win7 PC. first off it cannot see it. But in Disk Management I clicked on refresh scan and something has been detected:

UNKNOWN DEVICE - NOT INITIALIZED

So is that something to hope in? And what do we do next??

Did you try the Linux option suggested in post #2 - you have nothing to lose, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Golden, I'm confused here. Will this peppermint thing work on a DATA-storage-only HDD. its reads like its a repair for a faulty OS HDD?

Big Red is his 32 gig USB external pen drive, probably.

When that drive is plugged into your USB port does it have a light that comes on? Just seeing if the power to it is dead or not....

How bad a drop was it? [How violent and what did it land on?]

I'd be trying to take it apart and get to the raw drive and see if IT will come up once the enclosure fare is out of the picture, and it may if just the electronics involved in powering up and/or using as USB are broken. [Helps having a SATA/IDE to USB cable for this, though]

Hope is not entirely lost, yet.

Data recovery for a full 2TB, ouch you are easily into thousands of bucks, anything that critical should not be kept just on an external drive... but you know that.... NOW

Nothing wrong with ports, power etc. The only problem is the Data storage HDD. It fell from the desktop to the carpeted floor.

I'm in Sydney Australia. Prof. recovery help is so expensive here its probably cheaper to fly the HDD to America first class with the HDD on my lap.

do you guys know of any data recovery software that might detect the "UNKNOWN DEVICE - NOT INITIALIZED" HDD and offer me a slim hope that it can recovery the data?? I've no experience here. Throw some product names at me please.

 

[Faladu]

Software won't help without an OS seeing the drive properly, no miracle worker, that I know about in that department.

Like I said, I'd take that drive apart, and see if the drive can be see properly without the current enclosure, or try another cable in case that's the only problem. {I meant the power pieces OF the data HDD in question, btw}

If you are not comfortable, call a PC repair shop and explain what you need done, under $100 to give it my best effort, is about what I would charge for that.

Otherwise, you have to get a data recovery done, where they have to take it into a clean room and have a very expensive device try to read the sectors, and you get whatever it can recover that way, and it's certainly not 100% guaranteed saved, and I can't imagine you have anything that valuable on that drive.

I recovered my neighbors family photos and videos off a laptop that they otherwise destroyed, when it fell out of the back of their van, and yours just hit carpet, so I think you have a reasonable chance.

A SATA/IDE to USB cable (with power to run the devices) is under $25 USD, and handy.... I suggest you get one, this is a scenario I see you using it! 8)

 

[DocBrown]

Is it recognized in the Bios setup ? Maybe a Linux OS might see some of the files on it.