how do I recover data from a non responsive hard drive?

[Canuck67]

Hello,

I had a problem last week with my system, which I posted in this forum. Turns out one of my hard drives was the culprit.
I have (had) two internal hard drives on my desktop. I removed the faulty one, and my system now runs properly, but I need the data off of that faulty drive. (I need the data added since the last back up.)

I purchased a SATA to USB adapter kit, but of course it isn't that easy. The drive is not showing up in My Computer.

When I go to Disk Management, it is there... but I can't click on it. (Listed as Disk 1 Removable O: in screen cap)

Can anyone tell me (dumb it down, please) how I can recover my data?

(the drive in question is a Seagate that was partitioned into sections.)

thanks in advance

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Here's the rule of thumb I've seen.

If the partition is seen and appears to be intact, try to recover the files with a file recovery application such as Recuva.

If the partition is not seen and appears to be gone or damaged, try to recover the partition first using a tool such as Partition Wizard. If that is successful, the files may then be visible and not need recovery.

I'm no expert on either application.

In any case, don't write anything new to the drive.

Hook the drive up in the normal manner and determine if you can see the partition. If no, try Partition Wizard. If yes, try Recuva.

Based on your picture, it looks like the partition is not seen.

You say this is an internal drive, so I'm not clear why you are using that cable instead of just connecting the drive internally.

 

[Canuck67]

Thanks for the info...

as to why I pulled the drive, it was causing my system to not work.

see the thread here... http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/333740-cannot-access-internal-hard-drives-i-o-error.html

once I pulled the drive out, everything works perfectly. That's why I'm using the SATA to USB adapter

 

[Layback Bear]

 

[Layback Bear]

ignatzatsonic the picture above might be helpful. It was from his previous thread.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Hmm... I'm wondering why the E drive is marked active.

All those RAW partitions would lead me to try Partition Wizard, rather than a file recovery tool.

 

[jumanji]

OK, I have now seen your previous thread, wherein one partition is active and rest of the partitions are RAW.

You may try the following.

Install Partition Wizard and check whether it recognises your the faulty hard drive and the partitions in it as it was shown in the last screenshot in your previous thread - the after five and half hours one.

If it does, remove the active flag in the first partition using PW and then run the Partition Recovery Wizard Quick Scan and check whether it can find the partition information and rewrite the partition table.

( I'm too slow, by the time I fished out your last thread, examined it and posted this shot, post#3 to 6 had been fired. . They seem to have AK47s)

 

[ICIT2LOL]

My 2 cents worth try this

BOOTABLE UBUNTU

Make a bootable Ubuntu disk http://www.ubuntu.com/download

Set the BIOS to boot from theoptical when the machine boots it will show you a screen with TRY or INSTALL> select TRYnot INSTALL

When it is finished - it takes verylittle time you will get a screen like in the pic .

Open the drive you want > Userand dig down until you get to the data / settings you may be able to copy /paste the material you want to an external source or other installed drive doingthis.

I am not sure if it will but I haverecovered tons of data etc using this method both on "dead" or justplain drives that you cannot get data from using Windows.

 

[jumanji]

OK, I forgot to tell something.

After whatever you did taking it out of its original abode, the drive at present is shown as one with "no media"

So go back to your original configuration - that is restore it as a second drive in the desktop - and do Partition Wizard.

If during the boot process your system fumbles and tumbles, then run PW from a bootable CD or pendrive booting from it. ( For this you have to download the bootable CD version of PW and burn it to a CD or create a bootable pendrive using Rufus.)

Incidentally the bootable CD version of PW is Linux based and that goes with IC2's recommendation of using Linux in this situation but I wouldn't go whole-hog into data recovery mode using a Linux distro. That should come only after our efforts to resurrect the HDD and restore it to the original condition fails. ( without the need for a data recovery process that will require another empty hard drive to copy)

 

[Canuck67]

thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I'll plug the hard drive back into the tower and see what happens. Trying Partition Wizard with the dead drive hooked up via SATA to USB cables did nothing. PW couldn't even find the drive.

IF it has problems starting up again (I'm predicting it will) then I'll try one of the suggested courses of action.

I have NO idea how to use Ubuntu or the Linux / pen drive suggestions. I'm a hardware guy, NOT a software guy.

if anyone has the time to give me "step by step instructions for dummies" I'd be grateful.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Canuck unless you can hook up the hard drive with a 12 volts supply you won't get the drive to work if it is a spinner.

The bootable Linux / Ubuntu way is the way to go though if you have tried the Ubuntu already then I am out of ideas as with it you can use the PW from a stick.

 

[Canuck67]

Canuck unless you can hook up the hard drive with a 12 volts supply you won't get the drive to work if it is a spinner.

The bootable Linux / Ubuntu way is the way to go though if you have tried the Ubuntu already then I am out of ideas as with it you can use the PW from a stick.

yeah, I have power to it... like I said in my last post, I just have NO idea how to use Ubuntu or booting up from a usb stick...

If I can't get easy instructions on that, I may have to pay the $75 for someone to do it for me. Oh the horrors...

 

[jumanji]

].......yeah, I have power to it... like I said in my last post, I just have NO idea how to use Ubuntu or booting up from a usb stick...

Do you know how to enter into onetime boot menu for your ASUS P5E motherboard to be able to boot from USB?

I think it is F8 Key. Usually it is shown at the bottom of first BIOS screen but you must be quick enough to read it. If you can't catch it, reboot and try to catch it. Your motherboard manual also may indicate the Key.

As soon as BIOS run starts hit F8 or any other key indicated in the BIOS Screen and see whether you can enter the boot menu.

Once you confirm that you can enter into onetime boot menu, I can give you the necessary instructions to create a bootable Partition Wizard pendrive for you to run it and later if necessary to create a live Linux pendrive.

 

[Canuck67]

yes. I've used the F8 key once before... someone told me to go in there and select the Last Known Good Configuration.... it didn't work.
but I do know what you are talking about.

 

[jumanji]

OMG! That is after the boot process when Windows start loading. When you do that you will get into Windows Advanced Menu.

Here you should start hitting F8 once, as soon as BIOS boot starts and it should indicate various boot options like booting from USB, CDROM drive etc., - different boot devices. Can you see the first screen as BIOS starts?

 

[Canuck67]

Here you should start hitting F8 once, as soon as BIOS boot starts and it should indicate various boot options like booting from USB, CDROM drive etc., - different boot devices. Can you see the first screen as BIOS starts?

yep... I kind of remember seeing that. So how do I make a usb version and how do I use it?

 

[jumanji]

First you should confirm that you can get into Onetime boot Menu and tell what all boot devices you see. Then comes the rest.

Now I think its time for you to retire. Retire. I shall see you your tom after about eight hours perhaps.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sorry late reply but as Jumanji says you just beed to get into the BIOS now Iam not sure if it is the F8 key my Asus boards have usually been the F2 key oryou could try the DEL key. According to the manual it is the DEL key
Motherboards - P5E - ASUS

Set that BIOS to boot from optical and push in the Ubuntu disk or if youare using a stick BIOS to USB and insert the stick.

 

[jumanji]

Thanks ICit2 for coming in. DEL key gets you into BIOS set up menu. (At the moment I don't want the OP to get into BIOS setup menu > Boot Priority and meddle with it.)

Do you know which key brings the onetime boot menu on P5E?

alphanumeric in this post http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/202692-why-del-key-bios-boot-menu.html#post1701221 (This takes you to that post)
has mentioned F8. Also http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/202692-why-del-key-bios-boot-menu.html#post1702108 (This takes you to another post in the same thread)

I wanted the OP to read the first BIOS screen where at the bottom the relevant keys are normally mentioned. He hasn't done it yet. I allowed him to sleep and then come back.

Let us see what he does when he wakes up.

 

[jumanji]

Hi Canuk67,

when you wake up have a look at the screenshot below.

This is the first screen that appears as soon as I power on the PC.

At the bottom of the screen it lists various keys DEL BIOS Setup/Q Flash........F12 - Boot Menu. .....
For my Gigabyte MB, I hit F12 at that very moment ( this screen lasts just for a second) to enter the one time boot menu.

For your ASUS P5E it may be some other key.( F8 as I gathered from alphanumeric's post elsewhere, check it out)

If you miss that point, allow the computer to boot into Windows and then reboot. Get to know that key. It may take two or three boots for you to watch it out.

Once you know the key,hit that key at that very moment it is seen to enter the boot menu.