Cannot clone failing int HD with bad sectors but can access folders

[Husaberger]

Western Digital C: drive is failing
Removed from Dell desktop and installed in functional computer
HD Fails Data Lifeguard tests
Tried CHKDSK /r 10x and am able to complete (see attachment) but still cannot boot
Cannot clone with Macrium
Cannot clone with Acronis
Cannot clone with Inateck HD docking station with offline clone function
Any ideas other than reinstall?

https://www.amazon.com/Inateck-Dual...&qid=1473984032&sr=1-1&keywords=inateck+clone

 

[Megahertz07]

You are having bad clusters on your disk. It isn't a software problem.
Unfortunately its a hardware problem. I would say your disk is dying.
Save all your data files using the computer that you used for testing, buy a new HDD or SSD and reinstall Windows.

 

[RolandJS]

After saving all your Data folders and files, using the external backup device, check some of your very important copied [saved] folders and files. I hope the bad-sector-material moved to another sector process has not disturbed the contents.

 

[Husaberger]

Thanks MHz and RJS
But isn't there a way to clone the dying HD and then repair the clone??

 

[jumanji]

There is, but it is a much more elaborate and time consuming process than a reinstall. Also the end result is unpredictable. ( depends much upon your skill level, understanding and executing it)

When your HDD is dying with bad sectors, none of the conventional imaging software like Macrium Reflect can clone it. However with ddrescue you can clone a drive with bad sectors. It will also repeatedly run trying to recover the data in bad sectors.

nkaufman was able to successfully clone his failing laptop drive and boot from the cloned drive. That was a success story. http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...-failing-hdd-data-recovery-5.html#post3151237

Before you experiment with ddrescue, save all important data on your failing drive first since your drive may die at any moment.

Note: Cloning with ddrescue is mainly resorted to recover data. Not a substitute for a reinstall. Even if you are able to boot from the cloned drive, one may have to do a lot of repair/repair install if some system files are corrupted / beyond recovery.It all depends upon how bad the bad sectors are really bad and whether any system files were in the bad sector/s.

 

[jumanji]

I find that you had already been told about this http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware...t-clone-failing-hard-drive-3.html#post3148147

 

[samuria]

Most cloning will work they have a mode like sector by sector clone you can clone by using robocop or copy then using bcedit to write boot records MBR etc. A clone is just like copying except it creates boot sector sets partition active etc

 

[Husaberger]

Thanks Jumani
Yes, I had a similar problem on a different machine and as you read the Inateck offline cloning function worked in that instance
As I mentioned above, it did not work on this failing HD
I will try DDRescue
I had read about it but never using Linux was hoping for a windows based solution
Will let you know how it goes

 

[Megahertz07]

The priority should be to save your data on another disk. Playing with the disk will rush its death.
If the dying disk don't boot, the cloned one also won't boot.
I think you're going to waste your time trying to clone a disk that has already bad sectors. If you succeed to clone you're going to have some blue or freezing screen. And then you're going to do a clean install.

 

[ThrashZone]

Thanks MHz and RJS
But isn't there a way to clone the dying HD and then repair the clone??

Hi,
Not sure why you would want too ?
It's a lot easier to clean install these days with the unofficial sp2
There are essentially 3 updates needed for a clean install of windows that will get you updated through April of 2016

KB3020369 & KB3125574 & KB3172605 all can be downloaded from the catalog using internet explorer
Microsoft Update Catalog

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com...17/simplifying-updates-for-windows-7-and-8-1/
When manually installing updates you need to switch your update settings to Never check for updates and restart the machine first.

After restart you will need to ensure the built in windows update service is stopped and set to manual first too or it will conflict with the stand alone installer.

Afterwards reset the windows updates service to what it was before and update settings to your preference and check for updates
Should be only 50 or so updates left to install.

If you need installation media just ask for it
I also have all three required updates on my OneDrive too

 

[RolandJS]

I vote for Puppy Linux boot and using its file manager to copy off data folders and files - the sooner the better.