Solved Desktop not working: I need my hard drive back!

[Slartybart]

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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[BinkerNate]

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.

 

[Slartybart]

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?

 

[BinkerNate]

What is the capacity of the problematic HD?

If you mean memory capacity, I had to look it up, but it's 4GB.

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.

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

Either laptop should have seen the drive.

It did, it was just the loading as I said in the previous post.

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.

Yup, that's it.

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

Did you create the bootable PW DC? Did you boot either laptop with it?

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?

...Umm, what PW DC?

 

[Slartybart]

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/documents/Manuals/DX-HD303513_13-0415_WEB_V2_EN_Final_lr.pdf
QkSetup: http://www.dynexproducts.com/cms/documents/QSG/DX-HD303513_12-0301_QSG_V1_EN_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]

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.

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

Opps - should be PW CD. If you read back to post# 19, Partition Wizard (PW) Bootable CD (not DC).

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.

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.

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.

 

[Slartybart]

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.

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.

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.

 

[BinkerNate]

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 got the HD out and checked, and I believe this is what you're looking for: 40GB, from Western Digital, MDL: WD6400AAKS

 

[Slartybart]

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.

 

[BinkerNate]

yOkay, I got the new machine, and so far so good. But as for the enclosure; while it took a long while figuring it out and going through the same thing again, after the USB was on the back and I tried to access it (which it did appear on My PC as Local Disk), it took its time loading until this message popped up:
F:\ is not accessible
The parameter is incorrect

After that, My PC was not responding, which led to me closing and the machine taking a minute to bring the screen back.

I don't know. The enclosure is on, the activity light is blinking, I heard it functioning from inside, the USB was on the back, and My PC had it listed under device and drives, and yet nothing. My brother said I should connect the HD inside the new machine, since it has easy access to get inside, but its new so I'm afraid of that. And yes, there's that other thing Slartybart and I discussed.

But, any ideas with the enclosure?http://www.sevenforums.com/members/slartybart.html

 

[Slartybart]

Thanks for the update.

When a disk shows as Local Disk, you'll need to correct the MBR or Partition table. Please follow post#19 for instructions.

Once you have the utility disc, we can try to repair it.

Bill
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[BinkerNate]

The disc is burned; should I turn the enclosure back on, with PW still inside? If yes, then what should I do afterwards?

 

[Slartybart]

This might take some time, please be patient and while you wait for a member to reply, read the Partition Wizard (PW)online help. Don't experiment - you can make it impossible to recover any data.

I might have to ask for help if the disk is "stubborn".

So, the first thing I need to see is the main window of PW.

Boot your machine with the CD you created and post a screen shot as shown here:
Main Window of partition magic software. Partition Wizard Main Windows Help

If possible, post an Explore Partition screen shot:
How to Explore Partition - help of partition manager - Partition Wizard.

Perform the following operations and post the results

How to check File System - magic partition manager, Partition Wizard Help

How to view Partition Properties with partition manager? Partition Wizard Help
post all 3 tabs please

If PW cannot read the disc, the next step is to attempt some repairs - please wait for a member to review what you post and then give instructions. The information above will provide guidance on the next steps.

 

[BinkerNate]

How do you boot the disc on Windows 8? When I hit F11, I'm given three boot options, and one of them was hl-dt-st bddvdrw which must be the disc drive. Is that what I should click? Sorry, I didn't want to make a mistake.

P.S. just so I'll know, when should the enclosure be on during this process? When it was on during restart, it felt like it couldn't do that unless it was off. So should it be on once the disc is booting or what?

 

[Slartybart]

See option One in Startup Options Menu Shortcut - Create in Windows 8

Good question: Connect the drive AFTER the machine has booted with the Partition Wizard CD

Bill
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[BinkerNate]

I did this, and once it restarted it, or asked me to reboot with a proper device and press any key. The disc was already there, so I pressed a key, didn't work. So, I ejected and put the disc back in and that didn't work either. That's weird.

 

[Slartybart]

Hmmm, I don't know Win8 at all. Try one more thing and then I'll ask for help getting past the CD boot thing if it doesn't work.

Going back to your post# 34
When I hit F11, I'm given three boot options, and one of them was hl-dt-st bddvdrw which must be the disc drive. Is that what I should click?

Yes - select the blue ray drive / dvd

Hopefully that will get the PW cd to boot without all the fuss. The connect the drive and post the screen shots requested.

Thanks for you patience and caution.

 

[BinkerNate]

Same thing. I couldn't remember the message, the same one as before, but I managed to memorize it before rebooting: it says "Reboot and Select proper Boot Device or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key."

I had heard you have to do something in BIOS, but the video I saw and my computer were different. But yeah, this is Windows 8 not 7, more help and input is required.

 

[Slartybart]

Ok, thanks for trying that option.

This might work in our favor - you have a 6GB laptop with Win7 - yes. Try booting that machine with the PW CD and we can attempt the recovery there.

If you stay on the Win8 machine, I'm afraid I won't be much help.

Your call.

 

[BinkerNate]

Umm, no. The laptop with 6GB memory is Win8, and that's someone else's. The one that is mine is 1GB, and that's Win7. Since both machines loading of the HD was slow, I guess that's normal. Will that work? Also, that laptop has to have an external DVD drive plugged in to work, will that cause problems?