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

[Slartybart]

Very thorough analysis, as always, jumanji.

Cloning would be my first choice. I have no experience with ddrescue, so I defer to the experience of Anshad and yourself. It will be a learning experience as I watch the progress of the thread.

The other methods on your list are good fall back options. I think you listed the methods in the order I would try due to the advantages / disadvantages.

My vote is cast for cloning

I do have a post in a thread for Data Recovery using Linux Mint Mate, it's workable, but not polished. This would be the first use of it in the wild (it's easy for me to follow because I wrote it)
If it is needed, I will supply a link.

Bill
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[Anshad Edavana]

I would also suggest cloning the disk to another known good empty drive using "ddrescue". The destination drive should be with same or more LBA numbers. As the source disk is a 500 GB one, a 750 or 1 TB drive is recommended as destination disk.

To save the log file, the same bootable USB key can be used ( either "System Rescue CD" or "Parted Magic" - i am more comfortable in using "Parted Magic" and it came with some nice extra tools- last free version will do fine ). Usually the log file will be only a few KB in size.

Before starting the cloning process, i would like to confirm whether there is any difference with a brand new SATA data cable.

 

[Canuck67]

Thanks for everyone chiming in on this.... I don't really understand most of it, but then again, that's why I'm here

a couple of points...

1. I've tried replacing the SATA cable with no effect. That was one of the first things I did before posting here. Apologies if it wasn't previously mentioned.

2. with regards to needing another drive... will the other internal hard drive be sufficient for any cloning or other tasks?
It has approximately 460 GB of the 698GB listed according to when I bring it up in the library.
On the 500GB drive in question... it has maybe 300-350GB of data on it.

EDIT:
3. my main concern right now is data recovery. if I lose the drive.... so be it.

 

[Slartybart]

Thanks for everyone chiming in on this.... I don't really understand most of it, but then again, that's why I'm here

a couple of points...

1. I've tried replacing the SATA cable with no effect. That was one of the first things I did before posting here. Apologies if it wasn't previously mentioned.

2. with regards to needing another drive... will the other internal hard drive be sufficient for any cloning or other tasks?
It has approximately 460 GB of the 698GB listed according to when I bring it up in the library.
On the 500GB drive in question... it has maybe 300-350GB of data on it.

EDIT:
3. my main concern right now is data recovery. if I lose the drive.... so be it.

You might have mentioned the SATA cable swap, way back when, thanks for confirming that again. Anshad might ask about the type or rating of the cable you used, he gave some specifics on the post he suggested it.

This is a cloning operation, so the drive has to equal or exceed the capacity of the faulty drive (500 GB).
A 750 GB - 1 TB was recommended as a safety factor. After the clone, the extra space can be used however you choose. The concern is that the process might require 500 GB + 10 MB (I just picked a number over 500 GB) and since the process takes a long time, it would be a shame to loose the time due to a small overhead factor.

The other thing you should know is that a clone is different from a copy. In a clone, the disk is read sector by sector and written sector by sector, so the clone partition has to be a separate partition. In other words, you can't clone to your C: partition, but you could copy to it (not recommended though - I'm working with another member who did that and it got messy... the last time I checked he was doing a clean install of Windows restoring his machine to factory condition.)

The answer: No you cannot use the other internal drive, there isn't enough free space to create a partition to be the clone of the faulty drive.

It was a very good question asked at the right time

 

[mjf]

I too have no experience with "ddrescue" and it may be the best way to go.
However:
If all else fails you have the option to image using Macrium with the option of ignoring bad sectors. You must select this option to ignore otherwise Macrium imaging will halt on a bad sector. Go straight to "Force Macrium Reflect to ignore bad sectors" and don't run chkdsk. This link shows how to select the option.
v5: Imaging disks with bad sectors (Bad Sectors)

I'd store the image on an external HDD. Then disconnect your faulty HDD to save it from further wear & tear.
Boot from the Macrium Rescue pe DVD and mount the image. If it mounts ok then transfer your data. You could even try reimaging to a new HDD and see how you go.

As a Macrium user I'd be trying this first. However, "ddrescue" is worth knowing about.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Bit late in here been sick so I was going to say before just to clone the thing even with faults the thing is not going to give up the ghost eh?

My particular favourite is Macrium for cloning and then perhaps run the tests in the old drive even if only for curiosities sake - but that is just me being a tad pedantic I suppose.

These are some I found but haven't yet tried them all Best Free Hard Drive Health Monitoring and Diagnostic Programs

 

[jumanji]

And so it would seem cloning with ddrescue is suggested by most.

Since Anshad is comfortable with running ddrescue from Parted Magic, he may lead the OP into it. We can also learn how to do it. ( I just downloaded the free version, from Download Parted Magic - MajorGeeks, created the bootable pendrive with Rufus and booted from it. Even I would need further guidance .)

And so over to Anshad Edavana to lead. ( Since you want to have the logfile in the pendrive, you may specify the size of pendrive the OP may need.)

Thanks.

 

[Anshad Edavana]

Since "Partition Wizard" bootable CD can detect the partitions, there is a good chance for "Parted Magic" to see and explore the partitions. In that case cloning won't be necessary.

I would like to know the result of :

1. Disconnect all hard drives except the failing one and then boot from "Parted Magic" ( CD/USB).

Download Parted Magic - MajorGeeks

Open "File Manager" and check whether you can browse the partitions.

2. Open "Disk Health" from Desktop and double click on the drive icon.

3. Navigate to the "Attributes" tab and click on "Save As" button. Save the file with the name SMART on our flash drive and attach it with your next reply.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hmm must try as I must admit I have only ever used it for wiping drives

 

[Slartybart]

Since "Partition Wizard" bootable CD can detect the partitions, there is a good chance for "Parted Magic" to see and explore the partitions. In that case cloning won't be necessary.

.....

This might help Canuck, in that he has free space available on his other internal drive that he could use in a copy operation. I haven't looked at that drive partition scheme close enough (or recently) to advise on creating a partition specific to the copy.

I will leave it up to Anshad to determine the best scenario. I hope everything goes well and you can recover all or most of your data. Good luck, I'm back to the shadows.

Bill
.

 

[Canuck67]

okay, I used rufus to make a boot drive with that new Parted Magic file... I will crack the case and swap out the working drive with the dead one and get that screenshot if everything goes according to plan.

I won't have time until later tonight... but I'll post it as soon as I can.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Since "Partition Wizard" bootable CD can detect the partitions, there is a good chance for "Parted Magic" to see and explore the partitions. In that case cloning won't be necessary.

Yep well the Partition Wizard maybe of help as it will detect the partitons but I am unsure of how the copy partition works in it.

 

[jumanji]

@ICit2, PW can only explore and show the files in partitions present as well as those lost and found by Partition Recovery Wizard but there is no way to copy the files. The OP had already seen the files show.If TestDisk shows the files, it can copy the files.( method II in my post #100)

http://www.sevenforums.com/software...ive-turned-raw-partition-wizard-testdisk.html

In OP's case the suspicion is that his HDD may be slowly developing bad sectors making it difficult to read by Windows.We have seen Windows fumbling and tumbling.

Reason why we want to clone the drive immediately and attempt any data recovery on the cloned drive.

Parted Magic is again a sort of Linux distro - much like your Ubuntu - and that is why Anshad is saying let us see if it shows the files in which case we will copy those. ( method III in post #100)

If our suspicion that the HDD is developing bad sectors is true, some of the files copied either with TestDisk or live Linux will be corrupt even if we succeed in copying.

ddrescue while cloning the drive tries to repeatedly read the bad sectors and extract the data in it, which conventional cloning software like Macrium Reflect will not do.The algorithm used in ddrescue is different with focus on bad sector recovery as it clones. First pass clones all good sectors. Subsequent passes - as many as you can order - will target only the bad sectors as logged in its logfile - and try to extract the feeble data in it.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok Jumanji the only one I know one can copy / paste is the Ubuntu method as I have used it with totally dead or non accessible drives but I reckon you have it under control

 

[Canuck67]

okay... so I switched out hard drives, and booted up using the Parted Magic flash drive... but did NOT get any screens or information that I was supposed to be looking for...

the first screen cap shows the menu I had, the second shows the options I thought might be right, but aren't... somewhere, I guess I did something wrong.... again....

 

[Slartybart]

Try #1 Default Settings 32

This should load Linux into memory and run there as a virtual disk.

If I'm right, you can post the screen shot Anshad requested.

If I'm wrong , you''ll just have to boot Parted Magic and wait for Anshad.

 

[Canuck67]

Try #1 Default Settings 32

If I'm right, you can post the screen shot Anshad requested.

If I'm wrong , you''ll just have to boot again.

LOL... you mean completely take the darn thing apart and put it back together again... ahhh... the joys of computers.

Back in a few hopefully.

 

[Slartybart]

Oh no.... I meant select option #1 on the screen in post 115

Don't take anything apart

 

[Canuck67]

Oh no.... I meant select option #1 on the screen in post 115
Don't take anything apart

so maybe I'm confused here.... but I was told to remove the good drive, install the dead drive, reboot using the PM flash drive, then take screen shots.

I then have to power down, take out the dead drive, re install the good drive, re boot, and sign in here.......

 

[Canuck67]

I'm going to get some sleep.... let me know if I should try again with the dead drive and what to look for.