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Thread ID: 129942	2013-03-21 02:44:00	Backing up failing HDD?	Vicx (11114)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1333572	2013-03-21 02:44:00	My storage HDD is getting worse by the day! I got a few crashes while browsing photos a month ago, backed them all up instantly to an external HDD . Now it freezes when I start to browse the other misc files . I copied a few gb last night fine, but today it started freezing on the folder I'm up to, I can't even check the properties anymore on that specific folder even though I could last night . How do I safely copy over the last few remaining files without it crashing when copy/paste no longer works? I can still open the folders and see the files but not copy them . I've also tried roadkill's unstoppable copier today which did work for about 8gb (after a few attempts) but now can't even copy 100mb anymore, just keeps freezing whether I copy manually or use roadkill . I might resort to freezing the HDD if I can't do anything else: . com/hack/how-to-recover-dead-hard-drive-data/" target="_blank">hacknmod . com HDD is a 1TB WD Caviar, about 2 years old .	Vicx (11114)
1333573	2013-03-21 02:49:00	Could be your a/v program is scanning the files as you browse..perhaps boot to safe mode or use a linux live disc to boot up on.	SolMiester (139)
1333574	2013-03-21 03:18:00	the freezer method hardly ever works, try that LAST. A few thoughts.. These last few files may be on an unreadable section of the HD Try giving the HD a 'rest' & try again tomorrow try copying the files off 1 at a time have a fan blowing air across the HD, to try & keep it cool. Try & image the whole hard drive (really clutching at straws now) Try Linux, its alot less fussy about dodgy HD's than Win is. Its also a bit painfull if youve never used Linux before. You'll need a bootable Lin based backup/recovery CD Paragon backup & recovery can do a simple file copy, a free download for bootable CD's (dont use it for disk images or HD cloning) www.paragon-software.com Is this HD a USB HD?? if so try removing from case & connect via sata cables Good luck.	1101 (13337)
1333575	2013-03-21 03:23:00	Have you done a disk check? My portable HDD got very very slow and started to freeze. Once I did a disk check, it was fixed. But your problem sounds much worse than the one I had. I would also recommend the making a disk image.	ChazTheGeek (16619)
1333576	2013-03-21 04:39:00	Could be your a/v program is scanning the files as you browse..perhaps boot to safe mode or use a linux live disc to boot up on. good idea, I tried disabling my A/V software but it still froze in the middle of copying a 40mb file :( tried again after shutting down for an hour but same story. the freezer method hardly ever works, try that LAST. A few thoughts.. These last few files may be on an unreadable section of the HD Try giving the HD a 'rest' & try again tomorrow try copying the files off 1 at a time have a fan blowing air across the HD, to try & keep it cool. Try & image the whole hard drive (really clutching at straws now) Try Linux, its alot less fussy about dodgy HD's than Win is. Its also a bit painfull if youve never used Linux before. You'll need a bootable Lin based backup/recovery CD Paragon backup & recovery can do a simple file copy, a free download for bootable CD's (dont use it for disk images or HD cloning) www.paragon-software.com Is this HD a USB HD?? if so try removing from case & connect via sata cables Good luck. I'll try again first thing tomorrow morning, maybe it's freezing so frequently now because I keep trying straight after restarting (probably had about 20-30 restarts today). I just want to grab maybe 30-40gb and the rest I don't mind losing, so I don't really want to image a 1TB drive just for a few files. It's not a USB HDD, it's plugged in as a secondary HDD through SATA, it's only being used as storage. Have you done a disk check? My portable HDD got very very slow and started to freeze. Once I did a disk check, it was fixed. But your problem sounds much worse than the one I had. I would also recommend the making a disk image. how do I do a disk check? is it capable of fixing a drive that freezes constantly when copying/reading random files?	Vicx (11114)
1333577	2013-03-21 04:43:00	What version of Windows are you using ? :)	Trev (427)
1333578	2013-03-21 04:47:00	As its been mentioned, don't try the freeze option except as a last resort. It often fails as well. You generally ONE shot at it, once the drive warms back up its generally had its lot. There has been a few times it works, but then again it can really bugger it completely. Sometimes it works, one I did ages ago the Mrs thought I was nuts - put the drive in the freezer overnight, then took it out, wrapped it in frozen mixed vegies packets, kept it going long enough to get about a third of the data, then died completely. The Live Linux CD is the safer bet. As for chkdsk -- once again, take your chances, it can make it worse if the drive is failing. Chances are its got failing sectors or internal hardware.	wainuitech (129)
1333579	2013-03-21 05:11:00	WinXP SP3. the freeze option is definitely my last resort but I'll go there if I have to. I'll try the linux CD if I can't copy anything tomorrow, but I've got no experience with linux so I don't know how that'll go.	Vicx (11114)
1333580	2013-03-21 05:25:00	The linux CD is not that hard, you just have to remember its not Windows, so you'll see the full folder structure ( generally). What you do is boot from the linux CD with the damaged drive attached, then on the desktop you should see the two drives, your good windows drive and the damaged one, ( if not click on "places" at the top of the screen - this is for ubuntu - or Double click on Computer then double click the Slaved drive) simply navigate to files you want - right click one or how many you want - copy, then double click the good Windows drive and navigate to the folder you want to put them in, lets say the main C drive ( forget any sub folders at the moment) then right click paste. Note: the Main C drive will may show as File System. All going well they will copy over.	wainuitech (129)
1333581	2013-03-21 05:38:00	Timer ran out :( attached is a screen shot of Linux Mint with a 320GB Drive slaved so you can see what it will look like. 4873	wainuitech (129)
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