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Thread ID: 119705 2011-08-06 05:37:00 Hard Drive Bad Sectors, With a Twist Lucas (16493) Press F1
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1221261 2011-08-07 00:42:00 You can normally easily get the data off, by using a linux live CD, something like Ubuntu, Puppy linux or knoppix.

With the Drive attached to a PC, simply boot from the CD, Linux 9/10 will see the drive, allow you to copy /Paste the data to another drive.I'm doing that right now for a customer who's drive has failed on their Vista PC with bad sectors.
+1 for that. Linux live CD's can be a god send.
mikebartnz (21)
1221262 2011-08-07 01:27:00 I would:

1) Take the drive out of the enclosure and connect directly to PC
2) Check SMART and verify the bad sectors. If there are many, make an image of the drive with gnu dd rescue
3) Copy your data off And\Or scan the resulting image with a data recovery tool such as Testdisk (free) or GetDataBack (paid)

Those USB interfaces are a joke especially if you are trying to recover data.

Which is more important? Your data or the warranty?


(Note: Some external enclosures use hardware encryption between the drive and the USB interface, in which case connecting directly to a PC won't work)
Agent_24 (57)
1221263 2011-08-07 01:35:00 Seems to be a weekend for this ,Must be something in the water. :D

Got another customer who called this morning, they plugged their 500GB USB Drive into some device, and it promptly corrupted the drive, :badpc:

Windows shows the drive as being there, buy cant access it - Knoppix is recovering as I write -- Only 300GB approx of videos to go :sleep

I'm running out of back up drives with enough capacity at this rate :lol:
wainuitech (129)
1221264 2011-08-07 04:57:00 Seems to be a weekend for this ,Must be something in the water. :D

Got another customer who called this morning, they plugged their 500GB USB Drive into some device, and it promptly corrupted the drive, :badpc:

Windows shows the drive as being there, buy cant access it - Knoppix is recovering as I write -- Only 300GB approx of videos to go :sleep

I'm running out of back up drives with enough capacity at this rate :lol:
When ever I plug my Ext HD into my netbook and use Win7Starter which isn't often it always complains like mad but Linux just gets on with the job.
mikebartnz (21)
1221265 2011-08-07 08:29:00 Originally Posted by wainuitech
You can normally easily get the data off by using a linux live CD
>>>>
I just checked to see if the Tools in Microsoft's new virus-sweeping boot disc ("Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper") allow you to see your files - The answer's no
BBCmicro (15761)
1221266 2011-08-07 08:31:00 Typically bootable virus scanners do not work as recovery disks, if they do it's a bonus. Agent_24 (57)
1221267 2011-08-07 10:20:00 For reference -- if you want the knoppix Option , go here to the site (www.knopper.net) I used th Second one down, HTTP ( first Attachment shows) next page, click "Accept" - Scroll down till you get to version 6.7----EN.ISO 697 M (attachment 2), save it, then as Speedy mentioned burn it with ISO burning software, boot from the CD with the USB HDD attached.

On booting, First screen, press <Enter> when it shows boot- (bottom left hand corner) Using the Arrow keys, select 12 , Graphical Programs <Enter> Full x Session <enter>

Once booted, bottom left corner, second Icon - File manager. On the left will be all your drives, the main HDD will more than likely be sda1 the USB drive will be showing as well (as long as its not completely toasted) open the drive by double clicking it, Select the folders/files by right clicking them, you may get a warning message, click OK and carry on, copy/paste the files you want to the Main PC.

The problem will arise if there are bad sectors in a file being copied, it may throw up an error message - if so it wont be recoverable.

Once finished, click the start Icon in the task bar ( looks like a arrow- kind of), restart or shut down.

Edited:
Originally I tried Ubuntu live CD, but that spat the dummy and didn't want to boot correctly.

You deserve a medal!
Thank you for this guide, I'll deffinately be trying this method. Ill post the results once i have finished.
Lucas (16493)
1221268 2011-08-07 10:29:00 If you install partedmagic using universal USB installer onto a memory stick then boot into it it has some good hdd recovery tools:-)

:pf1mobmini:
Tplw9 (16484)
1221269 2011-08-07 10:56:00 Originally Posted by wainuitech
You can normally easily get the data off by using a linux live CD
>>>>
I just checked to see if the Tools in Microsoft's new virus-sweeping boot disc ("Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper") allow you to see your files - The answer's no Just downloaded that, but if its the same one thats in the Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset ( which it looks like it is from screen shots), then its not a new product, just being made available to the public by the looks .

Its not linux based, Being MS, I assume it will be bootable via Windws PE .

Lucas:

While it cant be guaranteed Knoppix will work, its only going to take a bit of time and a download to try .
If it does work then you will be able to recover data, if not then nothing will be lost per the warranty .
Sometimes drives are to far gone to recover anything -- part of life I spose you could say .

As I mentioned previously, to many people give up to easy and while some here say open the case, it will void the warranty instantly .

That would be OK if it were their drive and they wanted to lose a warranty, but advising others is a little irresponsible to suggest it . That is of course unless the people suggesting you void the warranty were willing to get you a new drive if their suggestions failed . ( yeah right, as if that would happen) ;)
wainuitech (129)
1221270 2011-08-07 11:12:00 Just downloaded that, but if its the same one thats in the Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset ( which it looks like it is from screen shots), then its not a new product, just being made available to the public by the looks .

Its not linux based, Being MS, I assume it will be bootable via Windws PE .

Lucas:

While it cant be guaranteed Knoppix will work, its only going to take a bit of time and a download to try .
If it does work then you will be able to recover data, if not then nothing will be lost per the warranty .
Sometimes drives are to far gone to recover anything -- part of life I spose you could say .

As I mentioned previously, to many people give up to easy and while some here say open the case, it will void the warranty instantly .

That would be OK if it were their drive and they wanted to lose a warranty, but advising others is a little irresponsible to suggest it . That is of course unless the people suggesting you void the warranty were willing to get you a new drive if their suggestions failed . ( yeah right, as if that would happen) ;)

I have tried using your method with Knoppix . The drive doesn't show up :(
Me being an idiot, I forgot to mention that the drive has BitLocker on it, This, i have just realized is probably the problem . S#$T
Lucas (16493)
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