Failing External HD being replaced. Data recovery options?

[nickmo]

My dillema, I have a failing external hard drive. It is a Western Digital 500GB Model #:WDG1U5000N. The hard drive when writing a lot of data to it, copying a lot of data from it, or when accessing it(loading music into a media player) the drive will stall, the progress bar of whatever it is will stall for a few minutes. Finally I will get a prompt asking me if I want to format the drive or not.

When I run a diagnostic tool from Western Digital the hard drive fails in one area, Re-Allocated Sector Count. Western Digital has told me that I need a replacement. I am under warranty still. When I receive my replacement product I will have 30 days to return the defective one. For data recovery they suggested finding some sort of data recovery software or if that doesn't work try a service. There is almost 400GB of data on my external hard drive. Old documents/homework, backups of older systems, and my music collection. I wish to recover as much as possible.

What is the process of recovering this? What type of software should I be looking for? What capabilities should it have? Any recommendations?

What are my options for data recovery? If I have both external drives connected to my laptop through USB, can I send it directly to the new one? I have a 160gb internal hard drive as well. What is the process, just a copy of files? I have read about a "sector to sector" image of the failing drive for recovery(which I know nothing about)? I am not sure what I need and need some help.

This is a new topic for me, and I don't know much about it. If anyone has any insight on the process I should take to recover as much of my data as possible it would be greatly appreciated. I want to have a plan ready for when I get my replacement drive so I can get the defective one back in time. Thank you for any help.

[drc]

If you stop messing with it now and let an expert/pro at it you can probably still get your data off without having to pay for full-on data recovery.

[nickmo]

If you stop messing with it now and let an expert/pro at it you can probably still get your data off without having to pay for full-on data recovery.

expert/pro of what? there isn't much info I can find about this topic. I tried talking to a few people and reading through forums, seems to me this might be able to be done through software. i haven't been messing with it much, it has been unplugged for over a month because i am scared of losing the data. thanks

[thatdellguy]

Nick, forget the USB, forget the laptop, research more on sector imaging or contact a pro before your drive destroys itself. If you don't know much about data recovery then stop what you’re doing and contact someone that does. Serious imaging tools will cost you more than a recovery.

[drc]

At the very least take it to a reputable(!) local shop. If there is not one then I'm sure someone on these forums would be happy to accept the job. It doesn't sound like your drive needs commercial DR along the lines of ontrack/drivesavers yet.