WD800JB-00CRA1 translator problem

[Damon]

Hi Gurus,

I have WD800JB-00CRA1 with translator problem, data is really important.

PCB and heads seems to be OK.

I backup all SA and I did regenerate transalator with P-list only to get back access to data. I see data on the disk, but some files cannot be read.

Unfortunately there are 292 entries in G-list, that surely have been missed during trans regen.

What can I do now to correcly read and get those files?

Damon

[thatdellguy]

Are you trying to read files right off the damaged drive?

[Damon]

I'm not sure that I undestand Your question exactly, but if You mean that I plugged the disk and tried to read data in normal way from Windows - YES.

Is it wrong direction to get all data back from it?

[CK]

You should never work on the original media where possible. Ideally, after reparing the SA fault, you should have imaged to a new HDD, then attempted to extract or search for data on a known good media.

[harddrivespecialist]

Is it wrong direction to get all data back from it?

YES!

First rule is: make an image of the bad drive and work with that image....

[msurgeon]

If you were able to backup SA and regenerate translator you apparently have either PC3000 or similar tools. If you have Data Extractor as well (or similar tool) you should be able to scan MFT and see data structures including lost entries. It is not always necessary to image an entire drive if the imaging process itself requires an inordinate amount of time because of a large number of bad sectors. It is often much more expedient to scan the MFT area only and build the file structure from that. It certainly is a lot faster to read at most a couple of hundred thousand sectors occupied by the MFT than to image a few hundred million sectors, most of which will not be occupied by data anyway. Of course, if you don't have DE or similar then your only option may have to be a full image.

[Damon]

Thanks a lot gurus for Your hints. Yes I have PC3000PCI, but unfortunately I don't have DE. I didn't deal with need of data recovery so far, that's why I have no experience with that.

So, what tools could I use instead of DE, to make this job well done? I can image this disk to another, but what proper tool can be good for this job? And what tool after image is done?

Regards
Damon

[BlackST]

Did you ask support?

[Damon]

If I could do it, I would do.

I don't have support right now. If You ask me that have I original equipment? Yes, I have registered original board of PC3K.

[BlackST]

No, I meant if support could tell the best option without DE. If the drive is 'imageable' even with errors, you have more options.

[Damon]

Well, I have no other option than wait for some hints from Gurus, maybe from You BlackST, I know that You are good Else I will have to face with this on my own

Regards
Damon

[msurgeon]

You can try using WinHex clone feature. Set to skip x number of bad sectors upon read error. Depending upon how many bad sectors there actually are the process may go fairly smoothly. If you find it hanging for lengthy periods of time or losing readiness frequently then forget this method because you may wind up doing more damage. After imaging you can use R-tools or similar to find data.

[guru]

one thing you re-generated translator without taking into account the G-list....

[HDD Spaz]

Use Mediatools. if you find disk is hitting a bad block, write down the LBA then go forward 50000. Take note of the new LBA. Start cloning again. Once completed, fill in the gaps repeating procedure but set your jump size lower. It may require you to baby sit the drive for several hours but if you have not imager, this is your best option in my opinion.

[Damon]

I will take into account all Your proposals and see if the job is done.

I have one more question to GURU:

You wrote, that I didn't take G-list into account... Should I? In the manual of PC3k is written, that to get back access to user data, translator regeneration must be done with P-list only, what I did. Other thing is that I'm pretty sure, that hdd is in good shape and some read errors are related to missing g-list entries during trans regen.
So could You explain it in a few more words?

Thanks all of You for hints.
Damon

[BlackST]

Have you tried Mhdd commands TOF and ATOF ? You need a formatted destination for intermediate files.

[guru]

I think you just explained it to yourself ;o)

[scratchy]

Can you now read in the translator modules without errors?


What results do you get with Check SA ?

[HDD Spaz]

Also disable sector relocation before cloning

[Damon]

Thanks guys, really!

I will try all those solutions after weekend and sure let You know.

Maybe there will be enough to take into account G-list additionally during trans regeneration as guru suggest.

Best regards and nice weekend
Damon