Hard drive is only recognized in the BIOS

[petabyte85]

I have a HD SATA Seagate 3.5" 1.5 TB that is only recognized in the BIOS, It featured some I/O erros, but always worked "normal", but today my partition "disappeared" so I the shutdown the computer and nothing, change SATA cables (Energy and Data).

And now whenever I turn off the computer, I hear a telltale clicking sound.

This is a logical failure or mechanical failure?

If I change the logic board for one of the same brand, model, size and firmware can solve the problem?

All tests that I did:

- Windows don't recognize the HD (Windows 7)
- Linux don't recognize the HD (Ubuntu 14.10)
- Run a Live CD don't recognize the HD (Windows Mini XP and Ubuntu 12.04)
- Data Recovery tools don't recognize the HD (Recuva, HDD Regenetor)
- Run SeaTools and HDTA2 from Hiren's Boot CD and the HD is recognized by both, but how to recovery my files and it's safe try "Scan and Repair bad sectors"?

I'll be more relaxed when at least be able to view my files...

- I'll buy a Sata HDD USB Docking Station and a Seagate 2TB Desktop HDD SATA to backup. But first I need to have access to my files.

Which program that can help me to recover my files safely?

[labtech]

This is a logical failure or mechanical failure?

Likely both.

If I change the logic board for one of the same brand, model, size and firmware can solve the problem?

Likely not, as your drive behavior in terms of chronogical failure behavior does not support a PCB failure theory.

HDD Regenetor

This is NOT a data recovery tool

how to recovery my files and it's safe try "Scan and Repair bad sectors"?

No. This is a bad idea and once executed in can cause irreversible damage to the logical file structure.

Which program that can help me to recover my files safely?

No ordinary software can help recover the data as the drive is not recognized by any system. Need to address whatever problems the drive has, test to see if it is recognized by system and then attempt cloning or imaging the failed drive to another healthy drive. Then extract files from healthy drive. To maximize chances of successful file recovery, the imaging process should be done ideally with a hardware based imager, which is expensive for a regular person. Therefore, it is recommended to seek data recovery specialist who has the proper equipment.

[petabyte85]

I run SeaTools (Only scan) and the results was:

- Found bad sectors

File Structure Test Result

- Error reading MBR

The hard drive is like unknown controller and don't show the S/N

The status is red = Failed

I'll try this:

- Put this hard drive like slave in another computer;
- Put this hard dive in a Sata HDD USB Docking Station enclosure.
- If one of these two methods result (I hope), then I'll buy a 2TB hard drive to do a backup.

[petabyte85]

There's a tool or any way that I can only visualize the structure of the files to see if all my folders and files are in hard drive?

I will not try to repair the hard drive or recovery any file.

[jermy]

stop hammering the drive, the more you messing around with it, more damage is done to it.
my 2¢, send it to a pro "DR"
It still can be a reasonable price for recovery.

[petabyte85]

labtech,

"No ordinary software can help recover the data as the drive is not recognized by any system. Need to address whatever problems the drive has, test to see if it is recognized by system and then attempt cloning or imaging the failed drive to another healthy drive. Then extract files from healthy drive. To maximize chances of successful file recovery, the imaging process should be done ideally with a hardware based imager, which is expensive for a regular person. Therefore, it is recommended to seek data recovery specialist who has the proper equipment."

I run SeaTools and the same reconized my hard drive, so I did a quick scan:

Quick scan results:

Serial Number = N/A
Int 13 Num = 80, PHYS CHS = 0x0x0
ParmTable,Rsvd = 182401x255x63

PARTITION CYLINDER SIZE

#Type Start End MB

Primary 0 51328 1500395

NTFS

Diagnostics Results

90 second test result = Failed

"Considerer "Full Test"

The tool find a lot of bad sectors and for any reason can't find the MBR table.

File Structure Test Result

Error reading MBR

MBR Partition Table

Type, Bootable, Begin CHS, End CHS and Size are blank with any value.

It is why no Operating System or Data Recovery tool can detect the HD or show the partition?

If I use Clonezilla and clone this hard drive to another healthy drive, the program will restore and fix the MBR?

I know that bad sectors are a physical problem, but the MBR is a logical problem, so maybe fixing the MBR, the OS could detect HD or see the partition again and I could run chkdsk /f /r or backup the files to another HD.

The HD is detected on BIOS and same tools on Hiren's, maybe fixing the MBR the partition became visible again.

[DRUG]

labtech,

"No ordinary software can help recover the data as the drive is not recognized by any system. Need to address whatever problems the drive has, test to see if it is recognized by system and then attempt cloning or imaging the failed drive to another healthy drive. Then extract files from healthy drive. To maximize chances of successful file recovery, the imaging process should be done ideally with a hardware based imager, which is expensive for a regular person. Therefore, it is recommended to seek data recovery specialist who has the proper equipment."

I run SeaTools and the same reconized my hard drive, so I did a quick scan:

Quick scan results:

Serial Number = N/A
Int 13 Num = 80, PHYS CHS = 0x0x0
ParmTable,Rsvd = 182401x255x63

PARTITION CYLINDER SIZE

#Type Start End MB

Primary 0 51328 1500395

NTFS

Diagnostics Results

90 second test result = Failed

"Considerer "Full Test"

The tool find a lot of bad sectors and for any reason can't find the MBR table.

File Structure Test Result

Error reading MBR

MBR Partition Table

Type, Bootable, Begin CHS, End CHS and Size are blank with any value.

It is why no Operating System or Data Recovery tool can detect the HD or show the partition?

If I use Clonezilla and clone this hard drive to another healthy drive, the program will restore and fix the MBR?

I know that bad sectors are a physical problem, but the MBR is a logical problem, so maybe fixing the MBR, the OS could detect HD or see the partition again and I could run chkdsk /f /r or backup the files to another HD.

The HD is detected on BIOS and same tools on Hiren's, maybe fixing the MBR the partition became visible again.

What part of: cloning the disk with hardware based imager did you not understand ? Clonezilla won't do that job, trust me.

[petabyte85]

What part of: which is expensive for a regular person. Did you not understand? I know that a professional service, specific tools and clean room are the BEST choice, but I don't have money for this, and I'm trying to understand and maybe fix the problem with the tools that I have.

I know that's is a physical problem (Bad sectors and crack noise sound when shutdown) and a logical problem (MBR table), maybe if I fix the MBR problem, and have access to the partition as before I had a time to at least save my files.

[petabyte85]

I can see the full model name of the drive with correct LBA capacity and serial number on SeaTools DOS and HDAT2.

I disconnected the hard drive and I won't mess, I'll find a data recovery company.

[labtech]

Sorry, it is tough situation.

And yes, the tools are expensive. The service itself could be expensive, but also may not. It really depends on what failures the drive sustained.

Also, "expensive service" can mean different things for various people, especially if data is important.