Recovering bad sectors from seagate HDD

[valandil]

Hey guys, I've got a seagate barracuda 7200.8 250GB. It's my secondary drive that I use to back up my data. The error initially started with cyclic error and I tried using HDD regenerator to revive. Unfortunately, HDD regenerator froze in the middle of the work and I have to restart the computer. Now the drive doesn't even work.

If I turn on the computer with the drive in it, windows became extremely slow to the point of un-usable. If I took it out, everything works fine. I tried this with two separate systems.

Here are the things I've tried:

1. Spin Rite. I tried recovering data using Spin Rite but it just keeps analyzing froze once it reaches a certain percentage. Well, it didn't froze, it just keeps analyzing that part and never moves on.

2. On Track's Easy Recovery. Once I hit enter on recovering data, the program just hang.

Yes, the HDD can be detected on BIOS and the two programs I tried obviously detected the drive but they just couldn't do anything about it. No strange noises or anything like that. I've done my research and apparently it's supposed to be a simple (not easy) job - just run one the programs I tried.

Anyone can help me out? Thanks in advance.

[valandil]

Update: I tried a newer version of HDD regenerator (was using v1.51) and now it's showing "Hard drive is not ready" message although it's already in IDE mode. Sometimes it works a few minutes (an hour or so is the longest) before it displays the message again.

[BlackST]

Hddreg is a drive killer.

[valandil]

Yeah I can see that. I just hope there's some way to recover the data in it without going to the experts...

[HDD Spaz]

Yeah I can see that. I just hope there's some way to recover the data in it without going to the experts...

there is not. You have alreasdy caused more damage so expect a higher fee from a pro.

[lcoughey]

I wish there were some way to force these companies (SpinRite, HDD Regenerator and such) to stop promoting themselves as data recovery tools.

A while ago, I had a technician call me about their client's drive and the fact that they couldn't seem to copy the files off. During the conversation, they implied that they might use SpinRite. I suggested that it was a bad move, to which the responded saying that it has never failed them, yet.

About a month after the fact, they called to see if we would give a second opinion. Apparently, after he exhausted all his options, he sent it to another lab who deemed the drive unrecoverable. While he was here, I opened the drive and confirmed that the platters were scratched beyond recovery.

Not knowing that this guy was the one I already talked to about not using SpinRite, I said that this is where SpinRite would have likely made things worse. He then told me that he did run SpinRite...after which, he no longer could get the drive to detect.

If SpinRite were a true data recovery tool, it would NEVER alter the original drive and it would never suggest in the manual to backup the data prior to running the tool. This program (and those like it) are data shredders and those who promote them as data recovery programs should be responsible for all the data that is being destroyed, as a result of these tools.

I don't know of any data recovery professionals who would even tough these programs, let alone recommend them. I suggest we add these programs to the junk bin, along with freezer and hammer methods.

For those looking for data recovery services, a good way to determine not to use a company is to ask them what they think of SpinRite and HDD Regenerator. If they don't slap you for using bad language, run! If they even mention that they put their lunch in the freezer, run! If they wear a tool belt, run!