Drive unreadable, RAW format

[mooseman]

Hi,

I'm looking for advice on my Western Digital 400GB drive.

Basically Vista gave me a blue screen (I didn't get a chance to see the error before reboot) and then couldn't find the OS. I plugged the drive into my laptop with a SATA/USB adapter and I could access it fine, I managed to get a few files off, but about 10 minutes later it stopped saying the drive is corrupt and unreadable - it's been like that ever since.

I tried running Recover My Files and it looked like it was working, but unfortunately I had to move the laptop - I tried Get Data Back yesterday but it couldn't read a sector so I stopped the scan, after that Recover My Files runs very slowly so I haven't tried to use the drive since.

I've contacted a specialist recovery company and they'll collect the drive on Monday, just wondering if anyone has any ideas in the meantime? Or if not, what the likely chances of the company getting my data are?

Thanks!

[mooseman]

Actually, the data isn't particularly valuable, although I did spend a lot of time on some of it.

If I was to try cloning the drive, which software would be best? I've actually tried mounting it in Knoppix, but it was unreadable just like in Vista... is this a problem? I would have thought if a recovery program could scan the disk, then a clone program would be fine too?

[Vulcan]

If I was to try cloning the drive, which software would be best?

This assumes you have decided to take the risks of DIY. However you've also said you're sending it to a recovery company on Monday and your story seems to suggest the disk is degrading, so further use of the disk might make recovery more difficult / expensive etc. Therefore it is far from clear if your best option really is to try cloning that disk now, or not. Do you really want to take the chance of making things harder for the recovery company?

I've actually tried mounting it in Knoppix, but it was unreadable just like in Vista... is this a problem?

This is typically expected. Trying to mount a faulty disk under Linux (any distro) is likely to see the same results as mounting it under Windows, in most cases (depending on the exact problem). That's why the typically recommended approach is not to try a file-based recovery (under Linux or Windows) from a failing disk!

I would have thought if a recovery program could scan the disk, then a clone program would be fine too?

You've described how the situation (and ability for a "recovery program" to read the disk) has degraded since the original situation, so any problems now cannot be compared to original behaviour of any recovery software. Also I don't see you mention that you have actually tried cloning software yet. So the context of your question is unclear to me.

[mooseman]

I'm working off the idea that it might cost £300+ to get the data off, which isn't really worth it for what's on there.

In your opinion, what is the likely cost and chance of recovery, as opposed to me trying to clone it and running software?

[Vulcan]

In your opinion, what is the likely cost and chance of recovery, as opposed to me trying to clone it and running software?

My experience (which is from outside the DR field) doesn't qualify me to suggest likely chances of recovery - other than to say, if I understand your story correctly, the ability for the programs to successfully read from your disk, has reduced. Therefore the chances of success appear to be reducing, the more the drive is used (which is typical for some types of problem). A professional DR company, with specialist cloning equipment, is going to have a better chance of successful cloning on a significantly faulty drive, than DIY cloning.

If someone currently working in DR is able to give an opinion about the chances of success, remotely, and based on the limited information available, then hopefully they will answer your question.

As a summary for future reference, if a user has decided to take the chances inherent in DIY recovery, then cloning the drive first (with suitable software - not Ghost etc.), before trying any file-based recovery, is usually recommended here - unless they are absolutely sure that the original problem is not a faulty drive. And it is very difficult for the typical user to be absolutely sure about that! We have seen many users report drive degradation beyond successful DIY recovery, after spending time doing (incomplete) file-based recovery from faulty drives.

Good luck!