Unreadable HDD

[elisa1990]

Hi,

as suggested in various forums I'm in the need of making a sector-by-sector copy of a HDD that is unreadable to attempt running some tools/commands on it. I initially downloaded Acronis True Image 2019 which I did not like for it creates a disk copy to a proprietary file format so I downloaded your tool and ran it but as the cloning process started it was blocked by the antivirus/anti-ransomware in Acronis True Image claiming that your tool was trying to edit the MBR (did not say which MBR). Can you help me read this notification?

Thanks
Elisa

[elisa1990]

To clarify my post, when I say "your tool" I mean HDD Raw Copy Tool. Acronis True Image 2019 blocked it claiming it was editing my MBR. Is this expected? If HDD Raw Copy Tool makes a sector-by-sector clone why was the MBR, any MBR, identified as being edited?

Thanks
Elisa

[lcoughey]

Are you doing a drive to drive clone to a mounted drive?

[elisa1990]

Hi Luke, I was trying using HDD Raw Copy Tool to copy an external malfunctioning HDD to another external HDD and was completely surprised by the warning from Acronis True Image 2019 which I hadn't noticed was still running and contains some antivirus or anti-ransomware engine.


Thanks
Elisa

[lcoughey]

I am assuming that the destination drive is already formatted and mounted to the operating system. So, when you clone from the source to that destination, the first sector to be overwritten is sector 0 (the MBR). So, yes, it is modifying the MBR on the destination drive.

[elisa1990]

Ok, the warning did not state which MBR (the host pc's or the destination HDD's) so clearly the thing scared me. So would your say HDD Raw Copy Tool is safe to use and also appropriate for cloning a failing HDD?


Thanks
Elisa

[lcoughey]

Ok, the warning did not state which MBR (the host pc's or the destination HDD's) so clearly the thing scared me. So would your say HDD Raw Copy Tool is safe to use and also appropriate for cloning a failing HDD?


Thanks
Elisa

If the drive is failing and you are 100% sure that the data is not worth sending to a professional lab, I'd only recommend ddrescue or hddsuperclone; both of which run under linux. You need something that is going to log and work around the bad sectors, yet allow you to go back and retry those areas after you get the good zones copied first.

[elisa1990]

Hi lcoughey, thank you for you support. The disk is absolutely worth sending to a professional I have search for such companies and read customer feedbacks and the situation isn't a good one. Companies that without specific knowledge or tools are only looking for easy profit are a lot if not most. And before contacting one I wanted to get a better picture of the situation myself.

Some be honest I'm somewhat desperate but trying to keep a constructive approach to the thing.

Linux and the tools that you suggest are unfortunately beyond my knowledge. I need to remain on the windows platform. Please if possible try suggesting something within my reach.


Thanks
Elisa

[elisa1990]

I tried replying to you but my post somehow got lost or was not published.

I've also been looking for a professional but I've reading customer feedbacks scared me a lot. It looks to me that this space contains a lot of scam companies looking for easy profit taking advantage of people's desperation, companies that probably don't even own any specific knowledge or tools. Anyhow before engaging any such company I'd like to get a better picture of the situation.

Unfortunately Linux and the tools you suggest are beyond my knowledge. If possible please try to suggest something within my reach (something that runs on a windows pc).

Thanks
Elisa

[pcimage]

You have PM

[hdd_sand]

Contact Luca in Italy
http://www.ultrarecovery.com/

[michael chiklis]

I can do this work for you elisa if you'll to ship the drive to me.
Ti auguro un Buon 2019!