Hi,

I have some problems with my external LaCie Rikiki 320GB hdd. The problems began with significant slow down in data transfer speed. For 100 MB it started to take like 25 minutes. Later on the whole system started to slow down or even to "freeze". The check disk scan showed a significant number of bad sectors.
Currently I am able to access data through windows XP "my computer", however, "normal" functioning of hdd lasts up to several minutes or the transfer of several documents. Later on it starts to indicate enormous amount of time neccessary to finish the operation / dissapears from "my computer" / "freezes" the system. Tried to scan with file scavenger. However, after a slow scan it found only one file. Moreover, the scan successed not from the first time. I had to refresh the list of available hdd's several times as LaCie was not appearing on it.
I would be very grateful if you could give me an advice on this issue. Is it worth to continue efforts of data recovery?

Firstly dont use checkdisk as this is not data recovery friendly.
As you have said the drive has significant number of bad sectors then you would need specialist hardware ie Deepspar Disk Imager @ $3350 so not really a DIY.
Best option is to get a data recovery company to recovery / image the drive. Shouldnt be to expensive at the moment unless a head dies.


Loki

Thanks for an advice. What would be the approximate price for the services of recovery company? The data on hdd are only of personal value and I would not like to invest several thousands euros in it.

There a multiple highly respected people on this forum that can give you a quote.
If you dont mind sending the drive to the UK I'm sure contacting pcimage member5866.html via PM would be a good start.


Loki

And in your opinion is there any "home" solution for this issue with some software or it is more likely a hardware problem?

Putting it basically:

Bad sectors are areas on the hard drives platters that are damaged.
When data is being read from a hard drive with bad sectors it will get to that area & can becomes none responsive. Hardware imagers like the Deepspar DDI keep a record of the read sectors & can do software & hardware resets on the hard drive to get it responsive again & then skip the bad areas & continue imaging.


Loki

This is your best option

_________________
Databusters Data Recovery Glasgow
http://www.datarecovery.co.uk/latest-data-recovery-jobs/

Thanks guys

Shouldn't be "too" expensive at this stage, but hammer it more and you're likely to kill it

_________________
PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!