I have a compaq laptop and it had a toshiba 160 gb 2.5" hdd. I was trying out a seagate 320 gb so I connected the toshiba disk to a usb casing and used for 2 days. the data was not completely backed up as i did nto intend to partition it. now th disk when replaced in laptop shows corrupted and in usb casing asks to format.
in a 20 gb partition i had linux and it also crashed . i replaces with a fresh installation but the windows part doesnt mount yet.
when i try upgarde to win 7 the c drive is told corrupt and to chkdisk. but the linux says win vista part so i think the drive is not completely bad. when trying to boot vista it shows a blank screen.
experts, what is probably the extent of damage! what is the best way to recover files. i was thinking ubcd but i am a new user. please advice..
thanks in advance

you can achive it with 2 way

1.
use Norton ghost software to copy partition. in that you must selection partition to partion copy.
before it format 320 HD. which is new one with a single partition.

2. first merge all partition with partition tools like partition magic. and do style 1.

@aicm,

Using the default settings of Norton Ghost to copy (clone) any corrupt (or potentially corrupt) filesystem is a bad plan. Think about how Ghost decides what to copy, when using its default settings...

Also if there are any unreadable or marginal sectors, Ghost won't be the optimal copying tool IMHO (or even close!).


No! Making any changes to a potentially corrupt filesystem (as you are suggesting) is a bad plan.

@xsamuri,

I suggest that you stop making any further changes to your original disk. You may have a hardware fault - whether that is in the USB case which you used to hold the Toshiba 160GB disk, or that disk itself, or perhaps even somewhere else. Unfortunately I cannot understand enough from your description. However IMHO it is very high risk for you to continue making (irreversible!) changes to your disk, as you have already done, especially on a system where you are using words like "crashed" and "corrupt".

If the data is important, then consider whether you want to take the risk of (continuing to?) make things worse with further DIY actions, and perhaps to make your data more difficult or impossible to recover, or whether to get professional help.

thanks aicm and vulcan
I will not risk merging now. I just want to try and create an image and see if i can recover. i think the usb casing might have been the culprit. i did use it with casing twice and now linux says bad header file and corrupt. i will not go for pro help as it is expensive. will try to make a ghost. thanks to both of you.. i hope some more advices follow..

Find a local pro, save your time and data.

@xsamurai,

I already explained that in your situation, Ghost is a bad choice! There have been several, more appropriate, software tools discussed here in the past - search on the forum for "clone" or "cloning" to find discussions on this topic.

Furthermore, you appear to be unsure about the real cause of your corruption problems. Until this is found / fixed, that means that you might create a corrupted clone - which will be useless, of course. Better diagnosis is needed IMHO, but that does not seem to be your focus.

Unfortunately I can see that the communication difficulties here, mean that it is not sensible for me to offer further comments. Good luck with whatever you decide. I hope your data is not important...

If you have some amount (any ?) of knowledge about electronics ?

I'd check the HW. Easy for me to say though, got a lab behind me

If problem is in HW there's no change to try to recover with SW.

HDD needs "juice" and if something is wrong with the HW best to start there !

Recovery AFTER the ele is OK, with SW.

Of course my point of view ! but interested about HDD's and here to truly help. Not saying I won't tell anything because I won't get any money out of it.


Trust me, no intensions of robbing anyone

hi vulcan
thanks for the suggestion. the header files seem missing when seen in ubuntu. the ubuntu loader says win vista so i am assuming some region must be uncorrupted. making a clone seems good idea. i plan to use UBCD (gparted). and make a clone before running through other recovery softw. i am open to other softw. if you have particular suggestion for this problem do suggest. if the clone fails wil run thru regular recovery softw.
hi kekbom
i am not electronics pro. i have a physics lab near but cant dismantle the disc with confidence to re assemble. so will try first the software. no nooise or disc sound anyways. if circuit is gone wudnt have been able to install ubunutu rt!