Data Recovery - any way to not get ripped off?

[sdsumike619]

I have a 500GB drive that has failed and need to recover the data. The manufacturer recommended a company who will probably charge upwards of $2000. Just for the heck of it, I went on craigslist and did a search under services for data recovery and called a guy who said he can recover the data using open source tools like Linux, even on a drive that has some sort of mechanical failure which I believe mine has. What should I do? What has your experience been? Obviously these companies know that if I need the data, I would probably pay dearly for it, but maybe it's not always a $2000 job..

[stiltman]

If a drive has physical damage, the only way to get some data off of it will be by rebuilding it with good parts in a clean room. That's why it can cost $2K+

Most all freeware/payware programs can only recover data in non-physical damaged cases, and that's just getting lucky most of the time too.

If you have to have the data, spend the money

[sdsumike619]

yeah, it's not getting recognized by windows anymore... I thought perhaps maybe it can be recognized by some other system, but I'm sure that's just me dreaming...

[Noahtuck]

even on a drive that has some sort of mechanical failure which I believe mine has.

That guy is full of BULL$H!T!!!!
But what do you expect from some monkey on CL ??


If it has mechanical/electronic failure it wont read or spin and NO software will make it run!!!!
If it is something electronic, on the exposed little circuit board on most HDD's, if you could find the EXACT same make and model new or working used, you could swap the boards and get it to run, if it's mechanical inside, nothing else to do but have someone repair it.

What stiltman said.

Now i have seen articles where people have built "clean tubs" out of large storage rubbermaids with clear windows on them to take apart HDD's to replace parts, customize, ect.

But to do it with a used drive that may have info or files on them you MUST have and is worth the $$$ to pay for it to be done, i'd pay for it...

If you want to take a shot and don't mind if it's lost forever, take a shot but don't be suprised if it end's up gone forever!!!

[painkiller]

I have read (in other forums) that it might be possible (depending on the original reason why the drive failed) to put the drive in a ziploc bag, get rid of most of the moisture if any then stick in the freezer overnite.

Then retry it the next day. You might have time enough to copy off everything you need.

I have not tried this, so I can't vouch for any degree of success.

[Number Six]

Be VERY careful of people on Craigslist that offer this type of work - There is a guy that posts in NY with low prices, but once he gets your drive and info he demands $5000 and threatens to violate your security with any personal and financial data that he recovers if you do not pay !

I have never dealt with him, but I have read many horror stories about him.

It is best to find a reputable business to do this for you if it is absolutely necessary!

[sdsumike619]

yeah I know all about CL. I just wanted to see what was up there... What the heck is the deal with the HD in a freezer thing! haha

[stiltman]

yeah I know all about CL. I just wanted to see what was up there... What the heck is the deal with the HD in a freezer thing! haha

Believe it or not, it does work sometimes. I've done it myself.
I've also done the smack on the floor trick too.
In both cases I didn't HAVE to get the data off, I just WANTED the data. There's a BIG difference.

You didn't say if it was internal or external. If it's external, take it out of the case and put it in a PC. If the BIOS see's it, you might be able to get the data off just by using explorer or a freeware program.

If it's internal and the BIOS doesn't see it, well you might be SOL

[painkiller]

Actually, it isn't a hoax. But my memory isn't quite complete on the issue.
I think this is a viable workaround if the basic problem is something along the lines of a sticking arm (not moving the read/write heads).
It isn't going to make tings worse to give it a try.
And if you don't want to - don't do it.
It's not like I'm twisting your arm.
Just a friendly option, if it works.
Like I said, I haven't tried this myself. Meant to, but haven't.

[jagabo]

it's not getting recognized by windows anymore...

That doesn't mean a hardware failure. Can you hear it spin up when the computer is powered on? Does it make odd clicking sounds? Can the BIOS see it? Can Disk Manager see it at all? Try a demo of some of the drive/file recovery programs.

[sdsumike619]

it's an external firewire/usb drive. WhenI power it on, it sounds like it's spinning up to speed, but then I guess it tries to initialize or something and it can't do it, so it tries again a few times and then gives up and spins down...

[jagabo]

it's an external firewire/usb drive. WhenI power it on, it sounds like it's spinning up to speed, but then I guess it tries to initialize or something and it can't do it, so it tries again a few times and then gives up and spins down...

I would take the drive out of the enclosure and attach it directly to a computer. I recovered all the files off a drive like that a few weeks ago. The partition table was messed up and I used some drive recovery software.

[The_Doman]

I would take the drive out of the enclosure and attach it directly to a computer. I recovered all the files off a drive like that a few weeks ago. The partition table was messed up and I used some drive recovery software.

That is the best idea.
I have recovered quite a few external USB drives for other people which had gone bad somehow, sometimes it was just the external powersupply which caused the problem.
Also a lot of recovery programs don't work well when used on a external USB/firewire connection.
Best would be to connect the drive directly to your PC and try with a (demo?) recovery program if it can see the files on the drive.
I personally have good experience with the program getdataback.

Ofcourse if you have no idea how to handle all this you should let someone else do this for you.

[sdsumike619]

I think that the manufacturer probably tried that already. I sent it in under the warranty and they were the ones to write back and tell me that they couldn't recover the data... But it's worth of a shot of course.. Thanks for the tips

[ahhaa]

It is likely your prob is with the enclosure or its power supply, cable, etc.

The 'rescue' Live CDs below (and for that matter most current Linux on CD distros can read & write Windows files. If the enclosure is not the problem, but the drive is spinning, one of these may work for you for free. (For example, the Gnome version of MandrivaOne will have icons on the desktop 8) for all HD partitions on the computer when it first boots up. Any Windows malware will stay 'asleep' as you click & drag out your vital files. )
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=systemrescue
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=partedmagic
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=clonezilla

Also, plan ahead. You will need to offload those 500 Gigs to something... have that ready to go. Maxtor & Seagate have 5 year warranties, don't you have any warranty on this drive?

[stiltman]

I think that the manufacturer probably tried that already. I sent it in under the warranty and they were the ones to write back and tell me that they couldn't recover the data... But it's worth of a shot of course.. Thanks for the tips

DOH!!!!

Would of helped a lot to say that in the begining
99.99999% of the time you will not get the same disk back anyway....They don't care either.

You should have asked all these question BEFORE you sent it back to the manufacture

DOH!!!!

[sdsumike619]

No, they'll send it back, along with a replacement. Fantom is a good company