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Recover data from physically damaged HDD

  • 19-09-2008 11:03am
    #1
    MrSparkle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 202 ✭✭


    Hi,

    A guy at work here dropped his laptop a while back and the fall damaged the hard drive. I've recovered almost all of his data(including 27 PST files:rolleyes:) using an IDE-USB adapter but there's 3 files that will not come off properly. They are PST files also so I don't have much hope of getting them back perfectly intact.

    I've tried the using Ubuntu but that didn't help as the drive is clicking as it hits those PST files and it comes up with an IO error. I tried that unstoppable copier program but it didn't recover the whole files. It copied them off but there was a few hundred mb missing from each pst. I'm thinking as they are PSTs we're fecked. One is only 5mb another is 200mb and the last one is 1 gig. I can't even get the 5 mb one off properly.

    What's the best way of getting them off the drive? Will i have to send it off to get the files professionally recovered?


Comments

  • #2
    biologikal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 371 ✭✭biologikal


    I take it that when you used the USB>IDE cable, you just used something like Windows Explorer to get the files transferred. If yes, then it *might* be worthwhile trying a recovery software package along with the USB>IDE cable. I use File Scavenger myself, but it's not freeware, but I've found it to be worth getting, and the best with clicking disks (speed and recovery performance), though there are free alternatives that may also work. It may find a temporary copy of the files you're looking for on a different portion of the drive that's having the problems.

    May also be worth burning a Knoppix live CD - and use with the USB>IDE cable, I've had some success with that combo also.

    If the disk is clicking though, you may be limited in the amount of chances you have left it getting something to work. You can even try putting the dish in various orientations (upside down, on it end/side) and see if it makes a difference (I've seen it work with a dying laptop drive!), but I wouldn't waste any time on the freezer "trick".


  • #3
    MrSparkle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 202 ✭✭MrSparkle


    Thanks for the suggestions. I used windows explorer which didn't work and I tried this program called the unstoppable copier http://www.roadkil.net/program.php?ProgramID=29

    I'll give it another go with the disk in a different position, if that fails I'll just send it off. If it was my own hard drive I'd put a bit more effort in but it's work related so not that pushed really!


  • #4
    Ghost Train
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,476 ✭✭✭✭Ghost Train


    could try something like spinrite

    going to cost a lot if you get it professionally recovered


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