Anyone used data recovery before?

[BigRedRage]

If so, what did it run you? I got a new Evenfall hard drive today as my old one was clicking recently.

This PC (windows 8 version of my computer) is not seeing drive any longer but it is in my devices and claims to be working.

I can't seem to find any way to get into the hard drive and will keep trying but thought I would learn about this as it may be my only option and most googling takes me to marketing pages

My external drive has every photo taken since 2000 including every non Facebook photo of my children so it is imperative that I recover it

 

[jw7]

I never have - but I use memory sticks. If you call up Data Doctors they will give you a free quote.

 

[BigRedRage]

ive seen some quotes in the thousands. I have a few tricks up my sleeve before I will consider anything like that.

 

[Chaz]

I have used a few different programs.
Get data back has worked for me and isn't that expensive.

Biggest issue is handling of the drive. Best course is to make a data image on to a new drive and work from that.
If the hardware is just hanging on you don't want to spend much time with it powered on without getting what you can.

 

[BigRedRage]

I have used a few different programs.
Get data back has worked for me and isn't that expensive.

Biggest issue is handling of the drive. Best course is to make a data image on to a new drive and work from that.
If the hardware is just hanging on you don't want to spend much time with it powered on without getting what you can.

the problem with software is the computer sees the drive in device management but it doesnt show up in my computer so when I launch software, it doesnt see the hard drive.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

the problem with software is the computer sees the drive in device management but it doesnt show up in my computer so when I launch software, it doesnt see the hard drive.

Have you tried it with a different computer or changed out the cable used to connect it to your computer?

 

[BigRedRage]

Have you tried it with a different computer or changed out the cable used to connect it to your computer?

the cable is a specific cable unfortunately vs a double sided USB. I am trying my dads computer Wednesday hoping that work but it used to work on the current computer. Current computer is windows 8, hoping an older version of windows at my dads makes it easier to fix too since windows 8 sucks.

As far as the cable, I would have to order the exact cable they use online or something.

 

[Chaz]

the problem with software is the computer sees the drive in device management but it doesnt show up in my computer so when I launch software, it doesnt see the hard drive.

If the hardware shows up in device manager the recovery software will see the drive. The reason it doesn't show up in windows explorer is probably because the partition or volume is damaged.
The function of the software is to find data on damaged volumes that are unreadable.

 

[BigRedRage]

If the hardware shows up in device manager the recovery software will see the drive. The reason it doesn't show up in windows explorer is probably because the partition or volume is damaged.
The function of the software is to find data on damaged volumes that are unreadable.

maybe I will have to try that specific software then as I have downloaded a few different recovery software's and they all only showed my internal drive. The external drive shows in device manager but not in disk management or in my computer. Its like it recognizes its there but cannot access it or something.

even when i search in dos for drives, the external doesnt show up, only the internal and the internal recovery drive.

 

[Chaz]

maybe I will have to try that specific software then as I have downloaded a few different recovery software's and they all only showed my internal drive. The external drive shows in device manager but not in disk management or in my computer. Its like it recognizes its there but cannot access it or something.

even when i search in dos for drives, the external doesnt show up, only the internal and the internal recovery drive.

Ugh, Could be the drive electronics then.
External drives have a USB bridge and it sounds like that may be what is showing up in device manager while the drive itself is not responding. If it isn't in the disk manager then it won't show up.

Might be be worth it to remove the drive from the enclosure and plug it in directly via sata cable or a different USB adapter.
I was able to recover data from an iomega nas this way.

Could be the enclosure is the problem but if the drive was clicking that points to the drive hardware itself

If it is the drive electronics you will need a duplicate drive and a clean room. AKA professional data recovery service.

 

[BigRedRage]

Ugh, Could be the drive electronics then.
External drives have a USB bridge and it sounds like that may be what is showing up in device manager while the drive itself is not responding. If it isn't in the disk manager then it won't show up.

Might be be worth it to remove the drive from the enclosure and plug it in directly via sata cable or a different USB adapter.
I was able to recover data from an iomega nas this way.

Could be the enclosure is the problem but if the drive was clicking that points to the drive hardware itself

If it is the drive electronics you will need a duplicate drive and a clean room. AKA professional data recovery service.

there is clicking but i can feel the fan spinning in there. I am hoping my dad has a sata cable i can plug in to, that was my next step, if i can get it t show up on his computer i can just port all files to my new hdd and toss this one.

the professional data recovery I am hoping i can avoid. I heard it costs upward of $1500+

 

[BigRedRage]

Ugh, Could be the drive electronics then.
External drives have a USB bridge and it sounds like that may be what is showing up in device manager while the drive itself is not responding. If it isn't in the disk manager then it won't show up.

Might be be worth it to remove the drive from the enclosure and plug it in directly via sata cable or a different USB adapter.
I was able to recover data from an iomega nas this way.

Could be the enclosure is the problem but if the drive was clicking that points to the drive hardware itself

If it is the drive electronics you will need a duplicate drive and a clean room. AKA professional data recovery service.

No dice on sata cables, you were right on all accounts. If sata doesn't work, I need to break out my wallet?

 

[BigRedRage]

I'm running a hard drive test in bios for now

 

[BillsCarnage]

If so, what did it run you? I got a new Evenfall hard drive today as my old one was clicking recently.

Every drive I've had start clicking was basically a count down to its demise.

ive seen some quotes in the thousands. I have a few tricks up my sleeve before I will consider anything like that.

I used EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, but there are others available and they're relatively inexpensive. I've had darn near 100% recovery when I've used it too. If the drive will get power EaseUS will see it. Plug the drive directly into the comp with a sata (or whichever connector).

It takes a long time to scan the drive relative to the size. Might take 24hrs for a full scan and build the list of files. As long as the files aren't corrupted you should be fine. I've recovered formatted drives (not as scary as it sounds) and failed drives.

If you're not in a hurry, follow this site - http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/ - as they will have various data recovery apps available. Check the reviews after a couple hundred people have rated it. They're usually fairly accurate as to the quality of the give away.
Usually full versions with limited tech support, but free. And, it has to be installed by midnight the day it's available.

A lot of the software can be crap, but I bought EaseUS v6 wizard, but that site had the v10 master version available for free.

 

[BigRedRage]

Every drive I've had start clicking was basically a count down to its demise.


I used EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, but there are others available and they're relatively inexpensive. I've had darn near 100% recovery when I've used it too. If the drive will get power EaseUS will see it. Plug the drive directly into the comp with a sata (or whichever connector).

It takes a long time to scan the drive relative to the size. Might take 24hrs for a full scan and build the list of files. As long as the files aren't corrupted you should be fine. I've recovered formatted drives (not as scary as it sounds) and failed drives.

If you're not in a hurry, follow this site - http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/ - as they will have various data recovery apps available. Check the reviews after a couple hundred people have rated it. They're usually fairly accurate as to the quality of the give away.
Usually full versions with limited tech support, but free. And, it has to be installed by midnight the day it's available.

A lot of the software can be crap, but I bought EaseUS v6 wizard, but that site had the v10 master version available for free.

I believe I downloaded a trial of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and it didnt see the hard drive. Right now I have it connected via sata and I have not opened the application since installing via SATA, maybe I can try that tonight. (I removed the sata cables from my dvd drive and plugged them into the HDD).

When in Bios it does not see the second drive when I run a hard drive check, only sees drive one. I have not been able to find a way in 8.1 HP bios to scan for other drives. I have found errer messages that say error in drive 2 run system diagnostics but the system diagnostics seem to be only running on the 1st drive, not the second one.

I dont mind spending some money to salvage the last 15 years of photos, if I can get something to see it and it will work, I will buy it. It will be far less expensive than a professional data recovery company anyway.

 

[BigRedRage]

It does not appear easeus can see the HDD either

 

[BigRedRage]

I'm not sure what it's showing lost drive local disk 128mb doubt that is it

 

[BigRedRage]

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[puckhead]

I have used a few different programs.
Get data back has worked for me and isn't that expensive.

Biggest issue is handling of the drive. Best course is to make a data image on to a new drive and work from that.
If the hardware is just hanging on you don't want to spend much time with it powered on without getting what you can.

It might be time to just bite the bullet, BRR. Chaz is giving great advice above.

 

[BigRedRage]

It might be time to just bite the bullet, BRR. Chaz is giving great advice above.

im kinda at that point as the more things I try I seem to end up at the same spot. I have a number for a company that is no data, no fee. supposed to give them a call. We'll see what they want for the job. I have read $1500 and have prepared to hear that, if they go over that its going to be a bitch.

I have to do anything i can, my daughters whole life in photos is on this ****ing thing.

 

[Chaz]

If the hardware isn't responding (i.e. not showing up for the BIOS) then the physical platters most likely have to transferred into a working drive to get any data from them.

There are videos on how to do this and it is theoretically possible to do it yourself. I would not recommend doing it the first time on a drive with valuable data on it. A professional would do it in a clean room. A speck of dust is big enough to mess up the read head.


Also when you are done: Back it up.
3-2-1 (three copies, on two different media, one off site)

 

[BigRedRage]

yeah this used to be my backup but over the years of getting new PCs I started just using it as a safe drive away from PC crap. I should have been dumping all the info on every computer but woulda shoulda coulda.

 

[BigRedRage]

It's in the mail. Fingers crossed.

 

[puckhead]

Good luck.

 

[BigRedRage]

Well, they tried. Too much damage. All files corrupted. Sucks.

I still have my last two computers, hoping I didn't do factory restores on them and at least some of the photos are on there. Literally just lost 95% of all photos taken since 2005 when my daughter was 3 and my son hadn't been born yet. Oh well.