Tech Help Por Favor

[EdwardMidweston]

When I joined Lit, I expected to be offering help rather than asking for it, but Murphy's Law prevailed.

The computer I use for my photo business crashed. I salvaged the hard drive but can't open it on my new comouter in the conventional way. If any techno-wizards could suggest good data recovery software, I'd be eternally grateful--especially since I have some irreplaceable records stored on the drive that (whimper) weren't always backed up as they should have been. The hard drive is a Western Digital WD800.

I’ve tried contacting Western Digital but they were more interested in selling me a new drive—which wouldn’t have recovered my crucial data. I took it to a local recovery specialist who could open it ok, but he quoted $6,200 to download the data to a spare drive. I know good recovery software exists that would let me do the time-consuming work myself, but I have no experience with any of it. Any suggestions will be gratefully welcomed.

 

[BeEfToFu]

While I'm hardly a data recovery expert in the majority of simliar threads I've seen it's been a physical harddrive error which has caused the problem. So just to confirm it IS being picked up in BIOS/Windows?

What's the actual problem when you go to view its contents?

 

[EdwardMidweston]

My computer finds the drive and recognizes the contents, but when I try to open any of the files, I immediately get the infamous "blue screen of death." The tech I consulted opened a couple files at random to prove data recovery was possible but then gave me a price quote I can't afford.

 

[islandman]

Two suggestions:

1) Plug the external HDD into another computer and see if you're able to access your files;

2) If #1 works, then its likely an issue with your windows driver and/or the controller for WD drive itself . Recommend you update all drivers on the computer that's giving you the BSOD first. If that fails, update the controller (you'll find this via the WD site.)

When done, come back and let us know what happened. There are a few more steps you can take before you decide to spend $2,600.

 

[EdwardMidweston]

1) Plug the external HDD into another computer and see if you're able to access your files;

2) If #1 works, then its likely an issue with your windows driver and/or the controller for WD drive itself . Recommend you update all drivers on the computer that's giving you the BSOD first. If that fails, update the controller (you'll find this via the WD site.)

When done, come back and let us know what happened. There are a few more steps you can take before you decide to spend $2,600.

I've tried the drive in my new HP desktop and also in my Sanyo laptop. I get the BSOD on all of them. And yet the techs assure me that the drive, while filled to the roofline, is readable.

 

[islandman]

I've tried the drive in my new HP desktop and also in my Sanyo laptop. I get the BSOD on all of them. And yet the techs assure me that the drive, while filled to the roofline, is readable.

To be clear, you've "tried the drive" as in, you've plugged the external enclosure it's currently housed in into these other computers? Or did you swap out their internal drives for the WD?

 

[EdwardMidweston]

To be clear, you've "tried the drive" as in, you've plugged the external enclosure it's currently housed in into these other computers? Or did you swap out their internal drives for the WD?

I patched the bad drive into USB ports on first the desktop and then the laptop.

 

[islandman]

I patched the bad drive into USB ports on first the desktop and then the laptop.

That's not quite the answer I'm looking for. If the drive is contained within an external hard drive enclosure and the techs swear that the drive is readable, then the enclosure is the common denominator and may be the source of your BSOD.

Suggest you try another enclosure.

 

[EdwardMidweston]

That's not quite the answer I'm looking for. If the drive is contained within an external hard drive enclosure and the techs swear that the drive is readable, then the enclosure is the common denominator and may be the source of your BSOD.

Suggest you try another enclosure.

OK, I'll give that a try and see what happens. Many thanx.

 

[islandman]

OK, I'll give that a try and see what happens. Many thanx.

I take it your earlier attempts involved connecting the drive into a USB port via a USB-to-SATA adapter cable?

 

[EdwardMidweston]

I take it your earlier attempts involved connecting the drive into a USB port via a USB-to-SATA adapter cable?

I think so. I don't have the adapter here at the moment to check it.

 

[islandman]

I think so. I don't have the adapter here at the moment to check it.

Apologies, maybe I should take a step back here.

Which of these did you use to patch your drive into the other computers?

USB-SATA Cable Adapter:

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/BsEW2yRge91pWiV8ke3n6fiegXybvAeNsIZtfineoSw_FHc18Gu6z52pxO4QIoAd40ramvTYNwwu0awH_OOD74L1Bi_AmLi0W-UDt0kqjW5QCnxgiXTjSJzgw3MAodNbKXJk4ZKYr7_dhB84CCWMyojnEG7G2hj0T734axGQSbnUi5wT_TfmM5UGBeuhD26juXILczJ3rKxFfeAR4_fhUz9TgmlOGUKqdCb7WLVhnn_u4MyWkvnNWNhXGbAH1J5YUnmOEsa4-QxkXFRVgXjI2rRf1Ejnw8axY6PI9-iYR6zolYeetaA


External hard drive enclosure:

http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/V13-3254-main.jpg


External hard drive dock:

http://www.hightech-hardware.com/images/reviews/thermaltake_blacx/teaser.jpg


My point in asking is that I'd like you to try either choice #2 or #3. #1 is the sub-optimal solution and is often fraught with problems.

 

[EdwardMidweston]

Apologies, maybe I should take a step back here.

Which of these did you use to patch your drive into the other computers?

USB-SATA Cable Adapter:

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/BsEW2yRge91pWiV8ke3n6fiegXybvAeNsIZtfineoSw_FHc18Gu6z52pxO4QIoAd40ramvTYNwwu0awH_OOD74L1Bi_AmLi0W-UDt0kqjW5QCnxgiXTjSJzgw3MAodNbKXJk4ZKYr7_dhB84CCWMyojnEG7G2hj0T734axGQSbnUi5wT_TfmM5UGBeuhD26juXILczJ3rKxFfeAR4_fhUz9TgmlOGUKqdCb7WLVhnn_u4MyWkvnNWNhXGbAH1J5YUnmOEsa4-QxkXFRVgXjI2rRf1Ejnw8axY6PI9-iYR6zolYeetaA


External hard drive enclosure:

http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/V13-3254-main.jpg


External hard drive dock:

http://www.hightech-hardware.com/images/reviews/thermaltake_blacx/teaser.jpg


My point in asking is that I'd like you to try either choice #2 or #3. #1 is the sub-optimal solution and is often fraught with problems.

OK, it was definitely the cable adapter. I think I have access to an external hard drive dock at work so I'll try the better approach Monday morning.

I apologize for forcing you to work so hard. As you have undoubtedly noticed, I'm much better with software than hardware.

 

[SweetErika]

I don't have a solution to the recovery problem, but I do have some info on WD that might be of use to you.

If the drive is still under warranty (or close), insist they replace it with a brand new one. We had to do this several years ago after a WD drive crapped out prematurely, but I couldn't get anywhere with WD's support or customer service. I ended up contacting the BBB online and filing a complaint, and lo and behold, a Vice President of WD contacted me and offered to send us a new drive immediately. You might be able to bypass the BBB complaint step by threatening to take that kind of action and insisting your issue is dealt with by a decision-maker.

We obviously took the new drive, and while it performed fine, we never bought another WD drive again.

 

[EdwardMidweston]

I don't have a solution to the recovery problem, but I do have some info on WD that might be of use to you.

If the drive is still under warranty (or close), insist they replace it with a brand new one. We had to do this several years ago after a WD drive crapped out prematurely, but I couldn't get anywhere with WD's support or customer service. I ended up contacting the BBB online and filing a complaint, and lo and behold, a Vice President of WD contacted me and offered to send us a new drive immediately. You might be able to bypass the BBB complaint step by threatening to take that kind of action and insisting your issue is dealt with by a decision-maker.

We obviously took the new drive, and while it performed fine, we never bought another WD drive again.

Unfortunately. the drive is well out of warranty. I didn't mind too much buying a new one--a Sea Gate this time, in the hope they're better--but I'm obsessing about the lost data, and kicking myself for not doing backups more often.

 

[SweetErika]

Unfortunately. the drive is well out of warranty. I didn't mind too much buying a new one--a Sea Gate this time, in the hope they're better--but I'm obsessing about the lost data, and kicking myself for not doing backups more often.

That's too bad, but it's still handy info to file away just in case you have a problem with a company giving you the run-around or not holding up its end of the bargain. I haven't had to go that route again, but there's peace of mind in knowing the BBB can help get issues resolved quickly!

We went with Seagate after the WD disaster, and those drives have always proved reliable for us. I don't think we've had a HD issue since; usually, it's the motherboard or power supply that craps out first.

I bet you'll be backing up your data like crazy from now on, eh?

 

[Netkeys]

I'm a consultant specializing in network systems and my educated guess is your SATA to USB adapter is the problem. I've had a lot of problems with these adapters. My recommendation would be to actually install your old drive in your new computer. You can install motile HD's in most PC's. It eliminates all the possible external causes and gives you a much more stable way if more advanced recovery efforts and needed.

If you don't feel comfortable find a friend that can help you hook it up. It also makes if much faster to transfer from our old disk to the new one.

If that isn't an option an external HD case is the next best solution.

 

[EdwardMidweston]

That's too bad, but it's still handy info to file away just in case you have a problem with a company giving you the run-around or not holding up its end of the bargain. I haven't had to go that route again, but there's peace of mind in knowing the BBB can help get issues resolved quickly!

We went with Seagate after the WD disaster, and those drives have always proved reliable for us. I don't think we've had a HD issue since; usually, it's the motherboard or power supply that craps out first.

I bet you'll be backing up your data like crazy from now on, eh?

Crossing my fingers for both our Seagates. The odd thing is that WD had a good rep when I first bought the computer. Five or six people told me right after the purchase that they had shifted gears and were milking their good name to the max.

You're right. I am even backing up the backups. It's going to be a pain to store all those backups so I can find a specific file if I need it, but it certainly beats the alternative.

 

[coastal-boy]

On a side note, even though I try to be diligent backing up my HDDs, if I get busy it isn't uncommon to find I have let it go several weeks between backups. Writing my dissertation, I couldn't afford to have a loss. I got Carbonite and for $60 a year I never have to worry about losing critical data. For me, I now consider this a yearly expense just like good internet protection.

 

[EdwardMidweston]

I'm a consultant specializing in network systems and my educated guess is your SATA to USB adapter is the problem. I've had a lot of problems with these adapters. My recommendation would be to actually install your old drive in your new computer. You can install motile HD's in most PC's. It eliminates all the possible external causes and gives you a much more stable way if more advanced recovery efforts and needed.

If you don't feel comfortable find a friend that can help you hook it up. It also makes if much faster to transfer from our old disk to the new one.

If that isn't an option an external HD case is the next best solution.

I've been wondering about a direct installation; seems it wasn't such a crazy notion after all. I have access to a computer tech at work who doesn't know anything about data recovery but can almost certainly handle the installation for me. I could probably do it myself, but just to be sure...

Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it.

 

[EdwardMidweston]

On a side note, even though I try to be diligent backing up my HDDs, if I get busy it isn't uncommon to find I have let it go several weeks between backups. Writing my dissertation, I couldn't afford to have a loss. I got Carbonite and for $60 a year I never have to worry about losing critical data. For me, I now consider this a yearly expense just like good internet protection.

And very good protection for critical files. I should have done it and I let it slide. After the horse escaped from the barn, I have "cloud storage," a drawer full of thumb drives, and a spare hard drive dedicated to backup. If only I'd taken a little bit of time and effort to do it earlier...

 

[EdwardMidweston]

I'm a consultant specializing in network systems and my educated guess is your SATA to USB adapter is the problem. I've had a lot of problems with these adapters. My recommendation would be to actually install your old drive in your new computer. You can install motile HD's in most PC's. It eliminates all the possible external causes and gives you a much more stable way if more advanced recovery efforts and needed.

If you don't feel comfortable find a friend that can help you hook it up. It also makes if much faster to transfer from our old disk to the new one.

If that isn't an option an external HD case is the next best solution.

Installing the old HD into the PC brought more crashes but an external HD case worked like a charm! I'm doing the mother of all happy dances!

Thanks everybody! I owe you all big time!

 

[Sir Victor]

I suggest that the first thing you do is connect it using the native connector to another known good computer, then back it up as is to an external drive using Acronis. Do a full image backup.

Then download Western Digitals diagnostic program and run it on the drive, be sure to not select any tests that destroy data. This is a typical example you have to look it up for your particular drive model:
http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=502&sid=30&lang=en

This alone might fix most of your problems. If this does not work and you really need to do data recovery and have given up on all other services try Steve Gibson's Spin Rite:
http://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm

I believe that WD and Seagate both offer data recovery services that are no where near as expensive as the quote that you got.

Another thing to consider is that both companies make very inexpensive drives for the competitive market but they also make "enterprise" drives for businesses who need better reliability. Look for a drive for servers, or with a high MTBF (mean time between failure) rating. Remember these are mechanical devices with moving parts and no matter who makes it they will fail someday. You might want to have a solid state back up drive if your volume of data is not that large.

I would just set up Acronis to do nightly incremental backups to an external drive. If your data is highly valuable you might want to back up monthly or weekly to another drive that you keep off site in case of fire.

 

[Macdaddy23]

Hey Edward,

If you have a flash drive see if you can transfer the files via the flash drive.
When you have done that plug the flash drive into the USB port and see if it will
open the files.

 

[Sir Victor]

Installing the old HD into the PC brought more crashes but an external HD case worked like a charm! I'm doing the mother of all happy dances!

Thanks everybody! I owe you all big time!

There is a good chance that the drive is near end of life, so it would be best to do a full image backup, then also copy the data folders to your new drive. Then run diagnostics on the old drive with a full surface test and repair. Take another full image of the drive if any repairs were done and copy your folders again.

Some of the files may be damaged.