3rd Master Disk Failure

[Buzzy Beetle]

So I wake up this morning to find that my secondary HDD has failed sometime in between my shutdown last night and my bootup this morning.

That HDD the one that stores data on it (pictures, audio, etc) and not the one that stores programs, which is why I was still able to boot this morning. Except... that was the HDD with all the data on it...

Does anyone have a way to recover data on a HDD that windows doesn't see (except on bootup where it tells me the drive has failed) without taking it to anywhere professional (if I can do it myself for free, I'll do it. Time is not an issue). Or, at absolute worst, simply being able to recover the drive with the data wiped.

Help, please?

[Masakari]

On one occasion I had a drive disappear from my BIOS. I assumed it was a drive failure, but simply reconnection all the connections (Power and both SATA) the drive came back. That would be the first obvious check.

If the BIOS isn't reading the drive, then I don't think there's much you can do from within your computer. If the BIOS is detecting the drive but Windows is just claiming it's corrupt/failed, then try running SeaTools to determine what the problem is. If the drive passes, something really fishy's going on, but odds are it will fail and it should tell you the reason why.

[Buzzy Beetle]

[quote="Masakari";p="180198"]
If the BIOS isn't reading the drive, then I don't think there's much you can do from within your computer. If the BIOS is detecting the drive but Windows is just claiming it's corrupt/failed, then try running SeaTools to determine what the problem is. If the drive passes, something really fishy's going on, but odds are it will fail and it should tell you the reason why.
[/quote]

BIOS does pickup the drive, so I'll try that. Give me a few.

[EDIT] Actually, there's a few options here. What one should I use?

[Buzzy Beetle]

Well, that scan turned up nothing. I'm still open to the possibility of recovering the data, but there won't be too much of a loss if I can't.

Any other ideas?

[SkyFrostSalvo]

Can you run a "chkdsk /r" on it?

[metacide]

2 questions.

1) Do you have enough space on any of your other drives to hold the data that was on the failed drive?

2) You say Windows claims its damaged/corrupt. Does that mean the drive still appears in My Computer or Windows Explorer but it fails to open?

If the answer to both of those is yes I have a program for you that will recover any data that hasnt been formatted over more than 7ish times.

[Buzzy Beetle]

I suppose I need to clarify the first post a bit.

First off:
[quote="Buzzy Beetle";p="180191"]
a HDD that windows doesn't see (except on bootup where it tells me the drive has failed)
[/quote]

Windows cannot detect the HDD. At all. Not in Explorer, not in Device Manager, and not in Disk Management. The only time Buster acknowledges there's a second hard drive plugged in is during bootup - by that i mean BIOS. Granted, it's been a few restarts now now even BIOS is having issues seeing it. I present exhibit A:

The first restart around 4PM flew through this without even seeing another drive. When I restarted again and hit "display BIOS" it would get hung in the same spot as the picture above. I had to unplug it from my system to keep going finally (the SATA cable is still disconnected right now). But the disk inside the enclosure was still spinning when it was on and connected. I could feel it.

Uh... what else...

Oh yeah. I ordered a new drive earlier today. I still havn't given up on this one, But if I can recover it that will be great. Your help is much appriciated

[metacide]

I have a program from EASE US, called Data Recovery Pro. I think it can help you.

[Buzzy Beetle]

...I booted up this morning with full intentions of using the program Metacide gave me.


Except... the drive worked on it's own. I don't understand. It's working fine with all the files on it fully in tact.

My new drive also arrived today so I'm in the process of making a backup to copy them over.

Still, what the heck?

[Boss Llama]

That is very strange.

Could it have been just loose cables as somebody mentioned above? You mentioned you had unplugged it, so clearly it's been re-plugged if it's working now...

I'd be pretty paranoid about trusting it again, until it's worked cleanly for like a year - and a backup is definitely a must! Maybe use it in a Raid 1 configuration if your new drive is the same type?

[IrkedScientist]

[quote="Buzzy Beetle";p="180336"]
Still, what the heck?[/quote]

That is why people love computers!!!

Anyway, glad to hear the drive is "working". Hopefully it will cooperate long enough to get what you want
off of it.
In the past I have used Ontrack Data Recovery software with great success.
I use this particular program when the BIOS no longer recognizes the drive.
It is a lot cheaper than professional recovery!

Also, if the drive is still under warranty, I would think about returning it.

[metacide]

[quote="Buzzy Beetle";p="180336"]...I booted up this morning with full intentions of using the program Metacide gave me.

Except... the drive worked on it's own. I don't understand. It's working fine with all the files on it fully in tact.
[/quote]

Computers fear me. It must have known it was outmatched and surrendered gracefully

Glad to hear it's working, I would be hesitant to trust it again.

[Guardian]

Ahh it must be the power of the magical Caboose Guardian's Birthday.

They say once a year on my birthday all of those who grant Guardian joy by wishing him a happy birthday have one wish granted to them at midnight.

I guess you wished that your hard drive worked

[Clay Pigeon]

Make the backup and then get rid of the old drive (RMA it if possible).