How to retrieve files from external hardrive that is unreadable - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Peladinho · 11-11-2008, 09:02 PM

I had my pc crash on me which left my external HD an (WD MY BOOK) useless well I can see its there when connected via USB but can not connect to it! when i try to go there it says drive corrupt or unreadable, I can how ever do a diag with WD tool on it that says the drive is OK.
Now how can one get in there and retrieve the files? man I have hours of video from vacations and a bunch pictures off our family any help would be great

Thanks

Peladinho

Vigilante · 11-11-2008, 11:09 PM

Several ways.

If the drive is actually ok but just unreadable for whatever reason, you can put it in the machine as a secondary and copy files that way. If it's SATA, no problem, just hook it up to the SATA port and power it. If it's IDE, then make sure you jumper it correctly for master/slave. Also, if it's SATAII and you motherboard is plain SATA, then jumper it for plain SATA first.

If it is readable but the partition is lost, then use something like partition recovery or file recovery software. These guys work good, I've used them in the past and it's pretty cheap:
Active@ Partition Recovery. Recover Deleted Partition. Undelete NTFS & FAT partitions.

If it is unreadable as a drive and the USB case is fine, then you'll need to send it off to a company like gillware LLC to retrieve the files. Prices last I checked were from ~350 to 800 dollars. WD might do it, but I bet it will be more expensive.

If none of this makes sense to you and you aren't good with opening up and working inside a computer or USB case, then take it to a tech.

Radio Monk33 · 11-12-2008, 11:09 AM

I recommend using an app called TestDisk TestDisk - CGSecurity

Used it to extract files off a bad drive in the past..fairly easy to use!

Vigilante · 11-12-2008, 02:07 PM

Any software - ANY software, depends on the drive still being "good", but unreadable for whatever reason. If you can't force it to be recognized from either a USB device or a direct IDE/SATA plug in at the BIOS level, the drive is physically bad, with bad ranging from corrupted firmware to a head crash, making the platters unreadable. Just keep that in mind during your diagnostics.

meanSpleen · 11-12-2008, 09:08 PM

I think your situation is similar to one I had a few months ago - drive (external) was rendered unreadable or corrupted through self infliction (i started a RAID mirror on it accidentally).

Anyway, if you want to try to extract data from it - follow luciferase75's tips on connecting it directly to your computer. THis will help for speed purposes for the following:

I used "Recover My Files" to get about 98% data from my drive. It is pay software, but I find that it works extremely well and only has a moderate learning curve - Data Recovery Software to Undelete Files; Disk recovery; Recover Deleted Files

Alternatively, and suggested in the linked thread, is PC Inspector File Recovery CONVAR & PCinspector Data Recovery Datenrettung recupero dati datarecovery rcupration donnes - It is free, and I imagine it would work just as well as Recover My Files.

The above tools will help you transfer stuff from the non-functioning drive to your live system. You can then replace the external drive with another one so you can use it from that point forward.

Peladinho · 11-15-2008, 09:14 AM

Thank you for all the replies
I used the test disk 6.10 and now every thing is fine and back to normal.
I then took everything of the drive re wrote X over the whole drive then formatted the drive with windows Disk management then installed the new drivers and software for the drive and will try again.
But in light of this i think I will find a better method of storing my stuff.

Thanks again

11-11-2008, 09:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Peladinho Upright	How to? retrieve files from external hardrive that is unreadable I had my pc crash on me which left my external HD an (WD MY BOOK) useless well I can see its there when connected via USB but can not connect to it! when i try to go there it says drive corrupt or unreadable, I can how ever do a diag with WD tool on it that says the drive is OK. Now how can one get in there and retrieve the files? man I have hours of video from vacations and a bunch pictures off our family any help would be great Thanks Peladinho __________________ _____________________________________________ Life's good Last edited by Peladinho; 11-11-2008 at 09:27 PM.. Reason: Spelling

11-11-2008, 11:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
Vigilante Broken Arrow Location: US	Several ways. If the drive is actually ok but just unreadable for whatever reason, you can put it in the machine as a secondary and copy files that way. If it's SATA, no problem, just hook it up to the SATA port and power it. If it's IDE, then make sure you jumper it correctly for master/slave. Also, if it's SATAII and you motherboard is plain SATA, then jumper it for plain SATA first. If it is readable but the partition is lost, then use something like partition recovery or file recovery software. These guys work good, I've used them in the past and it's pretty cheap: Active@ Partition Recovery. Recover Deleted Partition. Undelete NTFS & FAT partitions. If it is unreadable as a drive and the USB case is fine, then you'll need to send it off to a company like gillware LLC to retrieve the files. Prices last I checked were from ~350 to 800 dollars. WD might do it, but I bet it will be more expensive. If none of this makes sense to you and you aren't good with opening up and working inside a computer or USB case, then take it to a tech. __________________ We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. -Winston Churchill

11-12-2008, 11:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
Radio Monk33 Psycho	I recommend using an app called TestDisk TestDisk - CGSecurity Used it to extract files off a bad drive in the past..fairly easy to use! __________________ "Punk rock had this cool, political personal message. It was a bit more cerebral than just stupid cock rock, you know" -Kurt Cobain

11-12-2008, 02:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Vigilante Broken Arrow Location: US	Any software - ANY software, depends on the drive still being "good", but unreadable for whatever reason. If you can't force it to be recognized from either a USB device or a direct IDE/SATA plug in at the BIOS level, the drive is physically bad, with bad ranging from corrupted firmware to a head crash, making the platters unreadable. Just keep that in mind during your diagnostics. __________________ We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. -Winston Churchill Last edited by Vigilante; 11-12-2008 at 02:10 PM..

11-12-2008, 09:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
meanSpleen Squid hat! Location: A Few Miles Away From Halx	I think your situation is similar to one I had a few months ago - drive (external) was rendered unreadable or corrupted through self infliction (i started a RAID mirror on it accidentally). Anyway, if you want to try to extract data from it - follow luciferase75's tips on connecting it directly to your computer. THis will help for speed purposes for the following: I used "Recover My Files" to get about 98% data from my drive. It is pay software, but I find that it works extremely well and only has a moderate learning curve - Data Recovery Software to Undelete Files; Disk recovery; Recover Deleted Files Alternatively, and suggested in the linked thread, is PC Inspector File Recovery CONVAR & PCinspector Data Recovery Datenrettung recupero dati datarecovery rcupration donnes - It is free, and I imagine it would work just as well as Recover My Files. The above tools will help you transfer stuff from the non-functioning drive to your live system. You can then replace the external drive with another one so you can use it from that point forward. __________________ Like TFP? Donate To Keep It Alive!!

11-15-2008, 09:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Peladinho Upright	:) It works now Thank you for all the replies I used the test disk 6.10 and now every thing is fine and back to normal. I then took everything of the drive re wrote X over the whole drive then formatted the drive with windows Disk management then installed the new drivers and software for the drive and will try again. But in light of this i think I will find a better method of storing my stuff. Thanks again __________________ _____________________________________________ Life's good