ok guys, wrap your noodle around this one because I've tried about everything hardware wise.

Sys Specs (which don't matter)

mobo - NF7-S
Ram - 2 gig DDR4000
CPU - Athlon 2.8 gig
HD's - primary western digital 30 gig
secondary (the problem) Seagate 80 gig

So all of a sudden the other day my XP pro system begins lagging horribly for no aparent reason. spyware and virus scans pop up 3 or 4 of the usual adware crap.

Then I notice that the icons (linked to apps on my 2nd drive) have changed to the default windows "i don't know wtf this is) icon. Access to my 2nd drive, nadda. Windows doesn't even recognize it.

The PC itself sees the drive and the proper space of the drive in BIOS, just not in windows.

Next logical step, reset the BIOS just in case it's had some sort of digital spaz attack. it's been running for some years now and it's prone to a temper tantrum or two. BIOS reset, nadda. Disc check, finds page errors leading to the 2nd HD, unfixable. Already not good.

Windows still doesn't see it, after a 15 minute boot process o.0

So, i break out the ole external hard drive enclosure, pop the 2nd drive in it and connect it to my laptop. The stupid little app that comes with it says it reads the drive as being there but empty, which i know is BS because 80 gigs of data doesn't just disappear in an instant.

i do, eventually, after trying to access the drive the following error:

x:\ is not accessible.

Error performing inpage operation.

There has to be a way to at least recover the data and then pitch the drive. The only question is how. At this point the only things I haven't tried are forensics software or a platter transplant (and i'm no surgeon).

does ANYONE have any idea how I can avoid losing all of that data, which includes the ENTIRE CUBICLE101 ARCHIVES that aren't backed up, a plethra of applications that i've worked VERY hard to customize, as well as all of my media files that are not backed up.

I'm doing research online myself as well, but mostly I just find a bunch of moronic forums posts that never end up in an answer only a flame war as to who said "this or that".

My advice is to get thee to a professionally data recovery company QUICKLY.

Yes I know it's expensive but this is CRITCAL data and you've done all you can.

And the rest of you - BACK UP YOUR DATA.

-MF

Quote: Originally Posted by Monsignor Funkibut My advice is to get thee to a professionally data recovery company QUICKLY. Yes I know it's expensive but this is CRITCAL data and you've done all you can. And the rest of you - BACK UP YOUR DATA. -MF

i'm not giving up that easy

If you can't afford to lose it then you can't really afford to arse about and waste time trying to save it yourself. Id go straight to professional data recovery if I were in your shoes.

It sounds likes it severely hemorrhaging, i.e. time is of the essence.

I can't say enough about SpinRite and how much it's saved myself as well as my friends. The $90 price is well worth what it can and most likely WILL save you in the long run. If there's ANY chance of you being able to recover the data off this drive, it's with this program.

d

i second Spinrite, i use it on a daily basis and its saved my (and many a clients) rear so many times, its not funny

Quote: Originally Posted by 0v3rki11 does ANYONE have any idea how I can avoid losing all of that data, which includes the ENTIRE CUBICLE101 ARCHIVES that aren't backed up, a plethra of applications that i've worked VERY hard to customize, as well as all of my media files that are not backed up. I'm doing research online myself as well, but mostly I just find a bunch of moronic forums posts that never end up in an answer only a flame war as to who said "this or that".

This happened to me about six years ago. Believe it or not, the following advice helped:

Stick the hard drive in the freezer for about an hour. Then take it out (before it generates frost) and re-mount it.

Note that this might not work for you. But at the time, there were no $99 recovery services ... they were all $1000 or more. This may even cause additional damage to your drive. Be warned.

-godling

I'll third a try with SpinRite, but honestly, if this is really truly critical data, get professional help.

Mmmm this SpinRite seems to be getting top recommendations from extremely reputable folk...

*adds to download list*

Nice tip guys

Spinrite or Acronis software is all I use so.....................

But as with everyone else, if its REALLY a "CAN NOT LOSE NO MATTER WHAT" kinda deal, then go for the data recovery pro's.

I know its expsencive , but even tho WE know about pc's and are ahead of the curve on tech smarts , there comes a time when we must consede that even WE need help

Sounds just like what happened a few years back with me on my old Athlon rig. I replaced the PSU with a better one and solved my problem.

Quote: Originally Posted by Dex Mmmm this SpinRite seems to be getting top recommendations from extremely reputable folk... *adds to download list* Nice tip guys

Might want to try a linux livecd as well. I had a problem very similar and used a linux livecd (knoppix at the time) to move everything over before the hd kicked the dust. Same thing too, Windows couldn't see data. Good luck

to go the linux route, try gparted live.it can clone (and re-size) partitions to another drive.

you should make backups......

Anyway, that looks like a nice app, added to my collection, I've always used FileScavenger, but hey theres always something new.

When looking for pro's, look for you local tech schools, that have a forensic degree or class, they may have a FRED machine that can recover the drive, and they may do it for free. My school does it for anyone, as long as the data is critical, and/or not pr0n.

Quote: Originally Posted by boardboyd Might want to try a linux livecd as well. I had a problem very similar and used a linux livecd (knoppix at the time) to move everything over before the hd kicked the dust. Same thing too, Windows couldn't see data. Good luck

I too have seen where a drive worked just fine under linux but could not be seen under Windows. I would also say that you might want to try booting linux and then plug the drive in as an external once the os is up and running. Leave the drive running only the minimum amount of time needed to see if you can read the data on it or not. if you can read the data then pull it off as fast as you can, if you can not read it then shut the drive down and i think at that point it is either time to try the program that several people here have mentioned or to take it to the experts.

im going to give knoppix a try unless someone has a better bootable linux solution.

Also, just in case anyone was wondering or cares. The "inpage" error is native to windows when the drive has a corrupted sector in the I/O layer, hence windows is unable to recognize or read the drive.

i've found some way out there solutions online that seem like they worked more out of the luck factor than actual engineering prowess.

worse come to worse i have a friend at work who is in college for ISS and it's possible they have the hardware/software needed in order to recover my files, even if just a percentage of them.

bottom line here is that i'm not going to pay someone an outrageous price to pull this data off when i know that i'm fully capable of doing it myself or finding a way for it to be done that doesn't drain my wallet.

seeing how my wallet is about to be drained anyway (read recent cubicle101.com news post) cranking out money isn't an option.

/edit

if all else fails you will be seeing a video posted here of me pumping a few hollow points into the drive, just so i can have the final laugh. damned stupid box of wires.

DATA RECOVERED!!!!

no forensics tools needed, nor any expensive recovery services.

After doing some digging I found some suggestions from others who've had similar issues and were able to recover their drives.

The solution, run chkdsk until no errors are found ( had to run it about 5 times). Eventually it repaired the defunct cluster and i have my access to the drive back.

needless to say i'm backing everything up as quick as i can before the drive decides to take a dump again.

This is why I say that you should always attempt to fix your own problems before running off and paying through the nose for someone else to do it for you.

Thanks to all those who offered up ideas and help.

Darn Skippy!

Congratulations on a fine piece of technical work.

And now a public service announcement for our viewing audience - BACK UP YER DATA!
Not you Ov3rki11 - I see you backing up

We know return you to our regularly scheduled post.

-MF