Challenging ddrescue problem

kevintotherescu · 09-30-2009, 07:56 AM

Hi all,

My hard drive recently became currupted so that whenever I boot it up, it crashes with a BSoD after the Windows splash screen with a "ntfs.sys" file error. If I hook the hard drive up as a slave, it isn't recognized. I've tried using bartPE, the Windows install CD to run recovery console and even a repair install, but this will not work - no matter what I do, the BSoD comes up as soon as the computer tries to access the hard drive (even with the Windows install CD). My objective: Get the pictures with sentimental value off, and then throw the hard drive into a fire. All I want is those select files off the drive.

I recently burned Knoppix 6.0.1 and ran fdisk -l...the hard drive was recognized and the partitions seemed to be set correctly. However, there is an "unknown failure" when I try to mount this drive.

I ran dd_rescue to copy the files onto an external hard drive (#dd_rescue /dev/hda2 /dev/sda). When it was completed, I ran fdisk -l and the partitions on the external were not showing up, and a message that there may be an error with the partition table. I plugged the external USB connector into my laptop (already running a stable Windows on the laptop HDD) and as soon as I did, I got the BSoD. F****! Basically, I just transferred the problem to my (formerly) perfectly good external.

I then hooked up another external, mounted it to /media/windows, and used dd_rescue to copy the files to an image file instead (#dd_rescue /dev/hda2 /media/windows/problem.img). This completed with numerous warnings, however I could not mount or force mount the image - ntfs error. I plugged this external into my laptop, and the partition showed in My Computer, but there was an error when I double clicked to open the drive.

I feel like I am very close. I appreciate any help. Honestly, if you are suggesting something rather simple (recovery console, copying ntfs.sys files), I've probably tried it and it doesn't work. I cannot get past the BSoD no matter what I do. I think the next steps for me would be:

1. Run dd_rescue to copy files on the disk AFTER the ntfs.sys file location
2. Somehow access the files through windows on the .img, even though I cannot open the drive on My Computer.

PLEASE HELP!

THanks,
Kevin

09-30-2009, 07:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
kevintotherescu Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Windows XP home SP3	Challenging ddrescue problem Hi all, My hard drive recently became currupted so that whenever I boot it up, it crashes with a BSoD after the Windows splash screen with a "ntfs.sys" file error. If I hook the hard drive up as a slave, it isn't recognized. I've tried using bartPE, the Windows install CD to run recovery console and even a repair install, but this will not work - no matter what I do, the BSoD comes up as soon as the computer tries to access the hard drive (even with the Windows install CD). My objective: Get the pictures with sentimental value off, and then throw the hard drive into a fire. All I want is those select files off the drive. I recently burned Knoppix 6.0.1 and ran fdisk -l...the hard drive was recognized and the partitions seemed to be set correctly. However, there is an "unknown failure" when I try to mount this drive. I ran dd_rescue to copy the files onto an external hard drive (#dd_rescue /dev/hda2 /dev/sda). When it was completed, I ran fdisk -l and the partitions on the external were not showing up, and a message that there may be an error with the partition table. I plugged the external USB connector into my laptop (already running a stable Windows on the laptop HDD) and as soon as I did, I got the BSoD. F****! Basically, I just transferred the problem to my (formerly) perfectly good external. I then hooked up another external, mounted it to /media/windows, and used dd_rescue to copy the files to an image file instead (#dd_rescue /dev/hda2 /media/windows/problem.img). This completed with numerous warnings, however I could not mount or force mount the image - ntfs error. I plugged this external into my laptop, and the partition showed in My Computer, but there was an error when I double clicked to open the drive. I feel like I am very close. I appreciate any help. Honestly, if you are suggesting something rather simple (recovery console, copying ntfs.sys files), I've probably tried it and it doesn't work. I cannot get past the BSoD no matter what I do. I think the next steps for me would be: 1. Run dd_rescue to copy files on the disk AFTER the ntfs.sys file location 2. Somehow access the files through windows on the .img, even though I cannot open the drive on My Computer. PLEASE HELP! THanks, Kevin