[SOLVED] Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working?

timmy393 · 04-08-2008, 09:24 AM

Hi,

First let me say this site is great and i've spent a while looking through these forums trying to find a solution to my problem. Thanks a lot to eneles and others for their great advice. But I can't seem to fix this problem!

I have an external 500 GB Western DIgital hard drive. I had it in an enclosure with esata output. I bought an esata to usb adapter online and tried to connect the hard drive to my laptop with the adapter.

Unfortunately when i tried to access the hard drive, i got this message:
"I:\is not accessible.
The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable."

When i right clicked the drive and went to properties, it said that the disk format was RAW and there was 0bytes free or available. I included it in the screenshots below.

I removed the hard drive and hooked it up to an external SATA to USB connector, and the hard drive showed up in my computer, but again i get the same error.

I had previously named my hard drive "01.Various" but that name has been deleted and the hard drive is simply named Local Disk. When i try to rename Local Disk, it won't allow me, it tells me whatever new name i choose is not valid. What gives me hope is that in testdisk it found "01.Various" as well as my files, but didn't fix the problem.

So I got testdisk and ran it. I clicked on Intel type hdd, and then on analyse. I then even tried the Deeper Scan option. After it was done, it showed two files. One was Extended LDA... and the other one was named like my HDD used to be, 01.Various.

It said Structure OK. SO i clicked on Write and confirmed, and in less than a second it said i had to restart my computer. I did that, with the HDD still conencted through USB.

Unfortunately this didn't fix the problem. The HDD is still named Local Disk and it still gives the above error message when i try to access it.

The information on this hard drive is irreplacable, stuff that i literally cannot live without. And the problem is there's a lot of it, so recovering fifty thousand files that are automatically renamed and trying to sort through them will be a nightmare.

I've included My Computer, testdisk screenshots and the logfile created by testdisk. If anyone can suggest anything, please help as i'm at my wits end!

**Deleted090308** · 04-08-2008, 10:35 AM

Welcome to TSF.

First of all - the instructions in the sticky should not be used when the HDD can be "seen" in My Computer.

The boot sector is most likely damaged - but do NOT try to fix it with TestDisk.

Try a few (free) data recovery programs first:
Recuva
Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier
File recovery and Smart recovery

If they don't find your files - GetDataBack.
GDB will probably find most of your files - to unlock the program and recover your files you'll have to pay $70-80.

And - of course - the files have to be copied to another drive.

timmy393 · 04-08-2008, 12:05 PM

thanks alot for the quick response eneles!

I was hoping there might be a way to fix the HDD without using data recovery and the hours of work and ending up with alot of files that are all named the same thing.

I'll be using getdataback.

BTW after recovering, should i try to fix the HDD with testdisk?

thanks again!

**Deleted090308** · 04-08-2008, 12:21 PM

Too risky, IMHO - maybe after you've secured your data.

timmy393 · 04-09-2008, 08:34 AM

first let me say thanks to you eneles, getdataback was incredible, it not only got me all my files back, it maintained the original folder structure and filenames!

I was wondering, now that my data is secure, is there something i can try with testdisk to fix the hard drive? It had no problems transferring the data, and it shows up in My Computer. Which suggests to me that the data isn't corrupt or irretrevable. I think the data to access it just got corrupted.

Can you suggest anything eneles? Thanks again for your great help!

**Deleted090308** · 04-09-2008, 09:28 AM

Good to hear the files are safe.

Now we can play with TestDisk step by step - but be careful, so you don't alter the wrong drive.

Start TD:

A. At the first window, select “No Log” and press the <Enter> key.
B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>.
C. Select partition type – Intel if it’s a PC then <Enter>.
D. Select Options > press <Enter>.
E. Change "Expert mode" to "Yes", select OK > press <Enter>.
F. Choose Advanced > press <Enter>.
G. Choose Boot > press <Enter>.

New screen - please post back with a screenshot.

How to post a screenshot.

timmy393 · 04-09-2008, 09:56 AM

ok, got to step G but i don't see an option to choose Boot.

**Deleted090308** · 04-09-2008, 10:10 AM

Run TestDisk again - but follow these steps:

Be careful - make absolutely sure you've chosen the correct drive.

A. At the first window, select “No Log” and press the <Enter> key.
B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>.
C. Select partition type – Intel if it’s a PC then <Enter>.
D. Choose MBR Code > press <Enter>.
E. Press Y and continue.

timmy393 · 04-09-2008, 10:23 AM

ok done. It said i had to reboot. Not sure what that requires when its an external data hard drive.

**Deleted090308** · 04-09-2008, 10:32 AM

Yes, you have to reboot - then go through the steps in post #6 again.

timmy393 · 04-09-2008, 10:44 AM

i'm not sure what i'm doing wrong. I restarted my computer, went through all the steps, and again i don't see a Boot option at step G. I've definately turned on the expert option!

Should i try rewriting the mbr code again, and restarting again?

**EDIT: i figured it out. Its because i had the upper selection highlighted. When i highlighted the 01.Various selection, the boot option came up.

Here's the screenshot.

**Deleted090308** · 04-09-2008, 11:13 AM

No - choose "Repair MFT" and continue.

And - reboot.

timmy393 · 04-09-2008, 11:24 AM

ok, repair mft took like 1 second, then I rebooted. No change with the HDD though, still says "not accessible.
The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable."

**Deleted090308** · 04-09-2008, 11:32 AM

That should've fixed it.

Same screen again - but select "Rebuild BS".

Reboot - and post a screenshot.

timmy393 · 04-09-2008, 11:53 AM

ok done, i've got this screen now. Not sure if its done doing what it needs to do. There's a cursor blinking underneath the "8" at the bottom. Should i exit and reboot yet?

sorry if i'm being noobish, its just the other steps took seconds.

thanks again!

**Deleted090308** · 04-09-2008, 12:08 PM

The "normal" sectors per cluster is 512 - type that (instead of 8) and continue.

timmy393 · 04-09-2008, 12:11 PM

now its asking for me to specify the mft lcn

**Deleted090308** · 04-09-2008, 12:18 PM

Nah... that's wrong. Try 8, like TD suggested.

timmy393 · 04-09-2008, 12:23 PM

I ended up getting 5 screens of settings, then the final screenshot is the last one, asking if i want to write etc

timmy393 · 04-09-2008, 12:24 PM

sixth screenshot, i gtg for a couple hours, thansk for your help, i'll follow whatever advice you suggest once i get back to my computer

thanks again!

04-08-2008, 10:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working? Welcome to TSF. First of all - the instructions in the sticky should not be used when the HDD can be "seen" in My Computer. The boot sector is most likely damaged - but do NOT try to fix it with TestDisk. Try a few (free) data recovery programs first: Recuva Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier File recovery and Smart recovery If they don't find your files - GetDataBack. GDB will probably find most of your files - to unlock the program and recover your files you'll have to pay $70-80. And - of course - the files have to be copied to another drive.

04-08-2008, 12:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
timmy393 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 17 OS: windows xp service pack2	Re: Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working? thanks alot for the quick response eneles! I was hoping there might be a way to fix the HDD without using data recovery and the hours of work and ending up with alot of files that are all named the same thing. I'll be using getdataback. BTW after recovering, should i try to fix the HDD with testdisk? thanks again!

04-08-2008, 12:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working? Too risky, IMHO - maybe after you've secured your data.

04-09-2008, 08:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
timmy393 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 17 OS: windows xp service pack2	Re: Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working? first let me say thanks to you eneles, getdataback was incredible, it not only got me all my files back, it maintained the original folder structure and filenames! I was wondering, now that my data is secure, is there something i can try with testdisk to fix the hard drive? It had no problems transferring the data, and it shows up in My Computer. Which suggests to me that the data isn't corrupt or irretrevable. I think the data to access it just got corrupted. Can you suggest anything eneles? Thanks again for your great help!

04-09-2008, 09:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working? Good to hear the files are safe. Now we can play with TestDisk step by step - but be careful, so you don't alter the wrong drive. Start TD: A. At the first window, select “No Log” and press the <Enter> key. B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>. C. Select partition type – Intel if it’s a PC then <Enter>. D. Select Options > press <Enter>. E. Change "Expert mode" to "Yes", select OK > press <Enter>. F. Choose Advanced > press <Enter>. G. Choose Boot > press <Enter>. New screen - please post back with a screenshot. How to post a screenshot. Last edited by Deleted090308; 04-09-2008 at 09:35 AM.

04-09-2008, 10:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working? Run TestDisk again - but follow these steps: Be careful - make absolutely sure you've chosen the correct drive. A. At the first window, select “No Log” and press the <Enter> key. B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>. C. Select partition type – Intel if it’s a PC then <Enter>. D. Choose MBR Code > press <Enter>. E. Press Y and continue.

04-09-2008, 10:23 AM	#9 (permalink)
timmy393 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 17 OS: windows xp service pack2	Re: Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working? ok done. It said i had to reboot. Not sure what that requires when its an external data hard drive.

04-09-2008, 10:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working? Yes, you have to reboot - then go through the steps in post #6 again.

04-09-2008, 11:13 AM	#12 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working? No - choose "Repair MFT" and continue. And - reboot.

04-09-2008, 11:24 AM	#13 (permalink)
timmy393 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 17 OS: windows xp service pack2	Re: Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working? ok, repair mft took like 1 second, then I rebooted. No change with the HDD though, still says "not accessible. The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable." Last edited by timmy393; 04-09-2008 at 11:26 AM.

04-09-2008, 11:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working? That should've fixed it. Same screen again - but select "Rebuild BS". Reboot - and post a screenshot.

04-09-2008, 12:08 PM	#16 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working? The "normal" sectors per cluster is 512 - type that (instead of 8) and continue.

04-09-2008, 12:18 PM	#18 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard Disk Failure, testdisk not working? Nah... that's wrong. Try 8, like TD suggested.