[bytesofgold]

i have a WD 2500ME 250GB USB interface hard drive. i found it corrupted on 1/30 that is seven days ago. at that time i tried scanning it with partition find and mount which came up with nothing. i have vista and the icon shows up but there is a bar below that which is no longer there. it took me seven days to run find and mount so i am in this for the long hawl so please no reformatting suggestions, i am up for the complicated fix. i know it is possible there clearly exist many data recovery companies. so i am here for any kind of help that can be provided.

 

[bytesofgold]

i should add that if you get the impression while dianosing my situation that it was a malicious act i would not be surprised.

 

[spunk.funk]

Download WD DataLifeGuard for Windows. Run the Short and Long tests on the HDD.
To try and recover your files, you can use the Free TestDisk program. I have had the best luck with GetDataBack. You will need another drive of the same size or larger to restore your files to.

 

[bytesofgold]

bump. . .

 

[bytesofgold]

i am have some logging problems so if you dont see my response dont think i just left. it just took me about 10 mins to log in, i had to keep reentering my pw.

 

[bytesofgold]

i do not have a drive of the smae size is it use less. i was under the impression that i would be able to fix the drive i have not just transfer data. there is nothing physically wrong with the drive, its just that i found that it might be corrupted and did not want to lose the data that was already on the drive. getting another drive to supplement this one is fine but how do i know that this drive and its functions are useless. i have browsed some forums including this one and have seen where people ahve had some minor success with their external hard drives that didnt have them throw out the corrupted one. what i am looking for here is to be able to fix this drive and retrive any or all data possible. are you saying that this drive if i have to transfer info, would be useless afterwards.

 

[Old Rich]

You won't know it is is useless untill you run diagnostics on it . . but be sure and salvage any data you cherish first . . it may not survive a diagnostic.

Once you have the data backed uop, You can run diagnostics on the hard drive by downloading Seatools and making a bootable disc. Do the short and long test.

If either test fails, the drive needs to be replaced.

See this for how to make a bootable cd:

http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f149/how-to-burn-a-bootable-iso-file-341778.html

 

[bytesofgold]

are you saying that i can backup a corrupted drive with out having to fix it. below is the results of the Data Lifeguard Diagnostic tests.



Test Option:EXTENDED TEST
Model Number:WD 2500BMV External
Unit Serial Number:WX80A59L4591
Firmware Number:1.75Capacity:250.06 GB
SMART Status:FAIL
Test Result:FAIL
Test Error Code:08-Error was detected while repairing bad sectors.
Test Time:18:33:48, February 07, 2013
Test Option:QUICK TEST
Model Number:WD 2500BMV External
Unit Serial Number:WX80A59L4591
Firmware Number:1.75
Capacity:250.06 GB
SMART Status:FAILTest Result:
FAILTest Error Code:06-Quick Test on drive 6 did not complete! Status code = 04 (Unknown failed test element), Failure Checkpoint = 96 (Unknown Test) SMART self-test did not complete on drive 6!
Test Time:18:36:27, February 07, 2013

 

[Old Rich]

are you saying that i can backup a corrupted drive with out having to fix it.

Maybe . . did you try get data back?

 

[spunk.funk]

SMART Status:FAILTest Result:FAIL

To try and recover your files, you can use the Free TestDisk program. I have had the best luck with GetDataBack. You will need another drive of the same size or larger to restore your files to.

The HDD has failed and needs to be replaced. You cannot fix this drive on your own, try using the software in the link if you want to recover your files.

 

[bytesofgold]

i have not tried the GetDataBack just yet, is there a program or software that could atleast give me an indication that the file are still there. also could this have been done by a hacker, and if so how would they have done this.

 

[spunk.funk]

This was not done by a Hacker. The HDD Failed, it wore out, it went to Hard Drive heaven. When you run GetDataBack it scans your drive and it will tell you what, if any files it can find.

 

[bytesofgold]

This was not done by a Hacker.

is there a way a hacker could have done this, if there is how would they have done this, what can i do to prevent it from happening again.





i have started using a program called easeUS. i know you may not use this program but i would like some advice regarding it. i have chosen its data recovery option and it has given me a 409 hrs time limit, is this too long of a time to wait for this program to work.

 

[spunk.funk]

Again, this is not done by a hacker. A HDD is an electronic hardware piece that has a limited shelf life and eventually wears out and dies. That's why you should always keep files you can't live without on more then one HDD.
EaseUS Data Recovery is a great program. No matter what program you choose, If you have a lot of data/files and/or a severely damaged drive. like yours, then it will take considerably a long time to scan the drive. The 409 hrs will fluctuate and lessen as time goes on, but expect to scan for up to 24 hours or more. You still will need another drive to then restore your files to.

 

[bytesofgold]

if i dont or cant come up with another drive what should i do, is there anything way i could reuse this drive. even if i dont decide to throw out this damaged one can i reuse it.

what are the worst case senarios when it comes to reformatting. meaning if i were able to identify the files that were still on drive, what are my chances of retriving all the files.

what if i just decided to forget trying to recover the files and just reformat how useable would this drive be.

 

[spunk.funk]

SMART Status:FAILTest Result:FAIL

The drive has failed, as mentioned several times now. You cannot fix this drive, you can't format a failed drive, because there are too many bad sectors that cannot be repaired.
Data recovery is your only option. Data recovery on a failed drive is not guaranteed. You may not be able to recover any files, Running Easesus, TestDisk, GetDataBack or whatever software works for you, will scan the drive first and when it is done show you, what, if any files it can recover. It may not be able to recover any files. You then can choose where to restore the files to. If you have a large enough HDD you can restore files to that, the best option is to get a USB drive to restore the files to. If the files are crucial, then you would need to send it off to a Professional Data Recovery Specialist. They open the HDD in a clean room and recover the files from the platters. This method is extremely expensive.