Data Recovery From Hard Disk Software

[Gerald Weiß]

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My computer has stopped working because the hard disk has broken. I used it to store important data without having a backup, and several files (.xslx, .word, .pdf) could not be recovered or they are corrupt when we use a program to access it. Is there any other way to try to recover them?

If your data has value, go to a pro. Most recoveries, even those requiring clean room work do not exceed say $850 but some labs are in to $300 - $500 range even if clean room is required and if no additional parts need to be sourced.

Many failed DIY attempts may hamper recovery and add to the price. This is true if the data loss has a physical cause and if in-place repairs are attempted (partition table editing, rebuild RAID etc.).

With sudden data loss a physical cause should not be ruled out before hand, even if the damage appears to be at the logical level. For example, a RAW file system can be due to logical corruption, it is however also a common symptom for physical damage. Even just repeated read attempts can further damage a drive or cause firmware damage (g-list overflow).

It does not hurt to use a S.M.A.R.T. utility. Although the information may be overwhelming it can be useful. Treat information as such: If the SMART tool alerts you about problems then assume there are in fact problems. However, absence of alerts does not mean the drive is okay by definition.

If raw values are non zero the drive had, at some point, problems reading sectors. Large values IMO (say > 20) are alarming even if the SMART tools says they are not. An easy to use and free SMART tool is CrystalDiskInfo. In menu Function > Advanced Feature > set RAW values to 10 [DEC]. Most of the file recovery tools I'll recommend later on also can display SMART data.

It is true that SSD's are less prone to mechanical damage of moving parts. Still, sudden disappearance of data can have physical causes such as sudden loss of power. SSD's can and do suddenly fail just like conventional hard drives.

Also SSD's can experience 'bad sectors' although these are of an entirely different nature than bad sectors on spinning disks. Such bad sectors can have cascading effects and SSD's, once they start behaving odd or unstable can deteriorate rapidly. A a lab is not an option and you need more than a few files, skip to cloning.

TRIM is often misunderstood. it's is important to understand that TRIM is a command that is sent by for example the operating system to inform the SSD drive about a range of sectors that can be discarded. TRIM is not file deletion of erasure in itself.

It depends on a specific OS if and when it sends TRIM commands. One OS may send a TRIM command immediately if for example a file is deleted, the other may schedule weekly TRIM commands, or an OS may do both.

For example Windows sends a TRIM command when you format a partition or as soon as you delete a file - if it concerns a NTFS formatted volume. So, in general data recovery from a formatted partition is impossible unless: 'circumstances' (non 'supported' file system, older USB bridge not relaying TRIM commands, etc.).

If you however you can not access the partition because the file system is RAW, this is no reason for Windows to 'TRIM' that partition and in general one can assume the data can be recovered. So in general, an OS will only TRIM data that is purposely deleted.

TRIM =/= erasure, or zero-fill although it may appear that way. In short: Many controllers 'unmap' trimmed LBA addresses. Try reading such LBA addresses and the controller simply returns zeros without even ever reading the drive. A data recovery lab may be able to recover 'trimmed' data while a data recovery lab can not recover data that was truly overwritten, even if only overwritten with zeros.

Can be used to make some in place repairs where it concerns MBR, partition tables and boot sectors. These are a tiny fraction of all things that can be wrong and prevent access to your data, and in general it's a bad idea to make in-place repairs. That said, for a knowledgeable person patching a disk can be the quickest way to recovery with only marginal risks.

Also reason for data loss plays a role: If the known cause is accidental partition deletion, and the layout of the disk is known, picking the correct partitions isn't rocket science and fairly low risk IMO. If on the other hand cause for the data loss is unknown it makes no sense to try TestDisk just for the sake of it.

Partition undelete/recovery only makes sense if partitions are not visible, not if new partitions were already created and formatted. Boot sector repair only makes sense if the issue is actually the boot sector.

Even though these tools are designed for this and good at what they do (specially HDDSuperClone), if cloning/imaging is problematic (drive disappears randomly, extremely slow, noisy) it's wise to stop DIY attempts.

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Learn how to recover data from a failed hard drive using data recovery software or a data recovery service. This guide covers everything you need to know, including how to predict hard drive failure, types of hard drive failures, and tips for recovering data successfully.

Steps to Recover Data from a Failed Hard Drive Data Recovery Software Data Recovery Service How to Predict Hard Drive Failure Types of Hard Drive Failures Tips for Recovering Data from a Failed Hard Drive FAQ:Can you recover data from a dead hard drive?How to recover data from a hard disk which is not detecting?What to do with a dead hard drive?What to do when your hard drive fails?Can you recover a dead hard drive to working order?

However, data recovery services are also more expensive and time-consuming than the above methods. They may charge you hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on the complexity and severity of the failure. They may also take days or weeks to complete the recovery process.

Logical failures are caused by software errors or corruption. Logical failures can usually be repaired using data recovery software. Physical failures are caused by hardware damage. Physical failures can be more difficult to recover from, and may require the use of a data recovery service.

Yes, it is possible to recover data from a dead hard drive, but it is important to note that the chances of success depend on the severity of the damage. If the hard drive is physically damaged, such as from a fire or flood, then it is likely that the data will be unrecoverable. However, if the hard drive is only logically damaged, such as from a virus or software corruption, then there is a good chance that the data can be recovered.

Check the cables. Make sure that the power and data cables are properly connected to the hard drive and the motherboard. Try a different SATA port. If the hard drive is not detecting on one SATA port, try connecting it to a different one. Try connecting the hard drive to another computer. If the hard drive is still not detecting, try connecting it to another computer to see if it is detected there.

If you have tried all of the above and the hard drive is still not detecting, then it is likely that the hard drive is physically damaged and the data is unrecoverable. However, you can take the hard drive to a professional data recovery service to see if they can recover the data.

Recycle it. Hard drives contain hazardous materials, so it is important to recycle them properly. Most electronics stores and recycling centers will accept hard drives for recycling. Donate it. If the hard drive is still in good condition, you can donate it to a charity or organization that can refurbish it and give it to someone in need. Sell it. If the hard drive is still in good condition and contains valuable data, you can try to sell it to a data recovery company or someone who specializes in buying and selling used hard drives.

Once you have backed up your data, you can try to repair the hard drive using a data recovery software program. However, if the hard drive is physically damaged, then it is unlikely that it can be repaired.

If the hard drive cannot be repaired, then you will need to replace it. When choosing a new hard drive, make sure to select one that is compatible with your computer and has enough storage capacity for your needs.

If you are considering having your dead hard drive recovered, be sure to shop around and compare prices from different data recovery companies. Also, make sure to read the reviews of different companies before choosing one.

It is important to note that there is no guarantee that a professional data recovery service will be able to recover your data. However, if the data is important to you, then it is worth having the hard drive recovered by a professional.

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