external hard drive issue

[megazero_0]

HD Brand : WD , my passport
File System : NTFS
Windows : 7
I apologize for the general topic, but I would like to clarify the issue I am experiencing. I have several external hard drives, and the one I am referring to was purchased 13 years ago. It has not been damaged by water or impact.

When I connect it to the USB 3 port on my laptop, only 1 out of 4 partitions is visible. The other three partitions only display the drive names, without showing any volume information. Subsequently, my computer begins to fill a green progress bar at the top and becomes unresponsive (hangs). After a while, a message appears stating, "Format before use." I click on "Cancel."

First time I connected it, I received a message (Yellow exclamation in device manager) indicating that "drivers for the USB devices were not installed completely." I updated the drivers, and they now appear to be functioning correctly. The LED on the drive is blinking, and I can hear a buzzing sound, along with some movement inside the hard drive when I place my hand on it(I believe sound does not mean defecting and it's a natural sound)

Could you please assist me in retrieving my data, if possible? How can I check for the underlying problem? To be honest, this hard drive was my first one, and it contains all my important data, including old photos. I cannot bear the thought of losing them. Additionally, I would like to mention that I do not have confidence in handing it over to a technician or expert.

NOTE:defect drive of external HD is "O" , "P" , "Q" and "K"
Note: I have to eject HD by pulling it from the laptop's port and can't perform safety remove .

I attached 4 images
Disk 1 is my external Hard drive
thank you

 

[DrB0b]

I do not know your technical background but there are a few things I would try if I was in this position. If you need me to elaborate on any of the procedures mentioned below, please let me know. A simple Google will tell you how to use the items I refer to but I can help point you in the right direction.

First, I would use a Linux distro to see if it can view anything on the partitions in question or if it has the same hang up. Ideally on a different PC to avoid any USB or driver issues. This can be easily achieved by downloading Ubuntu, Mint, etc to a thumb drive or DVD and booting from it. If that OS can see your files, I would move them to another drive so you have a backup in case there is something wrong with the current disk they are on. If it also has issues viewing those partitions, then there likely is an issue with that drive. I would then go into recovery territory.

Easus DataRecovery and many other backup/recovery softwares will have the ability to retrieve files off of partially damaged partitions. If I was the tech you brought this to, I would likely to clone the drive before doing any other recovery to the drive. Doing intensive recovery from the mentioned software may damage the partitions even more and potentially beyond comprehensive data recovery from a specialist. This may give you at least a snapshot of the current setup and issues with your troubled drive. Then you can send that off for comprehensive data recovery if the software attempt fails or makes the corruption worse. All that being said, if this was my drive, I would likely attempt the software recovery first as each intensive/read write will potentially bring this drive closer to failure and I would want my best shot at getting anything off the drive. Even the clone will take a toll on the drive since it has to analyze sector by sector.

I know this data is on an external hard drive but please take this as a life lesson in backing up important data to multiple sources. Pics are easy to burn to a DVD/BluRay, drop on a thumb drive, or another external HDD and drop in a safe. Unfortunately, all storage media fails at some point so it is good to have a second copy. Obviously, online platforms such as Google drive, OneDrive, etc are options as well.

Feel free to wait for another knowledgeable TekTipper to weigh in as it is a good idea to hear multiple views especially when dealing with sensitive data or data you cherish. We have a lot of good people here willing to assist. Best of luck and I hope you get all of your pics back.

 

[megazero_0]

I do not know your technical background but there are a few things I would try if I was in this position. If you need me to elaborate on any of the procedures mentioned below, please let me know. A simple Google will tell you how to use the items I refer to but I can help point you in the right direction.

First, I would use a Linux distro to see if it can view anything on the partitions in question or if it has the same hang up. Ideally on a different PC to avoid any USB or driver issues. This can be easily achieved by downloading Ubuntu, Mint, etc to a thumb drive or DVD and booting from it. If that OS can see your files, I would move them to another drive so you have a backup in case there is something wrong with the current disk they are on. If it also has issues viewing those partitions, then there likely is an issue with that drive. I would then go into recovery territory.

Easus DataRecovery and many other backup/recovery softwares will have the ability to retrieve files off of partially damaged partitions. If I was the tech you brought this to, I would likely to clone the drive before doing any other recovery to the drive. Doing intensive recovery from the mentioned software may damage the partitions even more and potentially beyond comprehensive data recovery from a specialist. This may give you at least a snapshot of the current setup and issues with your troubled drive. Then you can send that off for comprehensive data recovery if the software attempt fails or makes the corruption worse. All that being said, if this was my drive, I would likely attempt the software recovery first as each intensive/read write will potentially bring this drive closer to failure and I would want my best shot at getting anything off the drive. Even the clone will take a toll on the drive since it has to analyze sector by sector.

I know this data is on an external hard drive but please take this as a life lesson in backing up important data to multiple sources. Pics are easy to burn to a DVD/BluRay, drop on a thumb drive, or another external HDD and drop in a safe. Unfortunately, all storage media fails at some point so it is good to have a second copy. Obviously, online platforms such as Google drive, OneDrive, etc are options as well.

Feel free to wait for another knowledgeable TekTipper to weigh in as it is a good idea to hear multiple views especially when dealing with sensitive data or data you cherish. We have a lot of good people here willing to assist. Best of luck and I hope you get all of your pics back.

Hi and thanks for your kind response

First, I would use a Linux distro to see if it can view anything on the partitions in question or if it has the same hang up. Ideally on a different PC to avoid any USB or driver issues. This can be easily achieved by downloading Ubuntu, Mint, etc to a thumb drive or DVD and booting from it. If that OS can see your files, I would move them to another drive so you have a backup in case there is something wrong with the current disk they are on. If it also has issues viewing those partitions, then there likely is an issue with that drive. I would then go into recovery territory.

I have to install one, but I'm unsure if I could install it on the VM machine to test this.

Easus DataRecovery and many other backup/recovery softwares will have the ability to retrieve files off of partially damaged partitions. If I was the tech you brought this to, I would likely to clone the drive before doing any other recovery to the drive. Doing intensive recovery from the mentioned software may damage the partitions even more and potentially beyond comprehensive data recovery from a specialist. This may give you at least a snapshot of the current setup and issues with your troubled drive. Then you can send that off for comprehensive data recovery if the software attempt fails or makes the corruption worse. All that being said, if this was my drive, I would likely attempt the software recovery first as each intensive/read write will potentially bring this drive closer to failure and I would want my best shot at getting anything off the drive. Even the clone will take a toll on the drive since it has to analyze sector by sector

About software I'll ask you later among EAsus , Disk Drill , wondershareit , R-Studio . first, let me did I catch your point or not !
How could I perform a clone on my hard disk before going into recovery software? I attached the images I can't also open the drive.Windows detect 4 partitions, one of them is shown, and just one explanation from my side missing : after I ejecting HD's port from laptop directly without safety remove option it was shown something like : " The request could not be performed because of an i/o device error"

Doing intensive recovery from the mentioned software may damage the partitions even more and potentially beyond comprehensive data recovery from a specialist.

How could I understand that scanning through recovery software may damage it more?
Should I check the existing bad sector via software or the CHKDSK command in Windows or is there any better software that minimizes damage possibility?

if this was my drive, I would likely attempt the software recovery first as each intensive/read write will potentially bring this drive closer to failure and I would want my best shot at getting anything off the drive. Even the clone will take a toll on the drive since it has to analyze sector by sector.

Honestly, could you please re-explain this paragraph again in simple words?

We have a lot of good people here willing to assist. Best of luck and I hope you get all of your pics back.

I am more than grateful.

so If I want to summarize your advice: First try to check with Linux Ubuntu .
then I confused! I am so sorry because you let me ask further more ,

thanks and regards
Hop you could help me to achieve my result .

 

[vaxman9]

Hi

DrB0b has covered most of the bases very nicely - I would 2nd his suggestion to clone before starting anything. If it were me, I would clone the original to a replacement drive and then work on the replacement drive, leaving the original disconnected. Depending on the issue with the drive, a clone operation might fail due to hardware issues.

I have used MiniTool Partition software in the past with great success to assist with fixing issue with my drives. https://www.partitionwizard.com. I am not sure the free version would have the recovery tools you will need, I purchased the full blown version and it was able to recover a damaged boot drive. Since the files are ones you do not want to lose, it might be worth the investment.

There are companies that can extract all the data from very damaged drives. I have only had to do this once in the past and it was not cheap, but they pulled data off what was a bricked drive.

You might want to see if you can find a local repair shop to see if they can assist - again clone that drive first!

 

[megazero_0]

I would 2nd his suggestion to clone before starting anything

Hi dear
I'm trying to understand but I can't, I realize the "clone" term as copying exact stuff. How I could clone entire HD's drives while I can't access them, I attached related images.

I would clone the original to a replacement drive and then work on the replacement drive

I hope, when you see my comment, explain, what does mean , how I do clone the original to a replacement hard drive.

I

I have used MiniTool Partition software in the past with great success to assist with fixing issue with my drives. https://www.partitionwizard.com. I am not sure the free version would have the recovery tools you will need, I purchased the full blown version and it was able to recover a damaged boot drive. Since the files are ones you do not want to lose, it might be worth the investment.

I do not have any problem , even other software such as Disk Drill , wondershareit , EaseUS , R-Studio ,.....

You might want to see if you can find a local repair shop to see if they can assist - again clone that drive first!

Maybe I misunderstood the "Clone" term !!!!

 

[DrB0b]

You do not have to install Linux to use it. Ubuntu will allow you to run a "test" version directly off of the DVD/Thumb drive without making any modifications to the PC you do it on. You could also do it through a VM if you want, but the USB driver issue will still potentially be a thing since you are still using the host PC to pass that external HDD connection.

The cloning software, Easus, Acronis, etc. will be able to clone your drive regardless of what the operating system on your local PC sees as far as the partitions are concerned. You will need a second external HDD or storage media to clone to unless you are cloning to an ISO which you can store on your local PC. Likely easier to clone to another drive in this case.

I would advise NOT doing a chkdsk until cloned. Any and all sector or bit scans will potentially damage the drive further. Clone and then try to recover or repair.

The portion where I describe that I would attempt the data recovery first is simply my opinion if it was my drive with cherished info that I didnt plan on sending off for potential deep data recovery. I would want the best shot at getting my data off the corrupt drive. This way isn't really the "best" way to go as mentioned above by vaxman as cloning first is the better option if you plan to send this off if you cannot get data off yourself.

@vaxman9 - Thanks for jumping in and taking some of your personal time to assist. This is why I love this community. A lot of smart people can come together without toxic replies and try to help others out.

 

[DrB0b]

@megazero_0 - Clone just means doing an exact copy of the problem drive. It will copy all partitions off the current drive and for all intents and purposes the new cloned to drive will act just like the old problem drive. This gives you two copies of your data in case the old drive dies during recovery.

 

[megazero_0]

You do not have to install Linux to use it. Ubuntu will allow you to run a "test" version directly off of the DVD/Thumb drive without making any modifications to the PC you do it on. You could also do it through a VM if you want, but the USB driver issue will still potentially be a thing since you are still using the host PC to pass that external HDD connection.

thank you really

The cloning software, Easus, Acronis, etc. will be able to clone your drive regardless of what the operating system on your local PC sees as far as the partitions are concerned. You will need a second external HDD or storage media to clone to unless you are cloning to an ISO which you can store on your local PC. Likely easier to clone to another drive in this case.

Just one query: If you look at my images 3 partitions detect but do not show any information could I also clone those 3 partitions(3 drives )?

The cloning software, Easus, Acronis, etc.

Among several well-known software which one is the best and most effective in my situation ?
R-studio ? Disk Drill ? Any recover ? Stellar Data ? Easus ? Acronis ? partionwizard ?
Or if you are not aware of that, which site gives more insight about that ?
thank you

 

[megazero_0]

Clone just means doing an exact copy of the problem drive. It will copy all partitions off the current drive and for all intents and purposes the new cloned to drive will act just like the old problem drive. This gives you two copies of your data in case the old drive dies during recovery.

Thanks for your perfect explanation. "K" "Q" "P" don't show any information[previous reply I asked about that]

 

[DrB0b]

Even though Windows doesnt see data, it doesnt mean the data doesnt exist on the hard drive platter. You will still be able to clone whatever isnt damaged to another hard drive.
I have used Acronis and Easus the most but honestly they all do about the same job. If you have used one in the past you are comfortable with, I would go that route. Otherwise I would push for Acronis or Easus.

 

[megazero_0]

Even though Windows doesnt see data, it doesnt mean the data doesnt exist on the hard drive platter. You will still be able to clone whatever isnt damaged to another hard drive.
I have used Acronis and Easus the most but honestly they all do about the same job. If you have used one in the past you are comfortable with, I would go that route. Otherwise I would push for Acronis or Easus.

I'll go with one of them. Let me keep this thread up to post further images/screenshots and get a consult from you.