Let's See if YOU Can Solve My HDD Problem

[bdoguc]

I left for vacation and my computer was running fine. I turned off my system completely for two weeks, returned, and the system would not boot. Here was my setup:

Primary Master - IBM Drive
Primary Slave - CD Drive
Secondary Master - Maxtor Drive
Secondary Slave - IBM Drive

After trial and error, I figured out that the MAXTOR drive was causing my system NOT to boot, no matter what configuration I used.

I am running Windows XP Pro and all HDD's are formatted using NTFS. The MAXTOR drive was where I stored over 100+ Gigs of important programs and information.

The ONLY way I can try to recover the data is from a DOS prompt b/c the CD Drive is NOT recognized if the MAXTOR drive is connected. I have tried EVERY type of recovery software and have been unable access the data. One of the programs told me the HDD had an error: "File System Error - Index Corrupted."

Does ANYONE have ANY ideas for me? I need to recover this data.

Thanks,

BDog

 

[paparazi]

bdoguc
I guess the most obvious would be to remove your drive to try and piggy back it on another system as slave.
If your drive prevents the donor PC from booting you have real problems.
Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[kiddpete]

If you can access the drive under any conditions, forget the CD drive. Get a USB or Firewire hard drive, and copy your data to it. Then you can worry about fixing the Maxtor drive with repartition, format, etc.

 

[norty303]

Then you can worry about fixing the Maxtor drive with repartition, format, etc

I would think that if you manage to get any data off of the drive you should consider junking it if it turns out to be the faulty component.

Try removing all of the drives apart from your boot disk on Primary Master and the Maxtor on Secondary MAster (jumpered accordingly) and see if you're able to access it. Also, if you're using CS, try setting the master and slave on the jumpers

 

[bdoguc]

As I said in my post, under every scenario w/the Maxtor drive attached, the computer will not boot. I have already gone out and bought two new hard drives, but I still need to get my data from the Maxtor. So far, I have had no luck accessing the drive.

How do the "Professionals" who recover data do so (what hardware or programs do theu use)? One of them told me they obtain a low-level image and then transfer it to a working drive, but how do they get that image b/c if I can do that too, I can solve my self.

Thanks,

BDoguc

 

[pudda]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=12-107-107&depa=0

Assuming "try to recover the data is from a DOS prompt" means you can read the drive in DOS.
Set drive as master, let Windows find and recognize it as a removeable USB device.

Gone for two weeks and dead hdd- possibly dead mobo battery?

The test continues...

 

[wolluf]

BDoguc

Did you try paparazi's suggestion (ie, connect it to another machine)?

You also said

'The ONLY way I can try to recover the data is from a DOS prompt' - does that mean you CAN boot to a dos prompt with the drive connected? When you say it won't boot - at what stage does it fail? (do you get a POST screen, does it stop before that, does it fail trying to load o/s). If you can boot a floppy with the Maxtor connected, you could try their diagnostic utility (powermax) -

http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/M...tware Downloads/ATA Hard Drives&downloadID=22

 

[pweegar]

If nothing else works, the ONLY other way to recover the data is to find a data recovery company in your area. ANd it may be expensive. How old is this drive? Is it still under warranty? If so, you may be able to send it back to the manufactuer and have them repair the drive or pull of the data. IF it is NOT under warranty, allowing the manufacturer to repair the drive, in a clean room, will be expensive.

And in the future, DO A REGULAR BACKUP OF ALL CRITICAL PROGRAMS AND DATA to avoid this situation.