Storage Solutions How to retrieve files from a HDD that is not being detected?

Status
Not open for further replies.
E

emmarbee

Contributor
Hi all,
As the title says, I need to retrieve files from my hdd, which recently went kaput.
I have mentioned in detailed how I confirmed that it is not working in this thread:

Code: 
http://www.techenclave.com/storage-solutions/wd-200gb-not-being-detected-help-149103.html

Any help is much appreciated. I've got no idea of how to retrieve files in it as it not being detected in the BIOS itself.
 
Unfortunately you cannot do that by yourself. IMO you have to hand it over to a HDD data recovery company to do that job, where the hdd will be put in manufacturer mode which requires special hardware. The platter of the HDD will be accessed directly with a special hardware.

Even there, you cannot expect 100% success. It depends.

Before giving it to them, ask the estimate. Decide whether the amount which they demand is worth the HDD data.
 
Are these kind of services actually available locally?

Anybody done this before?If so how much did it cost?
 
you can try searching through google for these types of services . But beware. The charges might be higher. Even 5k or 10k or even more...
 
Isn't there a solution like, "I can remove the existing power connector and replace it with a new power connector and then make it work"???

I mean, I was thinking the problem would be in the power section only and not in the sectors or cylinders or platters.
 
^^ If it was that simple, anyone could have done it.

Unfortunately, data recovery costs a lot.

Starts at 6k approx for basic, and have seen quotes of 2L for totally damaged drives.

Data recovery is hence done, only when, you value the data at more than the quote for recovery.

Contact Stellar Data Recovery, if you are in Mumbai/ Delhi and they will have a look & quote as per the problems found.

There is no charge for a quote.
 
Arun1 said:
Are these kind of services actually available locally?
Anybody done this before?If so how much did it cost?
Click to expand...

I knew of one shop that specialised in precisely this in Mumbai. I'm not sure if I remember where it is exactly, but I think it was somewhere near Lower Parel. They claimed to be able to retrieve data from crashed laptop hard-drives so you might want to try looking there. The name was kind of generic. Sorry I can't recall any better.
 
do not bother to recover if its something you can dload again online.

data recovery solutions cost alot...

basically they try using a circuitry of a working hdd of similar model.. if that works then voila!!

but that too..shall cost around the cost of a new drive.

on the other hand..if you want to recover it on your own without it's presence being detected...perhaps 'spirituality' is the only known working way around white
 
yes if its internet content get a high speed line 4 few months ,

try replacing the circuitry at the back of drive ....and read the thread link given by diabloreigns
 
Had a 250Gb hard disk go down on me.Consisted mostly of movies and some games.

I guess I've downloaded quite a bit of what I lost by now.I was pretty pissed of because most of that came from nights of seeding gaining ratio and always being on the look out for free leeches.Doesn't bother me much though now that I'm on RS Premium.

it would be nice if the cost is reasonable though.My 1Tb dump is almost full and downloading all that stuff again would be a real pain.

Went through the thread diabloReigns linked to.I guess his problem was pretty simple that he got it done for Rs3k.Someone else seems to have been quoted 38k!

If my data were worth that much I'd be nesting raids over it.
 
I guess this would be the utmost delayed reply an OP could have made in his own thread.

@all - Thanks for your replies.

The solutions that i've tried so far.
-->Contacted Lynx-India about Data Recovery (I got a reply that, no price can be quoted unless the HDD is analyzed)
-->Contacted WD CC, got the following reply:
Dear BHARAT KUMAR,

Thank you for contacting Western Digital Customer Service and Support. My name is Gabriel S.

I apologize for the inconveniences that this drive issue may have caused you.

In order to provide you with accurate support, I would like to ask you some questions regarding this issue. Have you tried connecting this hard drive with a different SATA cable? Does the same thing occurs if the drive is connected to a different computer? Have you tried connecting the hard drive to a different SATA port? Are you using this drive as primary or secondary? Is the drive being recognized under device manager? Is the drive being recognized under disk management? With this information we will be able to determine the source of your issue and provide you with the adequate solution.

Please see the link below for instructions on how to access disk management and device manager:

Title: How to access Disk Management in Windows 7, Vista, XP or 2000 to manage your hard drives
Link: How to access Disk Management in Windows 7, Vista, XP or 2000 to manage your hard drives

Title: How to access Device Manager in Windows
Link: How to access Device Manager in Windows

If you have any further questions, please reply to this email and we will be happy to assist you further.

Sincerely,
Gabriel S
Western Digital Service and Support
Click to expand...

The reason for me reopening this thread is, I want to be sure whether I can recover all my data in it. And as for the contents of the HDD, it contains around 150GiB of music files. Most of them lossless files (some downloaded and a LOT of them ripped from audio CDs that I don't have now). And the thing is, all those lossless files are very rare (the ones that I bought and the ones I downloaded). It took a very long time (few years) for me to make that collection. And some notable ones are FLAC discographies of ARR, MJ and many more artists! Even if the files are available somewhere in the stores and somewhere online, it'll be a REALLY TEDIOUS way to get back all the files that I had.

I really miss my music now. Since I lost that HDD, I almost stopped listening to music on my z5500.

Please help. I reside in chennai. If anybody know a place where I can get a free quote here, It'd be great!
 
Gave the HDD to Stellar for analysis. whopping 30K :(
I feel like suing Western Digital.

Media Hard Disk,Desktop
Serial No. WCAWF1788386
Model No. WD3200AAJS,Western Digital

Cause Of Damage Physical
Charges 29500.00 (Rupees Twenty Nine Thousand Five Hundred Only)
Advanced Required 0
Recovery Rate(%) 70
Estimated Processing Time 10(Business Days)
Recoverable Data All Mentioned Data. The seal will be tampered.

Please note If similar spare required that has to be provided.
Further Use Of Media Not possible

Work order & Payments in favour of Stellar Information Systems Ltd
Payment terms Through D.D. or Cash Against delivery verification
of data at our site.
Data delivery mode UPTO 1.3 GB - 2CD by Stellar[extra CD Rs.100 per CD]
UPTO 4.0 GB - 1DVD by Stellar[extra DVD Rs.200 per DVD]
More then 4.0 GB - HDD provided by client
Click to expand...
 
I guess it depends on the extent of the HDD being damaged.

If you want to give it a try, Locate the Part number on the Circuit of the HDD & buy a new one with the same details meant for the same HDD.

If its just a circuit / IC that got kaput you will be successfully be able to get your data back. Search on Ebay & elsewhere for the part number, I am not sure but there are companies that provide replacement parts for such hard drives. If its internal Damage (i.e. Header / Platter or the Motor) I suggest you not to try to open the drive as that requires special dust/ static free area.

This has happened to me 2 times before & Hence I have not 1 but 4 copies of my Very Important Data. & 2 Copies of Series /Movies etc. all on different hard drive.
 
^ - thanks for the tip. But how to locate the part number on the circuit of HDD. And where's the circuit of hdd?
Now that stellar has quoted 30K, is there any chance of lynx-india quoting a much cheaper price?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom