Hey guys, this person's Asus laptop running win7 developed a HDD problem and won't go to windows, he wants to recover some data on the drive, I used Parted Magic to access the drive but strangest thing, I am seeing the folder on the ROOT drive in parted magic but every folder showing is empty, it's as if someone deliberately emptied every folder. I tried attaching the drive as a slave to my machine, I can see the Disk F in My Computer but it doesn't open. The guy is asking me to create a partition on the drive to load an OS to try to recover the files that way, I told him if I partition the drive, that partition may overwrite some files so that's a risk but he is thinking of trying. Any recommendations please?
Data backup problem
- Thread starter mikehende
- Start date
You can shrink the drive and then use the free space you create to load an OS. That's if the drive has enough free space to start with.
Have you tried to use a Windows 7 disk to do a recovery? Maybe that will work.
You could also use a Linux live cd to boot an OS and see if you can access the files that way. If you can then you can copy them to another drive.
You could also have a permissions problem with the drive in your computer. Try right clicking on the drive, select properties > security. The click advanced and remove all permissions. After you do that duplicate the procedure and it will restore default permissions.
If you still can't access it then put the drive in a freezer overnight. Put it back in the computer and try to access the files again. You could actually put it back in the computer and try to boot from it. Freezing a dying or dead drive will usually give you enough time to gather the files. Make sure to put the drive in a sealed baggy before freezing.
Have you tried to use a Windows 7 disk to do a recovery? Maybe that will work.
You could also use a Linux live cd to boot an OS and see if you can access the files that way. If you can then you can copy them to another drive.
You could also have a permissions problem with the drive in your computer. Try right clicking on the drive, select properties > security. The click advanced and remove all permissions. After you do that duplicate the procedure and it will restore default permissions.
If you still can't access it then put the drive in a freezer overnight. Put it back in the computer and try to access the files again. You could actually put it back in the computer and try to boot from it. Freezing a dying or dead drive will usually give you enough time to gather the files. Make sure to put the drive in a sealed baggy before freezing.
allheart55 (Cindy E)
Administrator
Not if you are using it to do a recovery.
Have you tried strapping the drive to another computer and trying to access the files that way or is the drive totally dead?
I would definitely try freezing the drive.
allheart55 (Cindy E)
Administrator
It does suggest a hard drive failure. You should definitely freeze it in sealed airtight zip lock bag overnight.
Remember, when you remove it from the freezer, time is of the essence. Try and retrieve the data immediately.
Remember, when you remove it from the freezer, time is of the essence. Try and retrieve the data immediately.
allheart55 (Cindy E)
Administrator
I've actually had a lot of luck with freezing hard drives. Good Luck, Mike. Let us know how you fare.
allheart55 (Cindy E)
Administrator
I'm sorry you didn't have any luck, Mike.
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