Recovering data from a crashed HDD

Brainchild · May 17th, 2004, 12:50 AM

I just had a IBM Deskstar die,and was wondering if there is anyway to retrieve the pics that were on it.
It is recognized in the BIOS,and sounds like it's spinning,but I can't get into it,and the computer says it's an invalid system disk.Is there anything I can do?

jmebonner · May 17th, 2004, 01:00 AM

You could set it as a slave, buy a program called 'GetDataBack' (There's a free trial to let you see if it will indeed recover them at http://download.com.com/3000-2094-10...ml?tag=lst-0-3) And recover them that way. Worked VERY nicely for me recently. A guy had lost all of his family pics, including those of a new baby. I didn't get the invalid systems disk, but it was bad enough that a couple of time the bios wouldn't recognze the disk at all. After fooling with it, I did get it to wrk. Well worth the $70 or so. I searched and searched for a free progrma to no avail.

jme

no1_vern · May 17th, 2004, 01:58 AM

Hi BC,
The "invalid system disk" error is saying the OS(system) that was on the drive isnt recognized by the bios - basically that it is unbootable.

Try installing it as a second drive(as suggested by jmebonner) then boot from your C drive and copy whatever is available to the other drive(make sure you change the jumper at the back of the drive when you reinstall).
You also might boot from a floppy or the windows CD and copy files to the other disk.

If those dont work I guess you will have to bite the bullet and buy a recovery proggy like the 'GetDataBack' suggested.

Brainchild · May 17th, 2004, 02:06 AM

Well I'm about to slave it in the computer,I had to get a computer together first

I hope I can get the pics off of it.Here goes nothing

Thanks for the responses.I'll let you know how this turns out

Brainchild · May 17th, 2004, 03:12 AM

Well I can't even get the computer to boot into windows with the drive atached,no matter what the jumper settings are (and IBM has a ton of them).Looks like I may be SOL

the who · May 17th, 2004, 04:26 PM

While the drive is spinning give it a nice bang on the desk. Enough to give it a kick in the pants. You'd be amazed how that sometimes solves problems. I have a toaster that refuses to work. But every morning I smack it a few times and it works. American engenuity I always say!

thePh@r@oh · May 17th, 2004, 05:13 PM

last time i had to salvage pics i set it to slave and booted with knoppix it worked like a charm

jmebonner · May 18th, 2004, 10:53 PM

Try the freezer trick first, I left that part out. Slap in in a plastic bag (to prevent condensation, of course) and freeze it for an hour or so. Then take it out and put it in there.

Chuckiechan · May 18th, 2004, 11:05 PM

Wait...before you do "destructive" remedies.

Double check your IDE connections and jumpers. You need either cable select with the new one at the end and the old one in the middle, or master and slave settings on each drive. And make sure it is plugged in.

You can also install it as a secondary drive where your cd rom is on IDE 1. It shouldn't cause your bios not to see windows on the "new" drive. You should see drive "D" with your stuff on it.

Lastly, if nothing is working verify the IBM is spinning.

Arjay13 · May 24th, 2004, 10:22 PM

I have a similar problem with an IBM Deskstar HD but my drive doesn't seem to be spinning. Do I have any options to recover the database that's on it?