Data files seen, but will not allow to copy?

[Guest]

I have a strange problem. A customer called me on Monday, visited him. His
hard drive will not boot up, but when I attach it to an external hard drive,
it will see the drive, read the read in fact. I can see all his word document
files, and spreadsheet files, etc. But, when I attempted to select and copy
or to even open the file in the application a message reports back stating...
can't read the file, a hardware problem occurs when trying to copy it to the
computer, or when attempting to open it in Word or Excel, it states the file
name is not present or missing can't open?

Has anyone seen this type of message before, is there a way to retrieve this
data, or can anyone suggest where I can inquire who might have the answer to
this blogging question?

 

[Owkmann]

Sounds very much like a failed hard drive. Did your customer have backups?

 

[Guest]

No, he hasn't... was wondering if there is a way inside of Windows to
retrieve the data without sending it out to someone who will charge him a
huge amount of $$$ to extract it? If that is the only way... then that's what
I like to know?

 

[Owkmann]

Ouch.

Okay, check this link for a full list of options:

http://ask.metafilter.com/41943/How-can-I-recover-data-from-a-broken-hard-drive

 

[Anna]

No, he hasn't... was wondering if there is a way inside of Windows to
retrieve the data without sending it out to someone who will charge him a
huge amount of $$$ to extract it? If that is the only way... then that's
what
I like to know?

First of all, at the very outset one of the first things you or he should do
is to clone the problem HDD to another HDD before manipulating the original
HDD any further. So at least you'll have some kind of fallback security as
you proceed during these troubleshooting routines.

Does your customer have an XP installation CD he can work with, or is this
an OEM machine with only a recovery/restore CD or partition?

Assuming he has the XP installation CD, can he boot to it? If so, has he or
have you tried a Repair install of the OS?

You say you've installed the problem HDD in a USB external enclosure but
failed to access the data that way. What about installing it as an internal
secondary HDD in a working machine? Have you tried to access the data that
way?

Do you have any clue at all as to what might be the problem other than a
possibly defective HDD? Was the system working without problems of any sort
and then the next moment your customer had an unbootable system on his
hands? Any hardware/software changes that might have triggered the problem?

Have you used the HDD manufacturer's diagnostic utility to check out the
disk?
Anna

 

[Patrick Keenan]

No, he hasn't... was wondering if there is a way inside of Windows to
retrieve the data without sending it out to someone who will charge him a
huge amount of $$$ to extract it? If that is the only way... then that's
what
I like to know?

It's not always a good idea to spend much time with failing drives. Attach
the drive to another system, and if you can't get data recovery software
trial versions to show that the data is recoverable, stop and take it to
professionals for an estimate.

You can actually make the problem worse, and as the drive degrades the price
will rise. Run the drive for the shortest possible time, have everything
ready to go.

I normally saw prices around $1000 for recovery of 40-gig drives that had
failed electrically.

HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

Thanks Patrick-

I seem to agree with your diagnostic... all leads up to the issue of the
drive being bad and not functioning as it should.

I just wanted to hear from those who have had the same experience as this
and perhaps had a solution. But, what Owkmann suggested is worth at least
looking at.

Anna- not sure how to really answer any further, other than I have only
tried it by external adapter (USB) and haven't nor do I wish to insert the
recovery or oem disk of the system into his drive until at least we have
tried to secure his data... but he's intending to buy a new machine next week
anyways when he has all the money gathered up to do so. I was hoping for a
second opinion and suggestion on if the scenario has happened to any one
else???

Thanks!

 

[HeyBub]

I have a strange problem. A customer called me on Monday, visited
him. His hard drive will not boot up, but when I attach it to an
external hard drive, it will see the drive, read the read in fact. I
can see all his word document files, and spreadsheet files, etc. But,
when I attempted to select and copy or to even open the file in the
application a message reports back stating... can't read the file, a
hardware problem occurs when trying to copy it to the computer, or
when attempting to open it in Word or Excel, it states the file name
is not present or missing can't open?

Has anyone seen this type of message before, is there a way to
retrieve this data, or can anyone suggest where I can inquire who
might have the answer to this blogging question?

Since you can read part of the drive, the drive itself is not croaked.

Go for the data recovery software solution first.

Easy Recovery Professional has a downloadable scanner that you can run. This
scan will tell you what CAN be recovered before you buy the product. We've
used the product with great success on both our machines and client's
drives.

Good luck.

 

[Guest]

Thanks HEYBUB-

I will offer that to my client when we build his new system, and perhaps he
will like the idea if the price is reasonable for him.

I suppose the link was mentioned above in this post... I believe I read that.

Thanx -

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

For file recovery, I suggest RTT's R-Studio.
http://www.data-recovery-software.net/. *Very* good and their trial will let
you see what can be recovered before purchasing.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Gary-

I will offer it to my client when I see him and see if he's interested in
this product.

Davd -