Recovery of files on a bad hard drive

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I have a hard drive that is obviously on its way out. I can't boot to the
desktop anymore. My main goal is to try to retrieve some information on the
hard drive.
If I am lucky enough to re-install windows xp on top of the current OS and
get to the desktop will I be able to access any of my files?

Any other suggestions on how to save a few files would be appreciated.

I booted to the recovery console and ran chkdsk /r it informed that the hard
drive had errors but was not able run.
 
I have a hard drive that is obviously on its way out. I can't boot to the
desktop anymore. My main goal is to try to retrieve some information on
the
hard drive.
If I am lucky enough to re-install windows xp on top of the current OS and
get to the desktop will I be able to access any of my files?
....
Click to expand...

There are several ways to get your data. Boot off a bootable live CD like
Knoppix. You can copy your data over the network to save or to USB drive or
CD-R.
 
You might install it in a working system and try to retrieve data
that way. What I do on "Failing" drives is use Acronis True image
to quickly as possible take a full image ( Stored off the marginal
drive). Once I have the Image, I can recover from it without the
need for the original drive. The key is to try and recover data as
quickly as possible. An Image is file/folder ignorant - it simply
does a bit-by-bit copy and can avoid issues with other types of
copying methods where errors encounters can halt the copy.
 
I have a hard drive that is obviously on its way out. I can't boot to the
desktop anymore. My main goal is to try to retrieve some information on
the
hard drive.
If I am lucky enough to re-install windows xp on top of the current OS and
get to the desktop will I be able to access any of my files?

Any other suggestions on how to save a few files would be appreciated.

I booted to the recovery console and ran chkdsk /r it informed that the
hard
drive had errors but was not able run.
Click to expand...

Install the drive as a slave drive in another XP or Windows 2000 computer
and copy the important data files.

You could also boot with a Linux CD such as Knoppix. Then copy the files to
a flash drive or if you have two CD drives then burn the data files to CD
using the K3b burning program on the CD.

I would not try to install another copy of XP on the drive. Just get the
data off.
 
happydude said:
I have a hard drive that is obviously on its way out. I can't boot to
the desktop anymore. My main goal is to try to retrieve some
information on the hard drive.
If I am lucky enough to re-install windows xp on top of the current
OS and get to the desktop will I be able to access any of my files?

Any other suggestions on how to save a few files would be appreciated.

I booted to the recovery console and ran chkdsk /r it informed that
the hard drive had errors but was not able run.
Click to expand...

First, DO NOTHING that involves the failing drive.

Get another, new, hard drive. Install the OS on the new drive.

Install the old drive as a slave or additional drive via reading only.

Trying to write to a failing drive, such as would happen if you tried to
insall a new OS, risks damaging the failing drive beyond any easy attempts
to recover what's there.

Hard drives are cheap - I think Borden's is considering 40Gig drives as
prizes in the bottom of CrackerJacks boxes.
 
Wow! Great suggestions.
I will try your suggestions this weekend and hope for the best.

Thanks again for your time and expertise.
 
happydude said:
I forgot to mention. The failing drive is on a notebook computer.
Click to expand...

Oops. That adds a layer of complication.

Get a new hard drive for the notebook.

Be aware that it's possible to jury-rig the notebook hard drive as a slave
for a desktop PC using appropriate connectors and stuff.
 
Thanks to your suggestions I was able to do some file rescues with Knoppix.
That CD rocks! I had heard about it in the past but never took the time to
download it. I will be sure to pass the word.

Thanks again to all that took the time to help!
 
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