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PC Data Recovery Services
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aspire180
Member
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6. September 2006 @ 09:46 |
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Just learned from the 'Geek Squad' that my Hard Drives have crashed...Anyone know of the best way to approach the task of Data Recovery through all the services out there?
Thanks
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gerry1
Suspended permanently
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6. September 2006 @ 10:46 |
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Hey Guy! I'm not the one to answer your question but you've put it in the wrong place; I will ask a moderator to move your question to the proper hardware forum. I had the same problem and got a lot of help there.
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Auslander
AfterDawn Addict
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6. September 2006 @ 10:50 |
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i will tell you right off the bat that the Geek Squad is full of... bovine excrement. tell us what happened and we can tell you what to do ^.^
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aspire180
Member
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6. September 2006 @ 11:25 |
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Beginning to think that they're FOS as well...Well, it's like this.
I have two PC systems...One (Main one - System A) with a PIII and two HDs (20gb & 80gb), the other (System B) with a PIV and one HD (120gb)...I foolishly thought I could interchange HDs between the systems as I wanted to migrate to a faster CPU (System B)...What I found is that neither one would boot up...I was told by a CompUSA guy that that is not possible to do so I swapped them back...System B works fine with no problems, just as it did in the beginning...System A (My main one with the 2 HDs) won't boot up as it won't recognize the 2 HDs...I thought maybe I just didn't connect them properly or that there was an issue with the cables etc.
I took it into Geek Squad and a week later and after a lot of me calling them to get an update they tell me that both HDs are bad...Now, I am going on their word but I can't understand why it's 'bad'...Then again, I did try to swap them between systems in the first place.
So, now I am trying to figure out how to recover data if indeed they are 'bad'...Recovery services seem to all around about 1 grand which is not an option...www.runtime.org has some software that is around $80 that has gotten a lot of good reviews so I was considering that option at least initially.
The essence of what I feel I HAVE to recover consists of the usual, MP3s, video clips, documents, some programs and most importantly A LOT of photos that are essentially priceless (Yes, in my new system I am backing up data on a regular basis).
The bootup with System A comes along normally at first with the HD appearing to whir up but then go quiet...It allowed me to see what components were loading and it recognizes my (1) burner but does not 'see' the HDs...So I figured I wasn't hooking them up right (Definite possibility) but Geek Squad says they ran a 'diagnostic' on the HDs and that they were 'bad'.
That's it in a nutshell...And that I am beside myself
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Auslander
AfterDawn Addict
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6. September 2006 @ 11:45 |
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the thing to do is hook up each drive as a slave in system b, boot up, and copy what you want to save to system b's hard drive or to disc, then reformat the drives back in system a and reinstall windows. then, migrate data back to system a via burned discs/network connections and presto: you're done.
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dolphin2
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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6. September 2006 @ 12:40 |
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There is another option. Download and run Linux to recover the data. I recommended Knoppix http://www.knoppix.org/ as it's easy to use and has some of the better features for data recovery and system repairs. It has transparent write access for NTFS partitions and automatic hardware detection.
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Follow the link to the Downloads.
The download listing should look like this:
KNOPPIX_V5.0.1CD-2006-06-01-EN.iso 02-Jun-2006 16:49 696M
Translated: It's version 5.0.1 in CD format. It's in English. The realese date is 1 June 2006 and it was posted 2 June 2006 @ 16:49. The file size is 696MB.
Be sure to get the latest version and one that is in English (EN).
Chose one that is close to you.
Download the file.
It will be large (close to 700 MB) and in ISO format.
Use your software burning program to burn the ISO to a CD.
Boot from the CD and you'll be able to recover your data by burning to CD or transfering it to another drive.
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aspire180
Member
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6. September 2006 @ 12:50 |
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Two questions about the preceding suggestions.
1) If I pair up my 'damaged' HDs to my System B as a slave, will it automatically allow me to view the HD?...Between the 2 HDs from System A, the Master HD (20gb) is going to be able to be viewed as a slave in System B?...Even that it has an OS on it?
2) Using the Linux tool, I would also need to link up the 'bad' HDs to System B as a slave?...This will work?
Thanks
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Auslander
AfterDawn Addict
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6. September 2006 @ 13:08 |
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1) if you hook up the two drives (with the jumpers set to slave and the drives in the slave position on the ide cables) one at a time, you should be able to view all the files on those drives (given they're not actually dead, only corrupted) and manipulate them as you may.
2) using linux, you'd leave both drives in system a and just burn the data off of them before reformatting and reinstalling windows. mind you, you'll need two optical drives for this: one to run knoppix, and one to burn your data to disc.
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dolphin2
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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6. September 2006 @ 13:21 |
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Using the Linux method, you could do as Auslander said, OR hook them up as slaves as you questioned. If you don't have two optical drives, then you would have to use the slave method. Yes, it will work. I've done it many times. As long as the drive isn't completely dead, you'll be able to recover the data.
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ddp
Moderator
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6. September 2006 @ 14:57 |
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moved. what make is the hd's as in wd, maxtor or what? could disconnect system b's rom drive if on secondary ide port & just connect each drive without changing the jumper unless it is a wd drive.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6. September 2006 @ 15:03
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Auslander
AfterDawn Addict
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6. September 2006 @ 15:00 |
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dolphin2 knows the stuff! ^.^
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dolphin2
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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6. September 2006 @ 18:45 |
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@Auslander
Thanks for the kind words.
@ddp
Why wouldn't that work if it is a WD drive?
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Auslander
AfterDawn Addict
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6. September 2006 @ 19:05 |
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kind words bah! you've got quite a mass of knowledge between those ears ^.^
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aspire180
Member
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6. September 2006 @ 22:09 |
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The Primary HD (20gb) is Quantum and the Secondary HD (80gb) is WD.
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ddp
Moderator
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7. September 2006 @ 15:47 |
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wd if jumpered as master but is only drive on cable, it will probably not be seen by computer.
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aspire180
Member
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10. September 2006 @ 11:45 |
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Just want to thank all of you in helping me with this problem that really has been a tremendous source of stress.
Turns out, the secondary Hard Drive (80GB) is indeed intact as I hooked up to my System B PC as a 'slave' and it showed everything intact...After I proceed to go to Geek Squad and demand my money back (And some choice words about poor advice given), I will attempt to see that my primary Hard Drive (20GB) is indeed intact.
As a review, the Primary Hard Drive from my System A is 20GB and a Quantum Hard Drive...It also has an OS loaded into it so can I simply load into my System B PC as a 'slave' as well?...Sorry, this is new territory for me.
And thanks again for everything, it has been invaluable. =)
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