Help..Hard drive failing

[EvilHomer]

My wife dropped my laptop and the computer slowed to almost a screatching halt. I tried to run Spinright but it wants to run for 3 months. It got slowed from all the errors at around 50% .....I then tried chkdsk and it seemed to stay in the 50% area for days. I really just need to backup my pictures, music and a few misc filles. .... I have a external HD and I tried backing up from windows but it keeps stopping due to read errors. Is there a way to back up without having to go through all of the files individually. like for backup to either skip the error files. and can I do this from DOs ..I cant seem to get past chkdsk...

 

[techmanc]

You could try removing the drive and get a removable hare drive enclosure for a 2.5 drive then use the USB 2.0 connector to connect it to another computer. Then run chkdsk on it and if that doesn't work just try to get the files you need copied off it you might want to try to get the file before you run chkdsk as it running it might make things worse. Heres a link from Newegg of enclosures.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...0enclosure&name=2.5%22

 

[EvilHomer]

its a laptop HD do they have enclosures for that? Also I cant seem to get out of the chkdsk cycle ..It wont finish and I can un-interrupt it...

 

[techmanc]

There the 2.5 laptop drive enclosures. Just make sure you get the right interface ide or sata depening on what type you have now. You maybe stuck in an endless loop with chkdsk hard to tell but it maybe doing its job just slowly. If you decide to take a chance and and remove it I recommend to try a soft reboot using ctrl-alt-delete or a soft reboot buton if your laptob has one. If that doesnt work you can hold the power button in for a few secs and it should power off. Heres a link the the 2.5 enclosures.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...1053807124&name=2.5%22

 

[Fardringle]

Laptop hard drives are 2.5" drives, so the USB enclosure that techmanc mentioned will work just fine.

 

[mpilchfamily]

With all the errors your getting i doubt it will be any better in an enclosure. I hope you can get the info you need off it but i doubt you will.

Take a lesson from this an keep a constant backup of your important files. If you have an external HDD why wasn't the system backup up to it?

 

[EvilHomer]

I actually just bough the external. its my wife's computer so its her stuff that will be lost ...If I could get past the chkdsk I could back up the rest ...It seems to ony have the errors between 54% and 62% the rest of the drive seems clean ...I just cant get past chkdsk...Im trying to open windows off a USB stick....I guess ill see ...

 

[Mashed Potato]

I use Knoppix to get files from a "broken" windows drive. It mounts all your hard drives to the desktop when you boot from the cd. The OS will mount a USB drive also, or you could write to cd.

It may not work if the drive has bad errors, but it is worth a try. I used it the other day, even after knoppix said check disk for errors using windows.

When you are done copying the files, put a cape on and deliver the backed up files like a masked hero. Then vanish into the night, only to be seen again when there is chaos to be thwarted....or you could act normal.

Good luck.

 

[Laputa]

Software recovery is likely not going to resolve a physical hard drive internal issue. I believe professional recovery is required in this case, if you need everything back.

 

[Scottae]

take it out and pull what you can off it manually from another OS ... prolly your best bet...

 

[RebateMonger]

You have a internal hardware problem. Platters and/or heads have been damaged. At a minimum, data recovery will require special software that can deal with hardware errors. It may require that the drive be disassembled and parts replaced. Both are best left to experienced professionals.