External HDD - partially corrupt

[neilm]

Hi, I have a dual boot setup with win2k and winxp and I was uploading some music onto my iTunes on the winxp. I decided to drag some songs from the win2k drive (still using winxp at this stage) and then move them into the ex-HDD. This is when all the fun started.

When logging into the win2k machine, and accessing the music I moved to ex-HDD, it had all funny characters, invalid dates, and out of wack file sizes for those songs. Couldn't delete them. So I logged into winxp to try and delete them, but made things worse, instead the whole folder become corrupted (yea, ALL my albums).

Logged into win2k, seeing the same thing. Tried doing the error checking; drive > tools > check. This seems to have done something, like delete the albums folder, but created a new folder with a load of .CHK files (I'm assuming these were the songs as I played them on winamp).

My question is...

Is the name and IDtags recoverable to their original state?
Is this likely to spread again after doing the error-checking/scan disking? (because it was initially one or two files, then the whole folder beforehand).

Thanks, advice appreciated.

 

[neilm]

From bad, to worse, to disaster.

Now I'm unable to even get into the ex-HDD (it is a WD MyBook). Anytime I attempt to click into the drive, it is asking me to format.

What are my options?

Geniune advice welcome.

 

[lsv]

Looks like you have bad sectors, I don't know on what HD though... scan both.

I don't know what software you should use to do so though. Someone else will probably chime in.

 

[RebateMonger]

Don't try to fix the hard drive. If you aren't willing to pay for professional data recovery services, then install data recovery software on a PC and attach the failing disk ti that PC. It'd be best to attach it directly via the disk's native connection, assuming your MyBook isn't a multi-disk model, but USB or eSATA or whatever your MyBook is can be used, too.

Save the recovered files on a disk other than the failing one. Have a plan so that you recover the most valuable data first and don't recover things you don't care about.

I'm curious if the disk is formatted FAT32 or NTFS? I haven't seen corrupted characters since the days of FAT32.

 

[gsaldivar]

Don't try to fix the hard drive. If you aren't willing to pay for professional data recovery services, then install data recovery software on a PC and attach the failing disk ti that PC. It'd be best to attach it directly via the disk's native connection, assuming your MyBook isn't a multi-disk model, but USB or eSATA or whatever your MyBook is can be used, too.

Save the recovered files on a disk other than the failing one. Have a plan so that you recover the most valuable data first and don't recover things you don't care about.

I'm curious if the disk is formatted FAT32 or NTFS? I haven't seen corrupted characters since the days of FAT32.

Good advice above.

I agree with removing the drive from its external casing and connecting it directly using a native connection for recovery. This will help rule out any issue caused by bad cabling, USB bridgeboard, etc...

Good luck!

 

[neilm]

Thanks guys, doesn't sound too optimistic regardless. I would send it into a data recovery, but usually I'd tackle computer problems myself.... but dismantling the drive, I could possibly write it off altogether. Guess I will think about it.

 

[ElenaP]

Note that there are two steps in "dismantling" the external hard drive. The external hard drive is just a usual "internal" hard drive packaged in the casing (sometimes called "box" or "enclosure"). The casing contains the USB-to-IDE (or SATA, or whatever) controller and the power connector, and nothing else of importance.

The first step is to disassemble the "box", and get the internal hard drive out of it. This is typically safe to do, because most of the boxes are designed so that hard drive can be easily replaced. If there is a data recovery situation, it is generally advised to disassemble the box and work with the "internal" hard drive. This is to rule out any possible problems with the USB controller or flaky power connection.

The second step is to disassemble the "internal" hard drive itself. Do not do this because it just destroys all the chance for a lab data recovery. The lab would do this if required, but it is not practically possible at home.