hard drive recovery help

[hehatedme]

I have a drive that is pretty much on its way to death, but I would like to get the data off of it. If I put the drive in an USB enclosure I can see the files, but my computer becomes extremely slow. I cannot copy the files off either, it starts to read the drive, but then it just errors, and says it can't read the source. If I connect the drive to my ide controller it won't even pickup the drive in the bios. I tried to see if some of the recovery programs out there, but since it can't read the source disk they don't work. I was hoping that since I can see the files, there would be a way to get them off the drive. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Tarrant64]

Not sure if it's just stupid windows.

Try booting with Knoppix or something?

 

[RebateMonger]

If you don't already have backups, you waited too long.

The symptoms you describe are typical of a drive hardware failure (platter, head, or drive controller). When a drive isn't showing up in the BIOS, there's not a lot of options. If the data is REALLY important to you, get the drive to a reputable data recovery house before the drive gets any worse, which it likely will.

 

[hehatedme]

The funny thing is that even though it can't be seen by the controller, if I use my external enclosure I can see the files, I just can't copy them. I still don't know if its worth it to pay for recovery, so I was hoping someone might have some type of alternative.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: hehatedme
The funny thing is that even though it can't be seen by the controller, if I use my external enclosure I can see the files, I just can't copy them.

One other check.

You aren't having problems with Permissions, are you? If you are trying to copy files from a "Documents and Settings" (i.e "My Documents") folder, there are permissions issues when you hook the drive up to different PC. If you can copy SOME files, but not files in the "Documents and Settings" folders, then it could be a permissions issue that's fixed by taking Ownership of those folders.

If Permissions are the problem, the error message will be:
"Folder is not accessible. Access is denied."

 

[Laputa]

YHPM!