Hard driving failing - How to recover data?

[iluvdeal]

My Maxtor 160GB is starting to fail. I have received an error code from the Maxtor diagnostic program so there's definitely a problem.

Some directories seem fine, I was able to access the data and back it up. For others directories, I am receiving an I/O device error from Windows XP when trying to view the contents. Other directories just plain disappeared. This includes my beloved MP3 music directory:brokenheart:🙁 Over 5 years of music gone just like that!


Since the total drive has not failed, is it possible to recover those directories which seem to have disappeared? A friend suggested I stick the hdd in the freezer (??????) but I don't like the idea of moisture developing in the drive.


Any suggestions? Thanks for any help!!!

 

[meltdown75]

Do you have another drive you can use as your master? If so you could throw your OS on it, use it as your master and put your 160GB drive in as the slave, and spelunker around that way. That's what I would do for starters... I wouldn't want to be booting from that HD if it is showing problems. Also you could try running Disk Doctor or something to that effect, to see if you can repair the drive using that type of software. If it was set up as your slave, I think you would have more options as far as trying to diagnose & repair it.

I hope you don't lose all your tunes though. That would suck!

 

[Anubis]

program called Get Data Back by Runtime software about 80$ worth every penny

 

[iluvdeal]

The failing drive was just used for storage so I don't have to worry about my OS, I boot from another drive.

I'll checkout that program Anubis, hopefully there is a trial version available because I would hate to pay for it but have it end up not being able to recover my stuff.


This is the last time I trust my stuff to Maxtor....

 

[tweeve2002]

you can try knoppix, with it i was able to pull most of the data that I thoiugh that was gone.