How to recover data from a dying HD?

[Negative Design]

Hey guys,

My IBM Deskstar 20GB 37XX series Hard drive is dying and I need a way to backup the data on it to my new 100GB HD.I tried it on another system and windows won't load on safe or normal modes.How can I recover the data is it possible at all? I will consider a data recovery specialist as a last option.

Thanks.

I forgot to mention that the Hd is detected in BIOS.

 

[amdskip]

You need to either hook it up as a slave drive on a system with windows installed (don't boot from it ) or else use a usb to ata adapter to hook it up to a system.

 

[Negative Design]

I tried that,it was always a slave drive.I dont have a USB to IDE converter where could I get one?

Thanks.

 

[travisray2004]

I would create a partition on the 100gb hdd , and use Norton Ghost to back it up/ mirror it, From partition to partition. That is what i recommend. I have done this serval times with many different hard drives. I did it when i was working for a computer shop, saved the customers data, and got a nice side check

 

[marulee]

Originally posted by: amdskip
You need to either hook it up as a slave drive on a system with windows installed (don't boot from it ) or else use a usb to ata adapter to hook it up to a system.

Fair enough!

 

[Negative Design]

Originally posted by: travisray2004
I would create a partition on the 100gb hdd , and use Norton Ghost to back it up/ mirror it, From partition to partition. That is what i recommend. I have done this serval times with many different hard drives. I did it when i was working for a computer shop, saved the customers data, and got a nice side check

How can I do that? wouldn't I need to be in OS to do it? the HD wont boot to OS remember.If this is done is DOS then it would help.

 

[amdskip]

IDE adapter: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812119017

Yeah I don't think Ghost will work in this situation. What happened when you tried it as a slave drive?

 

[Negative Design]

Thanks for the link.

I've found a way to get the HD to boot it took a while of fiddling with the jumpers though there are tons of combination with this old drive.I've copied the files on the HD but it appears only 3.47GB of files remained and the rest is history...if only there was a way to recover those lost files.

 

[amdskip]

You could try recovery software as the hard drive has not had a mechanical failure (it still spins up). Software will cost $40 and up probably. Your only other resort is having a lab extract the data and that = $$$$$