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Can't Access Drive - Need help recovering

  • 01-11-2008 5:05pm
    #1
    jozi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,391 ✭✭✭


    Mate dropped up an external (laptop) drive which stopped working.

    Windows recognises the drive when it's plugged in.
    When I try to access it there's a pop-up saying "access denied" and something about corruption.

    I've tried the drive in 2 different enclosure's with the same results.

    Looking at the drive there's a pin broken of which is stuck in the connector BUT my own laptop drive doesn't have a pin in the location where the other is missing one.

    I've just boot up a ubuntu live cd and it wont see the drive at all.

    Any advice, idea's etc?

    Jozi


Comments

  • #2
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,563 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    Listen to it while it's spinning up. You should hear it spin-up, settle, read a sector or two and then settle down.
    If you start hearing excessive clicking or no attempt to spin-up, then it's a good sign it's had its day.

    After that, as you have tried different enclosures, I could only say that it's broke...


  • #3
    samhail
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,699 ✭✭✭samhail


    long shot but you could try to pull the pin out of the connector a bit (assuming u havnt lost it) and plug the connector into the drive - hoping the broken pin would make enough of a connection. plug it in... and copy the stuff over... very quickly !


  • #4
    jozi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,391 ✭✭✭jozi


    The drive sounds fine, no sign as to it failing anyway. I'll check with him if he noticed any strange noises recently.

    He's taken the drive with him now, said he's try pull the pin out a little and hope it makes a connection.

    Here's the error we get :
    errormn9.jpg

    I tried using test disk to see could it recover anything but i haven't really got a clue how it works. If I where to format and then run test disc and let it scan for files might that work?


  • #5
    dubfir
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48 ✭dubfir


    Try from cmd prompt chkdsk "disk letter" /f /v ... without the pips might be worth a go


  • #6
    MunsterCycling
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,864 ✭✭✭MunsterCycling


    If you format the drive then you will erase the files on it.
    Try the suggestion above using chkdsk and see how you get on, was the drive being used when it was dropped, even just seconds before? TBH I would say its dead and chuck it aside, :(

    MC


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  • #7
    biologikal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 371 ✭✭biologikal


    Any chance of testing it directly on an IDE channel (with adaptor) in a desktop? Try with a LiveCD if possible.

    I have a broken pin in one of my own hard drives, fixed it by getting a paperclip, and cutting to length so that it protruded a mm or so from the connector when pushed fully into it. Drive still worked without it, just wouldn't be detected on a restart; booted fine cold, perfect now. Check google for pinouts on similar hard drives, as there should be one missing anyway (bottom, right of middle I think). Missing pin could be root of problem, but drops are never a good thing either.


  • #8
    jozi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,391 ✭✭✭jozi


    I'll sugest the paper clip thing to him and the cmd prompt command.

    I've no way of using the drive in my pc because i don't have the adaptor. Are adaptors easy to get by? It might be worth a go!

    As far as i know the drive wasn't droped before it broke, he didn't say so at least.

    If we formatted the drive could we not use software to recover the deleted files?


  • #9
    biologikal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 371 ✭✭biologikal


    jozi wrote: »
    I'll sugest the paper clip thing to him and the cmd prompt command.

    I've no way of using the drive in my pc because i don't have the adaptor. Are adaptors easy to get by? It might be worth a go!

    I've seen suspect hard drives respond more readily connected this way. But if the hard drive is on it's way out, he'll want to be quick about backing up important data from it. But he should try to make sure all the pins that should be there, are in place; the broken pin could be the root of the problem. The adaptors are easily got on eBay or other online stores; dunno about regular shops, never looked, you'd probably pay upwards of 5 times what you get them on eBay for.
    jozi wrote: »
    As far as i know the drive wasn't droped before it broke, he didn't say so at least.

    If we formatted the drive could we not use software to recover the deleted files?

    If the drive was formatted, it might still be possible to recover, but chances may be reduced. And you may find that the free recovery programs mightn't be up to the job. They're fine for recently-accidently-emptied-from-the-recycle-bin files, but if the problem is more complex, something better might be needed. Still, you'd be advised to try one or two free ones before splashing out on software. The issue here is that if the drive is indeed failing, you just don't know how many more chances you're going to have at trying to recover.


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