Data Recovery

[gopher]

Seems like my new hard drive suffered a head crash this past weekend, and my latest backup is missing some important personal files (can't believe I forgot to back up my pictures ...). I got a few things that I'm gonna try out first, like trying to boot it from another pc/external hard drive or the infamous freeyer trick, but if nothing helps, I definitely need to have those files restored/recovered.

Can any of you guys recommend me a place where I could send the hard drive in, and have the data recovered for a reasonable price? Or do you maybe know of any other things I could try first? Thanks.

 

[CLKeenan]

Try Diskeeper Professional (free if you know where to look )- it was able to recover most of my files when my laptop hd crashed last summer

 

[Jan]

A few years ago, by hard drive showed up empty and a friend recovered everything (including my pictures) with Power Quest. It was a mess to sort through all the pictures and getting the good copies, because they weren't recovered in files, but well worth it. It recovered everything even from deleted files that were hanging around on my computer.

Hope it works out for you!

 

[Dwiz]

When my laptop crash last time i send mines in to the company i purchased my computer from. they did it for free because it was still under that 1 year warranty time.
But hey i don't recommend this technique, if you have incriminating files (you can get into serious trouble), lucky for me the baddest thing i had on my computer was a video of Sponge Bob getting shoot

 

[droolingmnky]

Understand that by trying to save money it could cost you more in the end, either in data or financially. There's no such thing as a cheap data recovery service. If you value your data then be prepared to pay through the teeth.

FADV has done good work.

 

[gopher]

Thanks guys, those software programs won't be any help though, as the drive won't even show up in the Bios. About having incriminating files: Are we talking about things like child pornography, or unlicensed software, mp3s etc.

And thanks about that link droolingmnky.

 

[droolingmnky]

Thanks guys, those software programs won't be any help though, as the drive won't even show up in the Bios. About having incriminating files: Are we talking about things like child pornography, or unlicensed software, mp3s etc.

And thanks about that link droolingmnky.

Incriminating files are proabbly things like pirated software, movies, music and games.

Hope you can get your data back.

 

[Voodooman]

I don't know where I read it, but you could probably google it.

But I once read that you could buy the same model of drive. Then slowly replace the parts of the new drive with that of the bad drive. For example, if you replace the green logic board on the bottom of the drive of the old with the new. Then test. If my memory serves me correct, that worked for the user.

Some people have also swore to freeze their drives in the freezer and got it to come up just once (enough to pull info). I haven't tried any of these methods so I can't vouch for them. But hey, it's better than getting nothing out of your drive and having a paper weight.

These options, of course, should be of last resort. Good luck.

 

[droolingmnky]

I don't know where I read it, but you could probably google it.

But I once read that you could buy the same model of drive. Then slowly replace the parts of the new drive with that of the bad drive. For example, if you replace the green logic board on the bottom of the drive of the old with the new. Then test. If my memory serves me correct, that worked for the user.

That will not work if it is a head failure. Only if the logic board is toast you can possibly get away with it if you get the correct board.

The best bet if you value any information on that disk is to send it to the professionals.