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View Full Version : WTD: Hard drive data recovery SERVICE/HELP!

bsdbm
07-21-2009, 07:09 AM
I have a 320Gb WD Scorpio Black 2.5" SATA laptop drive which i had been using for the last year or so in my Dell Latitude D630 laptop, with no issues. Everything was working fine until the last month or so when i began getting freezing, crazy graphics, occasional split screens (i.e. think Mario Kart, but with two windows xp screens with fuzzy graphics going on!) and BSOD errors relating to nv4_disp.

I think the errors began around the time windows automatically updated my system to IE8, but as i didn't like it i uninstalled and went back to IE7. Around the same time, I bought a VGA cable from eBay to connect my laptop to my plasma as i thought it might be cool to browse the web in 42" comfort rather than 14.1" - but I only tried this a couple of times. I don't know if this is relevant but just thought i would drop it in if anyone had similar issues.

Unfortunately, in the last month something has happened to make my 320Gb drive go bad and it will no longer boot windows nor be recognised at all in my laptop when i try to turn it on with the HD inside.

As a result, I bought a 40Gb HD from Yorkshire Mixer on bst-secure and a SATA enclosure from play.com hoping to figure out where the problem was and hoping to gain access to the 320Gb drive by putting it in the enclosure and hoping it was just the Windows boot that had gone bad and that i would be able to access the other files as if it were an external drive.

I put the 40Gb HD in my laptop, formatted it, and installed WIN XP PRO (same os as i was using for the past year) and installed all of the drivers i had on a CD i put together when i bought the D630. Despite the 40Gb drive with XP originally working ok for a day or so i got the same crazy thing going on and have had to reformat (last night). Since getting the same problems with the 40Gb drive as i had with the 320Gb drive, I have searched around the net and believe it was likely something to do with the graphics card in my D630 and more specifically possibly the drivers on my nVidia NVS 135M graphics was causing the issue, although i can't be 100% certain. I originally just put it down to a HD failure.

Last night i re-formatted the 40Gb drive and reinstalled everything along with the latest drivers from the Dell support site which included an updated nVidia driver released in June 2009 by Dell and as of last night, the laptop was working ok (fingers crossed!!). My fear is that it could be an intermittant hardware fault rather than the drivers, but at this point i am hoping this isn't the case as i have no warranty on the D630 as it was a refurb bought from eBay... The HD is new enough to be under warranty, but i don't want to format/replace it yet as there is stuff on there i want to get back...

Unfortunately, even with the 320Gb WD Scorpio in the enclosure (http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/10536553/Powerfreakz-Ripple-2-5-SATA-Hard-Drive-Enclosure-With-USB-Connector-Black/Product.html) and connected via USB the drive isn't recognised in windows and when i double-click on the icon in my computer it requests that i "insert a disk into drive E:"

As you can imagine, I have some files on there which i would like to retreive if at all possible - pictures, videos, files, 'downloaded adult material' etc etc...

Does anyone think it will be possible to retreive anything and is anyone able to offer any advice or assistance/service?

I do have a 250Gb external HD which could be used to back up stuff if the 320Gb WD drive can be accessed somehow - I think it has about 200Gb on the WD Scorpio which i want to get back.

I am based in London, if anyone can help!!
Van Nugent
07-21-2009, 07:22 AM
I believe all data is still on the drive but somehow the partition table of the drive was damaged and therefore, the system couldn't read it. Try TestDisk (http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk).
bsdbm
07-21-2009, 10:15 AM
I believe all data is still on the drive but somehow the partition table of the drive was damaged and therefore, the system couldn't read it. Try TestDisk (http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk).

Thanks, I will try that tonight when i get home from work. Is there anything specific i have to do or do i just install that software and then plug the USB enclosure with the 320Gb HD in to my laptop?

Sorry, although i do know some stuff about PC's data recovery isn't something i have ever had to try so any help greatfully appreciated!!

Dan
Van Nugent
07-21-2009, 10:20 AM
Just connect the USB drive then boot up the system, install the software and run it to recover the Partition table on the drive. Please read the instructions on that page for information on how to use it.
duffy90210
07-21-2009, 11:29 AM
If you can't do it or not getting anywhere, I have emailed you with details of someone I know in London who may be able to help you.
backup2k1
07-30-2009, 11:00 PM
the fault is the inbuilt graffic card is coming away on the board
which will need reflowing again.
this happens because of the heat problems dell laptops have

its not a hard drive fault more likely a firmware crash on the drive itself
which is a common problem with these brands of drives
bsdbm
08-01-2009, 04:41 PM
the fault is the inbuilt graffic card is coming away on the board
which will need reflowing again.
this happens because of the heat problems dell laptops have

its not a hard drive fault more likely a firmware crash on the drive itself
which is a common problem with these brands of drives

Can you advise how i can get this sorted?

I have the HD in an enclosure but still cannot get into the data on it! The PC just doesn't recognise it or bring it up in windows. I know the enclosure works as i have tried it with another HD.

I want to get this sorted, so any help appreciated.

Thanks
bsdbm
08-01-2009, 04:42 PM
If you can't do it or not getting anywhere, I have emailed you with details of someone I know in London who may be able to help you.

Thanks for that pal, I have been away for a week but got the mail. I will see how i get on with the above users help and go from there. Will be in touch if no joy!
bsdbm
08-01-2009, 05:20 PM
Just connect the USB drive then boot up the system, install the software and run it to recover the Partition table on the drive. Please read the instructions on that page for information on how to use it.

OK tried testdisk in dos (burned it to CD and started laptop with 320gb HS in it) but the system simply says "No HD Installed" or "HD not found".

I am really at a loss as to what to do now, I am seriously considering just buying a new laptop now! Have spoke to the seller of a brand new Sony VAIO CS21ZQ and have negotiated a price....
Dirty Dog
08-02-2009, 06:07 AM
I've downloaded and used Bart's PE several times..... this is a very helpful bit of software mainly used to cure "blue screen" errors,
but it may well help you to..... :tup:
bsdbm
08-02-2009, 05:48 PM
I have tried everything i can think of trying to get the data from the HD. I have used Hiren's Boot CD and tried ALL of the numerous programmes on there. I have also tried Spotmau Powersuite, all to no avail. I have never tried to recover data from a HD before so am a total novice but the hard drive just isn't recognised in any programmes at all! :(

The hard drive simply isn't recognised anywhere so i can only assume it has completely failed?

From googling i have now assumed that it may be head failure or preamp issues, both which would require opening in a clean room and replacement of the head stack with a compatible stack. (whatever that means - I just found it online on another forum through googling!!)

Can anyone advise? I am in London...

Finally, the user above mentioned my graphics card (not onboard i don't think as my Dell Latitude D630 has the nVidia QUADRO NVS 135M) and motherboard need a "REFLOW" what does this mean and how could i get it done? What causes it (overheating?) and how much will it cost?

All help and advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks
backup2k1
08-06-2009, 03:10 AM
hi the problem with dell laptop they over heat and the nvidia graffic card comes away from the board it lifts up.

reflowing means Melting and resolidifying an electrodeposited or other type coating the solder needs to be redone on the chip itself and the circuit board
for you to do this you need special soldering kits

once this has been done the chip will have a good connection on the board and should never move again.
reason why it happens is that factory in the eu made it illegal to use lead solder.
so they use lead free solder which can not take the high temp and it breaks away.

cost for repairing laptop are not cheap these days
it takes a lot of time to strip them down total to get at the problem

as for your hard drive its more likely going to be a failed preamp

only way if you want your data back is to send it to a data recovery company.

we use platter remover kits and transfer the platters from one drive to another donor drive.
and then the information is recovered from the drive.