Laptop Unbootable - Drive Shows As Uninitialised

[JetsetBkk]

A friend gave me his old Laptop drive because it became Unbootable - it simply didn't start up one day.

 

There is data on it he would like to recover.

 

I put the drive in a SATA-USB bridge external box and connected it to my laptop's USB port. The usual "USB connected" sound was heard, but no drive was seen in Disk Management. After a lot of tries of powering it up while monitoring Disk Management, it eventually showed up as "Disk 1, Unknown, Not Initialised":

 

 

The question is: what can be done to recover any data?

 

Some help sites say if you initialise it, the data will be gone.

Some say you can initialise it and format it and use a file recovery tool.

Some say use SpinRite.

 

Any suggestions?

 

[Tayaout]

If the data is really important do a disk image before trying anything. 

[BestB]

Harddrive is gone, just have gone through the same funeral. If you want to recover data, you looking at around 7000-10000 baht depending on the size of hard drive and can only be done in labs in BKK.

 

If you want the name of the lab i used, just pm me, they did excellent job recovering, all data recovered, crappy service though but data is what was important 

[Number 6]

Boot from a Linux USB flash drive. Use Puppy or like that to navigate. Pull the data off the drive. Do a quick low level format. Reinstall OS. If you don't have windows about. DL Linux mint and see if you can get it to run on the HDD.

 

Sorry you lost all your JAV

[jackdd]

At first clone the whole drive. This could be done using a linux live cd and the command "dd", as explained for example here (i don't know if there is a windows tool which can do the same): https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/unix-linux-dd-create-make-disk-image-commands/

Then try data recovery tools and see what you will get

[JetsetBkk]

10 minutes ago, Tayaout said:

If the data is really important do a disk image before trying anything. 

That did cross my mind as I do my usual backups by booting Acronis from a thumb drive. 

 

It depends if Acronis can detect the "uninitialised" [as far as Windows is concerned] drive.

 

[NanLaew]

9 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

Boot from a Linux USB flash drive. Use Puppy or like that to navigate. Pull the data off the drive. Do a quick low level format. Reinstall OS. If you don't have windows about. DL Linux mint and see if you can get it to run of the HDD.

Yes. And if Linux can't find it, then it really is toast.

[JetsetBkk]

12 minutes ago, BestB said:

Harddrive is gone, just have gone through the same funeral. If you want to recover data, you looking at around 7000-10000 baht depending on the size of hard drive and can only be done in labs in BKK.

 

If you want the name of the lab i used, just pm me, they did excellent job recovering, all data recovered, crappy service though but data is what was important 

I'll ask my friend if he willing to pay!

[tomazbodner]

Try to use R-Studio software if it can recover data. Might be, might not be. Copies data bit by bit out so it might not recover all files and possibly some could be corrupt. Recovered data from my drives in the past with it, but can't guarantee it would work for you...

[mosan]

6 minutes ago, jackdd said:

At first clone the whole drive. This could be done using a linux live cd and the command "dd", as explained for example here (i don't know if there is a windows tool which can do the same): https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/unix-linux-dd-create-make-disk-image-commands/

Then try data recovery tools and see what you will get

There is a Windows program that can clone the drive.  It's called "Partition Master" and can still be found by it's older name "Partition Magic".  The program can be downloaded from the web...just do a search. 

 

Plug the drive into a second spot on a PC or as an external USB enclosure. Boot up the main computer, run Partition Master and then you can clone/copy the so-called bad drive to anywhere with a space large enough to hold the data...

[JetsetBkk]

11 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

Boot from a Linux USB flash drive. Use Puppy or like that to navigate. Pull the data off the drive. Do a quick low level format. Reinstall OS. If you don't have windows about. DL Linux mint and see if you can get it to run on the HDD.

 

Sorry you lost all your JAV

That's an idea - I have a bootable Linux on a thumb drive. Depends if it'll recognise the drive, of course.

 

[Number 6]

It's prolly toast but worth booting from Linux flash. If you don't see it then oh well.

 

I'd toss it because it's suspect anyway. Maybe use it to run the OS only save data to external. But drives are cheap, just buy another.

[JetsetBkk]

3 minutes ago, mosan said:

There is a Windows program that can clone the drive.  It's called "Partition Master" and can still be found by it's older name "Partition Magic".  The program can be downloaded from the web...just do a search. 

 

Plug the drive into a second spot on a PC or as an external USB enclosure. Boot up the main computer, run Partition Master and then you can clone/copy the so-called bad drive to anywhere with a space large enough to hold the date...

I've got a bootable "Partition Wizard 9" from MiniTool on a thumb drive.

[JetsetBkk]

5 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

It's prolly toast but worth booting from Linux flash. If you don't see it then oh well.

 

I'd toss it because it's suspect anyway. Maybe use it to run the OS only save data to external. But drives are cheap, just buy another.

Not worried about the drive, just want the data. Looks like Linux is the first thing to try.

[Number 6]

If you do sh1+can the drive physically destroy it. You just never know...

[JetsetBkk]

30 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

If you do sh1+can the drive physically destroy it. You just never know...

I usually take them apart just to see what's in them.

And stick the metal disk on the fridge door with a magnet from inside the drive.

[mosan]

Just now, JetsetBkk said:

I usually take them apart just to see what's in them.

And stick the drive on the fridge door with a magnet from inside the drive.

Man, I thought I was the only one that did this!!!  P.S. Partition Master/Magic and probably Partition Wizard also can rebuild the corrupted boot sector on the drive--but then you probably already knew that... 

[Thomas J]

I had a hard drive that was toast.  I used mini tool recovery.  It got most of the data off.  You might want to try putting the drive in a couple of zip lock bags and freezing it and then try to boot it up.  Freezing the drive sometimes will allow you to unlock a bad drive. 

[JetsetBkk]

9 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

I had a hard drive that was toast.  I used mini tool recovery.  It got most of the data off.  You might want to try putting the drive in a couple of zip lock bags and freezing it and then try to boot it up.  Freezing the drive sometimes will allow you to unlock a bad drive. 

I'd forgotten about that trick. I'll put that down near the bottom of the list of things to try!

[JetsetBkk]

21 minutes ago, mosan said:

Man, I thought I was the only one that did this!!!  P.S. Partition Master/Magic and probably Partition Wizard also can rebuild the corrupted boot sector on the drive--but then you probably already knew that... 

I bet some people think I'm kidding.  ????

[NanLaew]

For those suggesting Partition Magic and other Windows-based utilities, if Windows can't mount the drive, it can't be seen in Windows explorer and the programs won't see it either. If the control logic of the drive isn't faulty, it should be accessible through Linux as it doesn't mount them like Windows does.

 

Regarding the fridge trick, that usually works with mechanical issues with conventional (not SSD) drives where it can be mounted by Windows but read/write, head/platter issues prevail. Usually mechanical issues are accompanied with noises from inside the drive; heads clicking, spinning up and down, etc..

 

If this is an option, try and avoid freezing it too long, ie. sticking it in the freezer part. Top shelf of the regular fridge for a few hours should get it cool enough to free up any mechanical binding. I have recovered data from maybe 3 or 4 mechanically stuffed HD's over the years but you have to be quick. Also watch for condensation build up. I made the mistake of freezing a drive for maybe 6 hours and as soon as I applied power, the screech from the internals was loud and ultimately fatal.

[JetsetBkk]

I was thinking of putting the SATA-USB box and disk in a ziplock bag and then putting the whole lot in the freezer compartment for a while. So now, if I need to do it, I'll try the fridge compartment first. 

 

Bur, hopefully, Linux or Acronis will work.

[Bruno123]

Initialising doesn't affect the data. You need to initialise to be able to access the data.

 

You can initialise the disk via the Disk Management console. You'll need to choose from MBR or GPT.  You can make an educated guess at which was on there.

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

If the data is important then amateurs shouldn't try to recover it. In fact amateurs should not even connect the drive to anything because that might make things worse.

 

I find it always funny when people who have obviously little experience with things like this try jobs like that. What do you expect?

If you have a heart problem do you also ask in an internet forum or in a pub what to do? Or would you think it's better to see a specialist who has experience?

[Vacuum]

17 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

If the data is important then

...he should already have made a backup of it.

[Beggar]

The first question would be - is it a mechanical failure or a data failure. If you switch on the drive can you hear it spinning? If you switch on the drive can you hear clicking? Does it make other strange noise?

 

If it is not spinning anymore your only hope will be a data recovery company. If it is clicking several times then the arm hangs. Mostly there is an easy fix for this but if you do it the wrong way your disk will be damaged. If all this is not the case then there might be a problem with the electronics or with the data. I would first start with the data. If there is an electronic failure then only a data recovery company can help. 

[JetsetBkk]

14 hours ago, Vacuum said:

...he should already have made a backup of it.

Indeed he should have, but obviously didn't. 

[JetsetBkk]

14 hours ago, Beggar said:

The first question would be - is it a mechanical failure or a data failure. If you switch on the drive can you hear it spinning? If you switch on the drive can you hear clicking? Does it make other strange noise?

 

If it is not spinning anymore your only hope will be a data recovery company. If it is clicking several times then the arm hangs. Mostly there is an easy fix for this but if you do it the wrong way your disk will be damaged. If all this is not the case then there might be a problem with the electronics or with the data. I would first start with the data. If there is an electronic failure then only a data recovery company can help. 

I've spent several hours today trying to access the data on it. Unfortunately, it won't even initialise. Windows gives an error in Disk Management: "Virtual Disk Manager. The request failed due to a fatal device hardware error"

Linux says "Unable to mount location"

 

I put the SATA-USB Bridge box with the drive inside in a ziplock bag in my fridge for a couple of hours. Then connected it up to the Desktop's USB cable and power cable, but no change in Windows or Linux. Later, I took the drive out of the SATA-USB box and it was a little warm, showing that it was using some power.

 

So I connected it directly to my desktop using the SATA cable that normally goes to a DVD drive. Still no joy under Windows or Linux. The BIOS didn't even show it in the "ATA Port Information" screen. I held the drive in my hand and there was not the slightest vibration or noise, so I'm guessing it wasn't spinning.

 

Now it's up to my friend if he wants to pay a data recovery company to have a go. But I don't think it's that important to him.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions to everyone who contributed to this thread.

 

[jackdd]

6 hours ago, JetsetBkk said:

Linux says "Unable to mount location"

You don't need to mount it to copy it (which would of course not be possible of there is a problem with the partition table).

In Linux you can copy the raw data of a device without mounting a partition, see the link which i posted previously.

If the HDD isn't working at all this will of course also not get you any further.

[Tayaout]

Before you connect via Linux you can run:

sudo journalctl -f

To read the logs in real time. Ctrl-c to exit.

 

Then you run:

sudo fdisk -l 

To see the list of connected volumes. 

 

If the device is for example /dev/sdb to make a copy you do:

sudo dd if=/dev/sdb of=/path/of/destination bs=4M

 

This last command can be very dangerous if you don't understand it.