Hi all,

I recently had my hard drive (about 1 year old now) crash, and I don't know what to do to get the data back.

The first error I saw was "Windows was unable to save all the data for the file F:\$mft".......

Since then explorer locked up when i tried to access the drive and I tried to do a chkdsk on it but had it fail for not being able to access the partition. I then rebooted to see if that would fix the issue like it does sometimes, but the drive won't mount anymore. Disk management won't detect the drive, but it shows up under hardware (Maxtor - Drive #2). I can't open partition magic, and Ive tried using a program called "GetDataBack for NTFS" but that started crashing, so I saved a log of it.


I'll post the log below.

The 2nd(Maxtor) drive is the issue. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Code:

STEP 1 => STEP 2
DRIVE TREE:
Physical drives
    1st hard drive 233 GB (HD128:) - WDC WD2500KS-00MJB0
        Name:                HD128:
        IDE Name:            WDC WD2500KS-00MJB0
        Kind of drive:       Physical drive (1st hard drive)
        Geometry:            30401 Cylinders * 255 Heads * 63 Sectors
        LBA sectors:         488,397,168 (233 GB)
        Kind of access:      LBA mode
      1st partition (NTFS) 218 GB
          Start:               Cylinder: 0, Head: 1, Sector: 1
          End:                 Cylinder: 1023, Head: 254, Sector: 63
          LBA start:           63
          Total sectors:       457,659,657
          Bootable:            Yes
      2nd partition (DOS Extended LBA) 14.7 GB
          Start:               Cylinder: 1023, Head: 0, Sector: 1
          End:                 Cylinder: 1023, Head: 254, Sector: 63
          LBA start:           457,659,720
          Total sectors:       30,732,345
          Bootable:            No
        1st partition (NTFS) 14.7 GB
            Start:               Cylinder: 1023, Head: 1, Sector: 1
            End:                 Cylinder: 1023, Head: 254, Sector: 63
            LBA start:           63
            Start on drive:      457659783
            Total sectors:       30,732,282
            Bootable:            No
    2nd hard drive 466 GB (HD129:) - Maxtor 7H500F0
        Name:                HD129:
        IDE Name:            Maxtor 7H500F0
        Kind of drive:       Physical drive (2nd hard drive)
        Geometry:            969021 Cylinders * 16 Heads * 63 Sectors
        LBA sectors:         976,773,168 (466 GB)
        Kind of access:      LBA mode
    3rd hard drive 466 GB (HD130:) - WDC WD5000AAKS-00TMA0
        Name:                HD130:
        IDE Name:            WDC WD5000AAKS-00TMA0
        Kind of drive:       Physical drive (3rd hard drive)
        Geometry:            60801 Cylinders * 255 Heads * 63 Sectors
        LBA sectors:         976,773,168 (466 GB)
        Kind of access:      LBA mode
      1st partition (NTFS) 466 GB
          Start:               Cylinder: 0, Head: 1, Sector: 1
          End:                 Cylinder: 1023, Head: 254, Sector: 63
          LBA start:           63
          Total sectors:       976,768,002
          Bootable:            No
Logical drives
    Hard drive 218 GB (C:)
        Name:                C:
        Label:               Local Disk
        Serial number:       9810C869
        Size:                457,659,656 sectors (218 GB)
        Free:                105,384,744 sectors (50.3 GB)
        File system:         NTFS
        File name length:    255
        Geometry:            C*H*S = (28488*255*63) = 457,659,656 sectors
        Secs/cluster:        8
    CD-ROM 95.3 MB (D:)
        Name:                D:
        Label:               MODEM
        Serial number:       62665BBD
        Size:                195,176 sectors (95.3 MB)
        Free:                0 sectors (0.00 B)
        File system:         CDFS
        File name length:    221
        Geometry:            C*H*S = (95*64*32) = 195,176 sectors
        Secs/cluster:        1
    Hard drive 14.7 GB (E:)
        Name:                E:
        Label:               Data Drive
        Serial number:       0AA34039
        Size:                30,732,280 sectors (14.7 GB)
        Free:                24,799,752 sectors (11.8 GB)
        File system:         NTFS
        File name length:    255
        Geometry:            C*H*S = (1913*255*63) = 30,732,280 sectors
        Secs/cluster:        8
    Hard drive 466 GB (I:)
        Name:                I:
        Label:               New Volume
        Serial number:       780080AB
        Size:                976,768,000 sectors (466 GB)
        Free:                976,606,120 sectors (466 GB)
        File system:         NTFS
        File name length:    255
        Geometry:            C*H*S = (60801*255*63) = 976,768,000 sectors
        Secs/cluster:        8
Image files (Load more...)
Arrangement files (Load more...)
Remote physical drives (Load more...)
SELECTED:
Physical drives
    2nd hard drive 466 GB (HD129:) - Maxtor 7H500F0
        Name:                HD129:
        IDE Name:            Maxtor 7H500F0
        Kind of drive:       Physical drive (2nd hard drive)
        Geometry:            969021 Cylinders * 16 Heads * 63 Sectors
        LBA sectors:         976,773,168 (466 GB)
        Kind of access:      LBA mode
SELECTIONS:
Drive:               2nd hard drive 466 GB (HD129:) - Maxtor 7H500F0
Window info:         Sectors 0-976,773,167
Entire drive:        True
FromSector:          0
ToSector:            976773167
ExcessiveSearch:     False
FileSystemDesc:      NTFS (NT)
Template:            
ACTIVE OPTIONS:
Excessive search:     FALSE
Default recovery dir: I:\
Default temp dir:     C:\DOCUME~1\<user>~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\
DiskExplorer path:    i:\
Recover deleted files:FALSE
Allow duplicates:     FALSE
Recover lost files:   FALSE
Bad sector strategy:  Skip
Use valid MFT only:   FALSE
Excluded files:       
JOB--------------------------------------
Drive: 
  Name=HD129:
  IDE Name=Maxtor 7H500F0
  Kind of drive=Physical drive (2nd hard drive)
  Geometry=969021 Cylinders * 16 Heads * 63 Sectors
  LBA sectors=976,773,168 (466 GB)
  Kind of access=LBA mode

Window info: Sectors 0-976,773,167
Entire drive: True
FromSector: 0
ToSector: 976773167
File system: 7
ExcessiveSearch: False
St1File: ''
FileSystemDesc: NTFS (NT)
Classification: (none)
SectorSpace: (none)
ClusterSpace: (none)
BootSectors: (none)
FSList: (none)
SelectedFSItem: (none)
RecoveryTree: (none)

Code:

--------------------------------------BOJ
SCAN INFO:
Error 1117 in HD129: during ReadLba: LBA=0, CHS=-1x-1x-1, Cnt=64
---Error handler entered at 10/26/2007 6:56:26 PM---
Error: NotifyException
Message: Error 'Unknown error (1117)' while reading sector 0 on drive HD129:
Info: FAT:28
Address: 004D5008 

004D4BEE-000D3BEE 004D4FE5-000D3FE5 0058C87F-0018B87F 0058CCE9-0018BCE9 006586AE-002576AE 0041B536-0001A536 0043A941-00039941 0043CD9D-0003BD9D 0043CB83-0003BB83 0044FBF6-0004EBF6 004585C0-000575C0 0065AB92-00259B92 
Action: Ignore
---
Error 1117 in HD129: during ReadLba: LBA=64, CHS=-1x-1x-1, Cnt=64
---Error handler entered at 10/26/2007 6:56:31 PM---
Error: NotifyException
Message: Error 'Unknown error (1117)' while reading sector 64 on drive HD129:
Info: FAT:28
Address: 004D5008 

004D4BEE-000D3BEE 004D4FE5-000D3FE5 0058C87F-0018B87F 0058CCE9-0018BCE9 006586AE-002576AE 0041B536-0001A536 0043A941-00039941 0043CD9D-0003BD9D 0043CB83-0003BB83 0044FBF6-0004EBF6 004585C0-000575C0 0065AB92-00259B92 
Action: Ignore
---
Error 1117 in HD129: during ReadLba: LBA=128, CHS=-1x-1x-1, Cnt=64
---Error handler entered at 10/26/2007 6:56:36 PM---
Error: NotifyException
Message: Error 'Unknown error (1117)' while reading sector 128 on drive HD129:
Info: FAT:28
Address: 004D5008 

004D4BEE-000D3BEE 004D4FE5-000D3FE5 0058C87F-0018B87F 0058CCE9-0018BCE9 006586AE-002576AE 0041B536-0001A536 0043A941-00039941 0043CD9D-0003BD9D 0043CB83-0003BB83 0044FBF6-0004EBF6 004585C0-000575C0 0065AB92-00259B92 
Action: Ignore
---
Error 1117 in HD129: during ReadLba: LBA=192, CHS=-1x-1x-1, Cnt=64
---Error handler entered at 10/26/2007 6:56:40 PM---
Error: NotifyException
Message: Error 'Unknown error (1117)' while reading sector 192 on drive HD129:
Info: FAT:28
Address: 004D5008 

004D4BEE-000D3BEE 004D4FE5-000D3FE5 0058C87F-0018B87F 0058CCE9-0018BCE9 006586AE-002576AE 0041B536-0001A536 0043A941-00039941 0043CD9D-0003BD9D 0043CB83-0003BB83 0044FBF6-0004EBF6 004585C0-000575C0 0065AB92-00259B92 
Action: Ignore
---
Error 1117 in HD129: during ReadLba: LBA=256, CHS=-1x-1x-1, Cnt=64
---Error handler entered at 10/26/2007 6:56:45 PM---
Error: NotifyException
Message: Error 'Unknown error (1117)' while reading sector 256 on drive HD129:
Info: FAT:28
Address: 004D5008 

004D4BEE-000D3BEE 004D4FE5-000D3FE5 0058C87F-0018B87F 0058CCE9-0018BCE9 006586AE-002576AE 0041B536-0001A536 0043A941-00039941 0043CD9D-0003BD9D 0043CB83-0003BB83 0044FBF6-0004EBF6 004585C0-000575C0 0065AB92-00259B92 
Action: Ignore
---
Error 1117 in HD129: during ReadLba: LBA=320, CHS=-1x-1x-1, Cnt=64
---Error handler entered at 10/26/2007 6:56:50 PM---
Error: NotifyException
Message: Error 'Unknown error (1117)' while reading sector 320 on drive HD129:
Info: FAT:28
Address: 004D5008 

004D4BEE-000D3BEE 004D4FE5-000D3FE5 0058C87F-0018B87F 0058CCE9-0018BCE9 006586AE-002576AE 0041B536-0001A536 0043A941-00039941 0043CD9D-0003BD9D 0043CB83-0003BB83 0044FBF6-0004EBF6 004585C0-000575C0 0065AB92-00259B92 
Action: Ignore
---
Error 1117 in HD129: during ReadLba: LBA=384, CHS=-1x-1x-1, Cnt=64
---Error handler entered at 10/26/2007 6:56:56 PM---
Error: NotifyException
Message: Error 'Unknown error (1117)' while reading sector 384 on drive HD129:
Info: FAT:28
Address: 004D5008 

004D4BEE-000D3BEE 004D4FE5-000D3FE5 0058C87F-0018B87F 0058CCE9-0018BCE9 006586AE-002576AE 0041B536-0001A536 0043A941-00039941 0043CD9D-0003BD9D 0043CB83-0003BB83 0044FBF6-0004EBF6 004585C0-000575C0 0065AB92-00259B92 
Action: Ignore
---
Error 1117 in HD129: during ReadLba: LBA=448, CHS=-1x-1x-1, Cnt=64
---Error handler entered at 10/26/2007 6:57:00 PM---
Error: NotifyException
Message: Error 'Unknown error (1117)' while reading sector 448 on drive HD129:
Info: FAT:28
Address: 004D5008 

004D4BEE-000D3BEE 004D4FE5-000D3FE5 0058C87F-0018B87F 0058CCE9-0018BCE9 006586AE-002576AE 0041B536-0001A536 0043A941-00039941 0043CD9D-0003BD9D 0043CB83-0003BB83 0044FBF6-0004EBF6 004585C0-000575C0 0065AB92-00259B92 
Action: Ignore
---
Error 1117 in HD129: during ReadLba: LBA=512, CHS=-1x-1x-1, Cnt=64
---Error handler entered at 10/26/2007 6:57:06 PM---
Error: NotifyException
Message: Error 'Unknown error (1117)' while reading sector 512 on drive HD129:
Info: FAT:28
Address: 004D5008 

004D4BEE-000D3BEE 004D4FE5-000D3FE5 0058C87F-0018B87F 0058CCE9-0018BCE9 006586AE-002576AE 0041B536-0001A536 0043A941-00039941 0043CD9D-0003BD9D 0043CB83-0003BB83 0044FBF6-0004EBF6 004585C0-000575C0 0065AB92-00259B92 
Action: Ignore
---
Error 1117 in HD129: during ReadLba: LBA=576, CHS=-1x-1x-1, Cnt=64
---Error handler entered at 10/26/2007 6:57:10 PM---
Error: NotifyException
Message: Error 'Unknown error (1117)' while reading sector 576 on drive HD129:
Info: FAT:28
Address: 004D5008 

004D4BEE-000D3BEE 004D4FE5-000D3FE5 0058C87F-0018B87F 0058CCE9-0018BCE9 006586AE-002576AE 0041B536-0001A536 0043A941-00039941 0043CD9D-0003BD9D 0043CB83-0003BB83 0044FBF6-0004EBF6 004585C0-000575C0 0065AB92-00259B92 
Action: Cancel
---
TIMECHECK: Scan took 12:00:50 AM seconds

I`m sorry, but your hard drive has had it.

Other than spending a great deal of money on professional data recovery, I don`t think there`s a lot you can do.

Your should be able to rma the drive. However, they`ll probably want you to run the diagnostic utility on it first.

If you can`t find it, take a look at this thread HERE.

Regards Howard

Hey,

So there is no chance of recovery? What do you think is wrong with it? How do I RMA it, and do you know if it costs anything for shipping? I really want to get that 500 gigs worth of data off of it though :S There is a lot on there that I need.

Thanks for the help!

First, see if you can run the diagnostic utility on the drive and see what it comes up with.

If the drive has indeed failed, then you`ll have to consider your options.

One is professional data recovery, which can cost an arm and a leg.

Or, you can just put it down to experience and contact the drive manufacturers website and ask about and RMA.

Regards Howard

Odd,

I jiggled a few wires (very little at that, i barely touched it), and it seemed to detect it better for a little. I'm trying to run a backup now, but its crashing every little while.

And what do you think the issue was? If it was just the mft, couldn't that be repaired? Maybe it just ran out of space or something?

Ok, try a new cable and see if that helps.

If not, run the hard drive diagnostic utility, that should tell you whether there is an actual problem with the drive.

Let us know the results.

Regards Howard

yeah, my computer crashed midway (completely locked uP) and wouldn't boot into windows (i would get the loading logo and then hit a blank screen) until I took out the bad drive....

So odd. But if i was at least able to access it for a little while, does that mean that some of the data is still there?

I`ve no doubt the data is still there. the questions is, can it be salvaged without having to go through professional data recovery. I don`t know the answer to that, but it doesn`t seem very likely.

You really need to run those HDD diagnostics, then at least you`ll have an idea of what the problem is or isn`t.

Regards Howard

Yeah, ill try plugging in the sata cable again in a little while and see if I can boot. Actually, before i tweaked those wires the first time I ran "hdd regenerator", but it kept coming up with bad sectors. I don't know how loing it was supposed to run for, but i got impatient.

Maybe it re-magnetized the disk for a little while, but then it wore off or something which is what caused the crash? I wonder if i were to let it run for a lot longer if I could have it work properly for long enough to get all the necessary data off.....

Howard is right, i have encountered hard drives failing like yours is. It's next to impossible to get the data off it intact and often it will cause corruption to other drives.

The type of fault you are experiencing is usually caused by a faulty ic on the drives pcb. Overheating is the most common cause for that. You seem to have a fair few hard drives. Did you provide adequate cooling for them? If not, then others may well suffer the same fate.

Normally the temperatures are fine, but it does seem to be a bit hot right now. From what my computer tells me, the drives are at about 48C. Is that too hot? If I were to cool them down first, would I be able to recover data? Having one or two files corrupt isn't too big of an issue, since i'm trying to move them on to a clean drive anyways. No system files, just data.

How much do an arm and a leg cost anyways?

Its not too hot, but i personally wouldn't like to run my hdds at a temperature like that. Sata's hate heat more that ata's and i run ata's.

Personally, I'd say 48 degrees is way to hot. But thats just my opinion.

As an example, i had a hdd running a 45 degrees, so i pulled my pc apart and mounted the drive on a hdd cooler just to be on the safe side.


You can see it in this picture, with the 2 small fans on it. (clickable thumbnail)

My internal drives are all running 32C... The 7 drive bay sits in the front of the case with a 120mm intake fan in front of them. There are 2 main types of hard drive failures, electrical and mechanical. PCB failures are the easiest to recover data from. You swap the bad PCB with a good one of the same model drive

maybe ill look into cooling these things. Sounds like a good idea, but id prefer to get the data back first

What is a pcb anyways, and how would I swap it?

The pcb is the printed circuit board on the hard drive. Swapping it is a very bad idea as the only way to do it is to buy an identical hard drive and do it that way, you will not be able to get just the pcb.

You could potentially end up with 2 dead drives by trying that.

It's not a bad idea for us who have boxes of old bad hard drives... and the majority of them are Western Digital drives. It is a simple thing to swap the boards, another difficult thing to find a similar board to swap. A couple of screws and usually one connector is all there is to it. A data recovery service would do this

any idea how much they charge to do this? and if the drive will work after that?

I think we`re jumping the gun here a little talking about pcb`s. We don`t know if it is a pcb issue.

I strongly recommend for the umpteenth time, that you test your hard drive with the manufacturers diagnostic utility.

It is my opinion that the hard drive itself is faulty. This may or may not be caused by the pcb.

As for data recovery charges, just Google.

Regards Howard

Hey,

How am I supposed to run the utility if I can't get into windows as long as the bad drive is plugged into my sata port? It gets past the windows logo and then blanks out, even though the OS is on a different physical hdd.


And odd, I just did a chkdsk, and it says there are no bad sectors now?

Code:

F:\>chkdsk
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Volume label is Other Disk.

WARNING!  F parameter not specified.
Running CHKDSK in read-only mode.

CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 1 of 3)...
File verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (stage 2 of 3)...
Index verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (stage 3 of 3)...
Security descriptor verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...
Usn Journal verification completed.

 437186200 KB total disk space.
 409415232 KB in 15982 files.
      8068 KB in 915 indexes.
         0 KB in bad sectors.
    156848 KB in use by the system.
     65536 KB occupied by the log file.
  27606052 KB available on disk.

      4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
 109296550 total allocation units on disk.
   6901513 allocation units available on disk.