AWOL - Page 2

Praxeas · #11 01-30-2010, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Mmmmm... this is one of my specialties at work. Retrieving files off of dead computers. (And like Timmy says, it involves simply taking the drive out and slaving it to another working machine. Usually this is enough to read the data on it. If not I have a collection of "magic" programs that often work wonders. If the drive itself is dead, hardware wise, then it usually means that a company like Drive Savers needs to get involved and THAT is were the big $$$ comes into play.)

Randy, can you retrieve files off of a dead HD yourself? I mean do you have any tips for someone to do it that is tech savvy but does not want to ship the HD off to a company like that?

RandyWayne · #12 01-30-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy

Yeah, and the most interesting man in the world will get the job done right the first time!

I need to step up to the plate!

These are good people!

RandyWayne · #13 01-30-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Randy, can you retrieve files off of a dead HD yourself? I mean do you have any tips for someone to do it that is tech savvy but does not want to ship the HD off to a company like that?

IF the computer still physically turns on there are some utilities that can be booted directly from the CD drive. If it doesn't then the HD needs to be removed and slaved to another PC. OA didn't say exactly HOW his computer died -he just pretty much said "It's dead Jim", which unfortunately doesn't say much to me.

This is my favorite "First Line of Defense" utility: http://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm
It is NOT free. It costs $89.99 (no demo's), but is super simple to use. Boot up with it. Select Option 4 and the hard drive you wish to scan, and let it rip -often for 4 to 40 hours.

Praxeas · #14 01-30-2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

IF the computer still physically turns on there are some utilities that can be booted directly from the CD drive. If it doesn't then the HD needs to be removed and slaved to another PC. OA didn't say exactly HOW his computer died -he just pretty much said "It's dead Jim", which unfortunately doesn't say much to me.

This is my favorite "First Line of Defense" utility: http://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm
It is NOT free. It costs $89.99 (no demo's), but is super simple to use. Boot up with it. Select Option 4 and the hard drive you wish to scan, and let it rip -often for 4 to 40 hours.

Yeah I know all that. Ive slaved HDs many times lol. Im wondering if there is an easy "home" way to get files off a dead drive. Can you take the plates out and put them into another case?

Didn't spinrite used to be free? I used to go there to test my firewall.

jfrog · #15 01-30-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

IF the computer still physically turns on there are some utilities that can be booted directly from the CD drive. If it doesn't then the HD needs to be removed and slaved to another PC. OA didn't say exactly HOW his computer died -he just pretty much said "It's dead Jim", which unfortunately doesn't say much to me.

This is my favorite "First Line of Defense" utility: http://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm
It is NOT free. It costs $89.99 (no demo's), but is super simple to use. Boot up with it. Select Option 4 and the hard drive you wish to scan, and let it rip -often for 4 to 40 hours.

Do ya think us sinners could find an illegal copy of that program online somewhere like a torrent maybe?

NOT that I would ever condone such a thing

I'm just curious... lol

Praxeas · #16 01-30-2010, 03:34 PM

probably lol

RandyWayne · #17 01-30-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Yeah I know all that. Ive slaved HDs many times lol. Im wondering if there is an easy "home" way to get files off a dead drive. Can you take the plates out and put them into another case?

Didn't spinrite used to be free? I used to go there to test my firewall.

A place like Drive Savers would indeed take the plates out and put them in a new enclosure. Except they have the advantage of having a clean room and their employees wear the same suits most often associated with the Andromeda Strain. This is why they charge 20 grand (or more) to do what they do.

Spinrite has never been free but your thinking of Shields Up, also at grc which is used to test for open ports. That service is free.

RandyWayne · #18 01-30-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfrog

Do ya think us sinners could find an illegal copy of that program online somewhere like a torrent maybe?

NOT that I would ever condone such a thing

I'm just curious... lol

Of course I bought mine, but there are "free" copies floating around -with the majority of them being malware.

It irks me that he (Steve Gibson) charges as much as he does but the program does work, and works well. It is also only a 170K download which is smaller then most Windows mouse drivers!

OnTheFritz · #19 01-30-2010, 06:01 PM

Or, just get you something like this if you are comfortable enough taking the drive out of your computer. These work great.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812186036

RandyWayne · #20 01-30-2010, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheFritz

Or, just get you something like this if you are comfortable enough taking the drive out of your computer. These work great.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812186036

I have tried and own several USB connectors for internal drives. All I can say is that they "sometimes" work, but the most reliable connection is still hooking it up to a EIDE or SATA connector. Also, data recovery software does not have the control it needs over the HD hardware when hooked via USB. It really needs to be connected to one of the controllers on the motherboard.