Data recovery

[Tempus]

Good career? Difficult training? Anybody/ :confused:

[andyofne]

Well...

As in off a computer hard drive?

I do it now and then but I don't charge much and never make any sort of guarantee that I'm going to be able to get anything. Most of the time I don't because there's usually a bad controller board.

I think there's a difference between what I do for people and what a true data recover specialist can do. Which is probably why I charge $100 and they charge a few grand.

[Tempus]

My intention would be to learn to pull data from the disk itself, fixing boards if necessary and pulling info from memory cards etc.

[andyofne]

7 bucks can buy you software to do some basic recovery from removable media. Some other programs cost a lot more.

I'll look at the ones I've got at work, some work a lot better than others.

I just bought the $7 to recover photos off my compact flash card. I was trying to copy files off my camera's memory card onto an older winxp notebook using a usb card reader. I got an error and after that the computer said the card was blank and needed a formatting. The camera said simply "sorry, time to buy a new card".

I downloaded the program and it recovered all the photos though it took a long time.

[*XxDADxX*]

Can data be recovered if a partition is blown away?

[andyofne]

Can data be recovered if a partition is blown away?

I think data can be recovered unless the media is completely destroyed.

[Skillz]

Don't most data recovery companies/specialists use clean rooms and pull the data off by taking the hard disks apart and pretty much just put them into another hard drive that works, or use some machine that will read the platters? :confused:

I know there is software that'll recover data, but what about disks that don't/wont boot and/or are broken but the platters are still in good shape?

[Tempus]

Don't most data recovery companies/specialists use clean rooms and pull the data off by taking the hard disks apart and pretty much just put them into another hard drive that works, or use some machine that will read the platters? :confused:

I know there is software that'll recover data, but what about disks that don't/wont boot and/or are broken but the platters are still in good shape?


That's what I'm interested in learning.

[Skillz]

That's what I'm interested in learning.

I read somewhere that someone did it at home. Though it's a long process, they made a homemade clean room in there bathroom, I'll google is here in a bit see if I can find it.

[andyofne]

That's what I'm interested in learning.

Unless you've got a brazillion dollars, I don't know if you're going to be able to build a clean room and get a special machine that will read platters from different drives.

[Tempus]

I'm thinking that there is a way to pull platters and seat them into functioning drive cases. I'd imagine the cases would have to be of the same line. Anyway, what I think isn't likely to be a big issue in the long run. I'd like to learn how it's done and in what environment. Gotta start somewhere right?

[*XxDADxX*]

I'm thinking that there is a way to pull platters and seat them into functioning drive cases. I'd imagine the cases would have to be of the same line. Anyway, what I think isn't likely to be a big issue in the long run. I'd like to learn how it's done and in what environment. Gotta start somewhere right?

I think if a person could make themselves a clean room and build a large collection of good used hard drives to cover most makes, they could remove platters and transplant to known working drives and recover data. But I'm sure it would require specialized equipment to pull data from damaged platters. Tempus that would be a fun career. Good luck man!:) Let us know how it turns out.

[andyofne]

I don't think it's got much to do with 'makes' as it does exact models.

You can take a controller board off a Western Digital 80gb drive but it's not going to work with a 40gb or 120gb drive.

I'd even feel comfortable saying that two same model western digital 80gb drives, with two different revision numbers, probably won't work either.

I've tried it a couple of times with no success.

I think there's a lot more to it than just swapping platters. Could be wrong but it's easy enough to test.

I have a box of old drives at work most of them the same manufacturer and model. Anyone have a clean room? :)

[Skillz]

I don't think it's got much to do with 'makes' as it does exact models.

You can take a controller board off a Western Digital 80gb drive but it's not going to work with a 40gb or 120gb drive.

I'd even feel comfortable saying that two same model western digital 80gb drives, with two different revision numbers, probably won't work either.

I've tried it a couple of times with no success.

I think there's a lot more to it than just swapping platters. Could be wrong but it's easy enough to test.

I have a box of old drives at work most of them the same manufacturer and model. Anyone have a clean room? :)

You are right Andy. Hard drives have to be the same; every single model number, firmware version and anything else has to be the exact or it wont work; sometimes you can get lucky and it'll work if you have a different firmware version, but not always.

Just for testing purposes, you don't really need a clean room. Just make sure you are in a "clean" location, use gloves and have a can of pure compressed air. Just for testing purposes, it'll work at least once. Though it might not last very long, but you can still just check to see if it'll work. Just don't expect them to work afterward.

[andyofne]

You are right Andy. Hard drives have to be the same; every single model number, firmware version and anything else has to be the exact or it wont work; sometimes you can get lucky and it'll work if you have a different firmware version, but not always.

Just for testing purposes, you don't really need a clean room. Just make sure you are in a "clean" location, use gloves and have a can of pure compressed air. Just for testing purposes, it'll work at least once. Though it might not last very long, but you can still just check to see if it'll work. Just don't expect them to work afterward.

Especially if it's just controller boards as you don't expose anything inside the drive.

[{2399}Straycat]

I have an awesome data recovery program, but, if the drives dead then your basically screwed ( yeah I lost a drive with 50 gigs of pics and stuff that could never be replaced and was quoted $600 to recover it, like Leroy said, in a clean room, blah blah blah. Cant afford that :( ) Maxtor sux.....

My program also works on reformatted drives, gets about 85%. Not bad.

[andyofne]

I have an awesome data recovery program, but, if the drives dead then your basically screwed ( yeah I lost a drive with 50 gigs of pics and stuff that could never be replaced and was quoted $600 to recover it, like Leroy said, in a clean room, blah blah blah. Cant afford that :( ) Maxtor sux.....

My program also works on reformatted drives, gets about 85%. Not bad.

I paid $6.99 for Adroit Data Recovery (http://www.adrc.net/) when I was on the road with my 'dead' compact flash 4gb memory card. It worked like a charm.

I've also used Virtuallabs Data Recovery but it has a very limited 'free' feature and it requires you to buy 'quota' credits that let you recover different amounts of data. It's $199 unlimited / single computer and $350 for unlimited recovery / unlimited computers.

It's a good program but I don't like the quota stuff.

[{2399}Straycat]

What sux is, Andy, the drive doesn't spin anylonger. All it does and chirp and make clunking noises ( thus its tryin to spin but.... ):mad: So, unless it was set into another working drive, like Leroy was sayin, I dont have a prayer to recover any of it....

I bought 2 300 gig maxtor's 2 years ago. Maxtor says the warrentte's ( sp? ) were run out before I even owned them. REFIRBISHED and sold at Price Watch. They never said shit......

I lost so much stuff :(


ohhhh, ther other drive's screwed too.......

[andyofne]

What sux is, Andy, the drive doesn't spin anylonger. All it does and chirp and make clunking noises ( thus its tryin to spin but.... ):mad: So, unless it was set into another working drive, like Leroy was sayin, I dont have a prayer to recover any of it....

I bought 2 300 gig maxtor's 2 years ago. Maxtor says the warrentte's ( sp? ) were run out before I even owned them. REFIRBISHED and sold at Price Watch. They never said shit......

I lost so much stuff :(


ohhhh, ther other drive's screwed too.......

In a case like this, I would make the effort to do whatever I could, find a like drive and try a new controller board.

[{2399}Straycat]

I agree, Andy. Thing is, dont they have to be set in the same or simular drives? The only other 2 Maxtors I have are 20 gig, and dead as well.:(

[andyofne]

I agree, Andy. Thing is, dont they have to be set in the same or simular drives? The only other 2 Maxtors I have are 20 gig, and dead as well.:(

I think we covered that above... your mileage my vary.

[{2399}Straycat]

Roger that........:mad:

[Tempus]

I did find some info here and there about getting data off of drives and the previous suggestion of building up a collection of common drives to swap platters from seems to be often repeated. Apparently a lot of these guys can make equipment of their own that they can adapt to different situations. Time will tell... :cool:

[hoser]

REFIRBISHED and sold at Price Watch. They never said shit......

You mean pricewatch.com?
They don't don't sell, they direct you to a company to buy from with the best price/value/etc.
I would try to recover my money from that company.

I've been about 80% successful at data recovery using various methods.
Several hundred attempts at 80% so that's not to shabby.
Good luck B.

[andyofne]

You mean pricewatch.com?
They don't don't sell, they direct you to a company to buy from with the best price/value/etc.
I would try to recover my money from that company.

I've been about 80% successful at data recovery using various methods.
Several hundred attempts at 80% so that's not to shabby.
Good luck B.

Bah. I'm saying 40% for me. I don't try that hard.

[{2399}Straycat]

Well guys, either way im screwed.

Never, EVER, will I own a Maxtor again......

[Skillz]

You do realize Maxtor is owned by Seagate now, right?

Prior to that merger, I swore by Maxtor drives. Though now I only buy Hitachi drives now. Never liked Seagate's drives or Western Digital.

So your only choice in drives now is Hitachi, WD or some no name company.

In a case like this, I would make the effort to do whatever I could, find a like drive and try a new controller board.

This is what I would attempt to do as well, though finding an identical drive could prove to be time consuming. Just search Ebay for people selling 300G Maxtor drives and get them to give you all the numbers on drive, if most of the numbers match up; I'd give it a shot. You don't really need a clean room in a case like this. Just make sure you wear gloves (latex non powered), turn off fans/ac so the dust isn't circulating around. Swap the platters, then move the data (if it works) to another drive immediately. I would also try to find a can of PURE compressed air. Most compressed air cans these days have retardant in it to discourage people from inhaling it, which can leave a residue on the platters. Not to mention leave a bad taste in your mouth if you use it a lot in close proximity.

[andyofne]

I generally buy only WD drives now.

Never had much of a problem with Fujitsu drives and who ever manufactures IBM deskstar drives, I think it's Hitachi, does a good job.

[andyofne]

Not to mention leave a bad taste in your mouth if you use it a lot in close proximity.

Even if you spray that shit in your keyboard, hours or days later, the residue will stick to your fingers so it makes your lunch taste like ass.

[common]

Pretty sure most hard drive failures are software related, therefore just placing the drive into another computer will allow you to extract anything not damaged. a smaller percent is hardware problem. If i remember correctly, if there is one platter it can be switched into a like model case, as was mentioned. if it has multiple platters your SOL. and in most cases i think the heads are switched and not the platters.
I have heard there is some company that can emulate any hdd controller long as one thats working is available or already programmed. again tho i dont think a drive with multiple platters can be saved.
so if ur looking into data recovery, most cases will simply be putting the drive into a working system and extracting data through dos,windows,linux etc. or some fancy softwares.

[Skillz]

Not to mention leave a bad taste in your mouth if you use it a lot in close proximity.

Even if you spray that shit in your keyboard, hours or days later, the residue will stick to your fingers so it makes your lunch taste like ass.

Oh shit! Haha! Thanks for the heads up on that one.

[{2399}Straycat]

The drive doesn't spin. Thus no recovery :confused:

[Skillz]

The drive doesn't spin. Thus no recovery :confused:

Ask Hoser if he'll run on it.

[andyofne]

The drive doesn't spin. Thus no recovery :confused:

Well, that's why we talked about removing platters and putting them in a known working drive with the same model #, etc.

Of course, this will likely ruin the second drive as well since you don't have a clean room and once you break the integrity of the sealed drive, I can't imagine it would just keep working.

[{2399}Straycat]

At this point Id do anything to get some of that data back. All I really care about is some of the pics I have on there.

[andyofne]

At this point Id do anything to get some of that data back. All I really care about is some of the pics I have on there.

Porno?

What is the brand, model and size?

[{2399}Straycat]

Porno?

What is the brand, model and size?


No porno.

Maxtor
6B300R0 ( diamondback )
300 gig

[andyofne]

You can find the PCB circuit boards for those drives on eBay for $39.99 + shipping.

The PCB is the easiest thing to replace, you just have to be gentle.

Do you think your problem is with the circuit board? I guess I should re-read the thread.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MAXTOR-DiamondMax-10-300GB-6B300P0-6B300R0-BAH41B70-PCB_W0QQitemZ200243016650QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3 286.m20.l1116

[{2399}Straycat]

I Imagion it is, Andy. It churps and clunks ( never seen that before ). What makes me think it is the board is because of the sound it makes.

[andyofne]

I Imagion it is, Andy. It churps and clunks ( never seen that before ). What makes me think it is the board is because of the sound it makes.

Wish I knew more about the "how does it work" part of the hard drive.

[{2399}Straycat]

Well know my answer by tomorrow. I emailed the seller and asked if it was even worth a shot. I'll let you all know how it went and, thanks for all your help, Andy. :)

[common]

circuits smoke and stink, clicks and clunks are moving parts.

[{2399}Straycat]

circuits smoke and stink, clicks and clunks are moving parts.Thanks for the insite......

Is the churp a moving part as well?

[Dawson]

Is the churp a moving part as well?

It has to be if you think about it.... what on a circuit board would make sounds at all? other than maybe a one time pop from a cap bursting.

If anything is making physical contact with the platters inside the drive (which is what it sounds like is happening from your description) then some or all of your data may be unrecoverable even if you did manage to transplant the platters to another drive.

But I'm just making edumacated guess's:o

[{2399}Straycat]

I disagree, Candy.

Its an electronic churp like a PC board does with bad memory, ect. But your probably right, as far as getting the data back, im screwed. Thanks all anyways.

[andyofne]

It has to be if you think about it.... what on a circuit board would make sounds at all? other than maybe a one time pop from a cap bursting.

If anything is making physical contact with the platters inside the drive (which is what it sounds like is happening from your description) then some or all of your data may be unrecoverable even if you did manage to transplant the platters to another drive.

But I'm just making edumacated guess's:o

I've taken drives apart (removed the cover) and watched the operation of a "good" (but useless) 20gb drive.

It does make noises without it being screwed up.

The chirping noise isn't from the armature or the head but from some of the electronics inside the drive. Exactly where or what I honestly don't know.

I have photos.... here's two of a running drive (this is an 80gb with a bad controller). There were chirpy sounds but it wasn't form the head banging on the platter.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/2736876847_d21b39f5f1.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2737713292_b423eb47e0.jpg

[{2399}Straycat]

Thanks for the help, Andy. :D

[Dawson]

I disagree, Candy.

Its an electronic churp like a PC board does with bad memory, ect. But your probably right, as far as getting the data back, im screwed. Thanks all anyways.

Well obviously a speaker or piezo on the pcb will make noise but I didn't feel it was necessary to mention that.

[{2399}Straycat]

Well obviously a speaker or piezo on the pcb will make noise but I didn't feel it was necessary to mention that.In anycase, Im screwed:(

[andyofne]

Well, I find myself in your position.

I have a 160GB drive with very valuable data on it. The drive died the other night.

After the server is restored by the vendor, I'm going to attempt one of these data recovery projects with real data.

But I want to make sure we can get our system up and running first, on the off chance that I need to send this drive off for professional recovery services.

Tom linked me to a company that will do a 2 day turn around, 160gb drive with about 120gb of data, for a flat fee of $2500.

The make zero guarantee that they'll get anything off the drive, let alone a bootable image.

[{2399}Straycat]

I was quoted $1800 :eek:

[Skillz]

Those quotes really don't seem to be that much anymore, even though they are still a good sum of money. I was quoted over $5k when I had my first hard drive failure back in like 2000 or 2001.

[andyofne]

Those quotes really don't seem to be that much anymore, even though they are still a good sum of money. I was quoted over $5k when I had my first hard drive failure back in like 2000 or 2001.

Perhaps not for a business but your average home owner isn't going to pay that much for anything.

[{2399}Straycat]

Honestly, if I had the money to burn I would. Some of that data means the World to me.

[Skillz]

Perhaps not for a business but your average home owner isn't going to pay that much for anything.

Defiantly not for the average home user, then again most average home users don't have "must have" data stored on a hard drive either.

[{2399}Straycat]

And who would think 2 hard drives would take a shit at the same time? :cool: