Hard drive recovery

[dogdayz]

I have a Seagate 2tb external usb harddrive that has died. I can still see the folders on it but can't open anything. Just get I/O errors. I have tried everything, various recovery programs - can't get the files. It's all jpg files.

Anybody know how much the professional recovery services charge to try recover the data?

[auggie]

Have you tried any that are listed here: hxxps://recoverit.wondershare.com/free-data-recovery/top-5-free-photo-recovery-software.html

Also here: hxxps://www.stellarinfo.com/photo-recovery-software.php

[dogdayz]

Yes, I have tried the Stellar products, Apower, Diskdrill, etc. Nothing is helping.

[Terryl]

Most that I have used start around 500, if the data is that important, Seagate has that type of service.

Are you sure it's the hard drive and not the hardware supporting it? (it's in an external case?)

I use an external USB to IDE/SATA interface to try and recover data directly from the problem drive it's self, by passing the hardware that was originally driving it.

Something like this...

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-USB-SATA-IDE-Adapter/dp/B00D76J1KO/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=B00D76J1KO&psc=1

Just plug it into a PC, it should come up as a second drive(or third) and use diagnostic software to look into the problem

But be very careful as to what type of hard drive software you use, as you can FUBAR the drive if you accidentally change something in the root directory or boot sector.

[auggie]

Yes, I have tried the Stellar products, Apower, Diskdrill, etc. Nothing is helping.

What about EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Have a look here: hxxps://www.restoringdata.ca/data-recovery-services.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-fuD4qnt8QIVuR-tBh2ckwdsEAAYASAAEgLKbPD_BwE

[dogdayz]

I'm now going through it folder by folder and I'm able to copy quite a lot. Some of the folders it just can't open or copy. I think that I am getting the most important stuff. Some of the older folders I have backed up on a network drive so I think I'll be ok. Just surprised that all these recovery programs were of no help.

This is a slim drive that hold all my wife's photos. About 700 gig of pictures.

[auggie]

All the programs you tried, were they Free versions ? or some $$$ ones as well ?
Because Free has Limitations etc. where the Pro/Paid Versions don't & have more options etc.
You can get "FULL VERSION/PAID Ver. software, if you Know where to "LOOK" (Just a Suggestion that's ALL)

[Terryl]

How are you looking at these folders?? If connected with the external USB device that has the problem to a different PC then what your wife uses, then you may not be able to see some some folders, as they may be internally marked personal.

If you have a new drive, a second USB interface and some cloning software, you may be able to dump all the data at once.

Using the DOS program X: Fdisk/ r may fix a bunch of problems...X being the drive with the problems, and then again it may not.

[dogdayz]

All the programs you tried, were they Free versions ? or some $$$ ones as well ?
Because Free has Limitations etc. where the Pro/Paid Versions don't & have more options etc.
You can get "FULL VERSION/PAID Ver. software, if you Know where to "LOOK" (Just a Suggestion that's ALL)

Yes, I know where to look. I have been using full versions.

[dogdayz]

How are you looking at these folders?? If connected with the external USB device that has the problem to a different PC then what your wife uses, then you may not be able to see some some folders, as they may be internally marked personal.

If you have a new drive, a second USB interface and some cloning software, you may be able to dump all the data at once.

Using the DOS program X: Fdisk/ r may fix a bunch of problems...X being the drive with the problems, and then again it may not.

I have it connected to my pc. Nothing is marked personal. I can see all the folders, some copy at max speed, some are copying very slow like it's having difficult reading, some folders won't copy. But I'm slowly getting most of it I think.
Obviously something gone amuck with the drive. I was worried that her years of photography would be lost. Tomorrow I'll get a new drive and keep TWO copies.
Lesson learned... backup your data.

[auggie]

Stay away from SEAGATE Drives most Problematic drives out there from all reports that I've Seen/heard

[The Noof]

I'm now going through it folder by folder and I'm able to copy quite a lot. Some of the folders it just can't open or copy. I think that I am getting the most important stuff. Some of the older folders I have backed up on a network drive so I think I'll be ok. Just surprised that all these recovery programs were of no help.

This is a slim drive that hold all my wife's photos. About 700 gig of pictures.

The recovery software generally is of little use if you have a true hardware issue, like a problem with the ide stuff.The recovery software is good at recovering data lost in accidental format,ect.When you have an I/O error, it can be hardware related.What you have recovered sounds like good progress.I have used a data recovery service many years ago.It was 400 bucks then.They removed the HD from the drive, put it on another platter & recovered almost 90% of my data.\my drive failed from a lightning strike.

[Terryl]

I save all my critical data on USB flash drives, then stick them in my gun safe.

I also have a 4 TB NAS drive in the safe, the safe is fire proof, and the network LAN cable/power supply is well protected.

[dogdayz]

Today I bought a new WD 2tb drive. I managed to recover quite a bit of the old drive and copied it to the new one. From now on I have to make sure my backups are current.