Dead hard drive, need recovery options.

dirtyblacksocks

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Jun 27, 2013
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I've got a SeaGate model ST2000DM001 with literally a handful of files on it that I need to pull.

While streaming a movie over my WiFi it quit working, Windows still recognized it, but gave "file could not be found" error when trying to open anything.

On reboot the OS stalled and CHKDSK ran, it found errors in every single sector on the disc - I did not let it continue past Step 1.

I tried swapping out the SATA cable ports with no success.

I've run the SeaGate Disk Recovery solutions program through DOS and I'm immediately given error code A7689B42 - which I can find nothing about in a Google search. It states "drive does not respond."

When I skip the DSKCHK on bootup with Windows, everything just lags out continously, Explorer stops responding, then reboots - but nothing runs. The drive is there, but I can't open it.

I've tried using HIREN to do checks for bad sectors, but nothing comes back.

The BIOS definitely recognizes the drive is there, I simply cannot get into it to pull the data off of it.

The only thing I haven't done yet is throw it in a freezer bag for a few hours then try running it again to see if it's locked up, but when I put my hand on it I can definitely feel it spin up on a boot of the PC.

I've also tried plugging it into another motherboard, the other motherboard does not recognize the drive (at least not in Windows.)

Does anyone have a solution on how I can get into this damn thing and pull some files off of it? I had my DropBox tied into it and there are some important pictures in there I'd like to get back without sending it out to someone who does this professionally and paying $300 for 20 MB of data.
 
Solution
Couple of things you could try:

1. Use Ubuntu live CD and boot from that and see if you can access the files in Ubuntu.
2. Put the HDD in a docking station connected to another computer and see if you can access files that way.
3. Connect HDD to another PC and try and run recuva (free program) on that drive.

Rabmac

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Nov 29, 2015
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Couple of things you could try:

1. Use Ubuntu live CD and boot from that and see if you can access the files in Ubuntu.
2. Put the HDD in a docking station connected to another computer and see if you can access files that way.
3. Connect HDD to another PC and try and run recuva (free program) on that drive.
 
Solution
Hey there, dirtyblacksocks.

It really sounds like it's an issue with the drive. You did great with the troubleshooting. @Rabmac's Ubuntu Live DVD/USB advice is pretty good. You should give it a try, to see if that OS would be able to access the partition/s properly and let you recover the files. Except for that, you could try data recovery software as well: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-1644496/lost-data-recovery.html & http://pcsupport.about.com/od/filerecovery/tp/free-file-recovery-programs.htm.

For future reference - please do not run any diagnostic tests or scans whenever there's a problem with an HDD. Whenever the drive is being used, it should be done only for data recovery purposes, as extensive usage such as scanning and testing it might further damage the drive.

Hope that helps. Please let us know how everything goes.
Boogieman_WD
 

dirtyblacksocks

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Jun 27, 2013
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Seems the drive is just flat out dead - I started feeling a large clunky vibration in the drive twice on boot of the PC, which I'm assuming is the header or disc trying to ramp up and running into some kind of resistance (or the motor that spins the disc is dead/dying? That's what I get for using a large HDD for streaming.)

I've got it sitting in a freezer as a last ditch effort hoping it might knock it free long enough to let me grab the data off of it, but very heavy vibrations in short spurts of two followed by absolutely nothing don't really give me very high hopes.

Tried both Ubuntu and the Recovery option listed above, again the drive is there - but it won't read out, so I'm guessing it's just an issue of the platter not spinning to let anything be read.

It's a shame. I have pictures of a friend who died in my unit in Afghanistan on this and I don't know if I have the ability to get it back at this point.

If anyone has recommendations for recovery solutions that go above and beyond what a hobbyist can do please let me know, I can't even afford a new hard drive at this point - this will likely take me months to sort out.
 

dirtyblacksocks

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Jun 27, 2013
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Seems the drive is just flat out dead - I started feeling a large clunky vibration in the drive twice on boot of the PC, which I'm assuming is the header or disc trying to ramp up and running into some kind of resistance (or the motor that spins the disc is dead/dying? That's what I get for using a large HDD for streaming.)

I've got it sitting in a freezer as a last ditch effort hoping it might knock it free long enough to let me grab the data off of it, but very heavy vibrations in short spurts of two followed by absolutely nothing don't really give me very high hopes.

Tried everything you recommended, and just as Windows - it's recognizing the drive is there, but that's about it - it can't actually access the data. I'm guessing dead motor that spins the header or platter or whatever the terminology is on these things.

If you have a recommendation for a good and decently priced forensic recovery/professional solution please let me know. This thing has pictures of my best friend who died in Afghanistan with me, that's literally the only important information on it - everything else is just recorded video, movies, and music that I can replace.

I don't have the money to replace the drive at this point, so it's going to take me months just to sort this out. Not to belly ache to strangers - it just sucks when a drive less than a year old takes a dump like that.

Recommendations on a new drive? Should I just start sticking with SSDs instead, or even start going m.2 if I can afford them at some point?

Which drive is definitely going to be easiest to recover if it fails, or is that a rigged question?
 

dirtyblacksocks

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I can't get to the files is the issue, I *think* the issue is that the drive platter won't spin up to let me pull it.

Thank you for your suggestions.
 

Rabmac

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It was more for future as there is no point telling you this to help your current situation. If they are really important you could try a specialist but as you probably know they tend to be very costly.
 

dirtyblacksocks

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What's funny is this was supposed to be the backup drive. I don't really know of a fool proof solution for backing up data at a decent cost anymore. I have around 6 TB of data at any given time that needs to be saved somewhere and I'm wondering if an external drive that I can just unplug after I'm done backing up the information is a safer bet than using an internal HDD at this point.

If you've got a drive you recommend that has a good reputation for not shitting the bed I'd appreciate it, I had thought SeaGate had a decent reputation but a lot of folks are telling me this would likely have not been an issue had I paid out the money for a WD Black series.
 

Mr_Limo

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May 5, 2016
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Actually, this was NOT a 'backup' drive, it was a storage drive. 'Backup' inherently means duplicated - as in the data lives in two places. This is one of the biggest misconceptions about external HDDs. They are NOT backup drives, unless they are used to DUPLICATE data. In other words, they are used as a location to store a copy of your data. Remember, copying your data in multiple places is the only way to avoid data loss.
 
I completely agree with Mr_Limo. I'm sorry to hear that the drive won't even spin up :(
Unfortunately when things get this bad more often than not, the only possible solution might be a data recovery company. However this is often far from budget friendly so you might leave it for some other time.

As for the backup solution you can give it a go with a NAS or external drive, where you can store, if not the whole 6TB, at least the most important files and have a backup copy of them at any given time.