Hey all, my mother just spoke to me by Skype and told me that the hard drive of her new laptop has crashed (i know what this is) and that the laptop is covered under guarantee, but to get the data off the 'crashed' HD would cost in the region of R4000 in dollars this is $520 to get the data back, now im puzzled. i realize HD's die, but can anyone shed some light on the DATA recovery step? and also how does a HD just crash, just curiosity......... thanks
p.s is $520 the price for data recovery?
How-To Geek Forums » Build Your Own PC
Tip: Click Here to Update All Your PC's Outdated Drivers (Sponsored Link)
Hard drive crashing????? DATA recovery
(5 posts)
It is not very likely that the HDD really "crashed" on a new laptop - unless it was dropped to the floor. It is more likely that there is a problem with e.g. the master file table or other structural data. It would be useful to have more detailed information so that we can direct you to the right recovery strategy. As a first step, try to run this program and have a look whether there are any restore points. If yes, come back and I will describe how to recover the data from there.
The 'electronics' in the drive could have failed is another cause. This means the heads can't move or the drive will not respond to the driver for it, if it even could load.
"Crashed" is a term often misused. Heads ride over the platter(s) only a slight distance over them. They pick up magnetic signals as the platter rotates under them. The true crash is when the heads hit the platter and damage either the head or platter they are over.
So you have three types of 'crashes', the h/w electronics, the s/w drivers and/or application, and a physical failure.
The middle one can usually be solved by re-installing drivers/applications.
The other 2 are more difficult.
H/W electronics, just replace them, but you need to open the drive casing and have identical OEM boards to do that.
Physical, more difficult. If the heads are destroyed, you need to replace them. If platters are destroyed, data can be lost. Quantity depends on the area of damage and how the recovery is done.
How can these happen?
Electronics, stuff fails. More recent drives do have 'warning' s/w built in, early failure detection, and the OS generally monitors this and would warn you of impending failure.
S/W or application, just installing something that either breaks a chain of drivers, causes a conflict, or overlays a needed file and backlevels it. Even virus' can do you in.
Physical damage, either a physical drop, and there are occasions when a power drop at the right time could damage it too. However, with today's drives, unless dropped the chances of damage are slim.
For more details, LOOK HERE.
Companies that recover data have the knowledge and tools to do this sort of stuff. That is what you pay for. Generally speaking, it is critical business data that needs to be restored. They will pay the price.
Once you do get it repaired, do back-ups to an external physical drive or DVD/CD so next time all you need do is a simple OS restore and the required applications and then from the back-ups get the required data. Makes life easier.
Still, as WHS say, describe the actual problem/symptom, and it will be easier to tell you how to proceed.
Also, here are some links to look at :
http://www.compurecovery.com/
http://www.data-recovery-software.net/
http://www.dtidata.com/
http://free-backup.info/do-it-.....overy.html
I've not used any of the above nor endorse them, just posted for more info.
Irv
hey thanks for the responses.
basically my mother lives back home in South Africa and while i was back there on holiday (3 months ago) she purchased a new Acer Extensa 5430 which is a decentish laptop, then yesterday she skyped from another PC saying it 'crashed' and the place where she got it from took the laptop back and put a new HD in, and said they would recover the DATA from the 'crashed' one for the nominal fee of R4000 or $520, the laptop was never mobile it had its own place on a desk and was never dropped, just seems odd to die after 3 months. they wouldnt give her the old HD either, sorry but they wouldnt give any more info than it 'crashed' to be honest IT support in SA is rediculous. thanks for the insight, much appreciated
Reply
You must log in to post.