Help needed for 'Confused'

[Mokles]

Hi,

 

I really need some help deciding what's best to do to recover data from my old PC. Chkdsk runs automatically when starting but never completes. When I brought this problem to you before Easter the consensus was the drive was corrupt/failing. I have since got a new PC but I'm not sure what to do to recover my data. I've searched past posts but as different things seem to be suggested I'm not sure where to begin or what to try as I'm afraid I might do something that loses the data forever. :confused: I'm not too good with some of the technical terminology. Hope somebody can help.:o

[KenB]

Hi,

 

You will need to take the hard drive out of your old computer.

If this is a laptop it will be a 2.5 inch drive.

If it is a desktop it will be a 3.5 inch drive.

 

There are a few options open to you but the easiest is probably to buy an ide / sata to USB converter.

 

If your hard drive had a wide grey cable connecting it to the motherboard it is ide.

If there are just 4 cables it is SATA.

 

The link here shows a converter that will cover both types of hard drive.

It is simply a matter of connecting the drive to the adapter and plugging it into the USB port.

 

The drive, if it is able to be read, will show up in My Computer as E:\ ( or other letter ) and can be accessed like any other device.

[Mokles]

Thanks for that info Ken and for answering so quickly. Do you know if a Windows Easy Transfer Cable works in the same way or would this only work if my old PC was working properly?

[KenB]

Hi,

 

You are correct re. Windows Easy Transfer Cable- both computers must be working and you need to install software to enable the transfer of data.

[Mokles]

Hi,

 

You are correct re. Windows Easy Transfer Cable- both computers must be working and you need to install software to enable the transfer of data.

 

Hi,

 

and thanks. So when you say they both need to be working do you mean working properly or just able to switch on and get a screen up; and which computer needs the software installing?

 

Also, if I use the USB converter do I need to put the hard drive in a case when I remove it from the tower?

 

If I use the USB converter method, will the drive be able to be read on my new PC even though I can't access it on the old one?

 

Sorry to be a pain but this is new territory for me.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Mokles,

For those transfer cables to work, both computers must be fully working as the software needs to be installed on both. In your case forget trying one as the old machine doesn't work.

 

The cable or adapter for USB that Ken mentions is all you need, no need for a case or anything else, you just fit the connectors to the drive and providing the drive will run at all, then it should work as Ken says.

 

If however, the drive shows in my computer, but will not allow access to the data there is a trick that can sometimes make the drive work for a short time, and that is to put the drive in the freezer for about half an hour.

Don't laugh, it has been proven to work in some cases.

 

If however the drive doesn't show up in "My computer" I am afraid it may need expensive data retrieval by a specialist company, it depends on how much the data is worth to you at that point.

 

Let us know if it comes to that, and we may be able to find you a link to one of those specialists.

Nev.

[Mokles]

Thanks Nev,

 

I'll get the adaptor ordered now. By the way, if I need to put the drive in the freezer should I put it in a plastic bag?

 

Mokles

[Plastic Nev]

I forgot to mention that, make sure the bag is very dry to prevent condensation forming as the drive is chilled down.

Nev.

[Mokles]

Hi,

 

I've got the cable now, but I'm not sure how to get the hard drive out of my old PC. I've unscrewed a couple of screws which I thought would loosen the tower case so that I could see the inside but nothings moving. There are lots of other screws I could unscrew but don't want it dropping to bits if I unscrew the wrong ones. Any suggestions - please?

[KenB]

Hi,

 

There are usually 4 screws holding the drive in place. 2 on either side.

You may need to remove a panel on both sides of the case.

 

This link may help:

Replacing a Hard Drive - Illustrated How to Replace a Hard Drive

[Mokles]

Hi,

 

Thanks Ken. I've got the sides off now and thanks to that link I've located the hard drive and feel much more confident about doing this. Got to walk the dog now, but I'm feeling more confident about tackling this problem after seeing the pictures. Will let you know how I get on.

 

Come on Fido....

[Mokles]

Hi,

 

Bad news - I've connected the old hard drive to new PC but it's not showing up in Computer. What next guys? :(

[KenB]

When you switch on the power to the adapter - does the drive spin ?

 

Start > Run

Type in .....diskmgmt.msc ......ENTER

 

Is the drive listed in Diskmanagement ?

It will be E:\ or F:\

[Mokles]

Yes, it does spin.

 

No, it isn't listed in Diskmanagement, but the following comes up in a box.

 

"You must initialise a disk before Logical Disk Manager can access it."

 

There is more but I can't remember how to make a screen snapshot.

[KenB]

Does it show the disk as "New Volume" is diskmanagement ?

 

You may find this useful:

How to Post a Screen Shot in a Forum | eHow.com

 

Many use imageshack

Edited June 6, 2010 by KenB

[Mokles]

Sorry it's taken me so long to get this screen shot. Don't know whether it will help after all, but here it is anyway.[ATTACH]419.vB5-legacyid=801[/ATTACH]

 

Thanks

[KenB]

Hi,

 

It does help - well done for sorting out how to post it :)

 

It looks as if your external hard drive is showing up as Disk 1.

This is not initialized.

 

Normally new disks need to be initialized. Disks with an Operating System on them should not be a problem.

There would seem to be a problem with your hard drive.

 

Try this:

Go back to disk management and right click on Disk 1

If "Change Drive letter" is an option click on this and allocate a drive letter that is not being used.

(I doubt that this will be an option as there is no letter assigned - but it is worth a try ).

 

Also try leaving the drive plugged into USB port - shut down normally.

Unplug from the wall.

Press the start button ( leaving the wall plug out )

Replace the wall plug and switch on.

Check access to the drive again.

[Mokles]

Ken B, I just want you to know that I think you're a genius.

 

That last little trick did. I've just got one small problem now. Every time I click on a file or folder to open it, a box pops up to saying "You don't currently have permission to access this folder". I can get into them eventually but I'm having to go through a long rigmerole each time and it's going to take me ages. Any ideas as to how I can sort this?

 

Thanks

[Mokles]

Oh and one other thing. The following box appeared when the hard drive was recognised and I'm not sure what to do about it.

 

[ATTACH]420.vB5-legacyid=803[/ATTACH]

 

(I'm just showing off now 'cos I can do a screen shot :D)

[KenB]

The pop-up is suggesting that there are possible problems - click on the recommended and let Windows "fix".

 

I think that you need to take ownership of your files / folders.

See here

[Mokles]

I think that's what I've been doing but I have to do it for every file/folder. Isn't there a quicker way?

[Mokles]

I've done the "fix" and that seems OK.

 

 

I think that you need to take ownership of your files / folders.

See here

 

 

I think that's what I was doing, but I thought there might be a quicker way than doing it with every file/folder.

 

The other thing I was going to ask is if I switch my PC off do you think that I'll be able to reconnect the problem hard drive again tomorrow. I daren't switch off - it's taken so long to get access to it and I've been trying not to move stuff over that I don't need or that's already there. Could I put it on my external hard drive but keep it all separate from the other stuff on there while I sift through it all?

Edited June 10, 2010 by Mokles

[KenB]

Start your computer in Safe Mode.

Constantly tap f8 about once per second after switching on.

From the Advanced Startup Options select "Safe Mode"

 

Start > My Computer

 

Right click on the drive that you want to take ownership of > Properties

Click on the "Security" tab > Advanced > Owner

Under "change owner to": select your username

Check the "replace owner on subcontainers and objects" > Apply > Permissions

Click the "Add" button

Type "everyone" for all users to be able to access the drive. Click OK.

Click the "full control"checkbox under "Allow" > OK.

Check the "replace permission entries on all child objects..." checkbox > OK

 

if I switch my PC off do you think that I'll be able to reconnect the problem hard drive again tomorrow

I would think that you should be OK - but I cannot guarantee.

 

Could I put it on my external hard drive.......

If you are asking - can you move folders etc to a different external drive and access them from there the answer should be yes.

You may find that you still have access problems.

The thing to do is to move a small number of files / folders and see if you can access them on the other external drive.

[Mokles]

Thanks again Ken, I've now got access to all the files and folders.

 

The hard drive didn't work when I switched the PC back on, but once I'd done the same thing as you suggested before it was there again.

 

I really can't thank you enough for your help.

 

I'd better go and make a donation now. :)

[KenB]

Happy to be of help :)