Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    Earthfree's Avatar
    Earthfree Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Feb 13, 2007, 02:19 PM
    Unable to read hard drive due to bad clusters
    I have a data only drive (no OS) that has developed bad cluster section.
    Due to this, windows xp cannot see the drive although it is seen in BIOS.
    Due to this problem, I am unable to back the drive up to save my data, anyone know a way of getting at the data before I re-format the drive.
    Have tried HDD recovery it just freezes at the bad section.
    Also tried Seagete Tools Util, it sees the drive and scans it , identifies 40,000 bits bad but it can't recover it.
    I want to recover the data from the rest of the drive I am not bothered about losing the data in the bad section
    (sorry its long winded just wanted all the info to go out there.)
    HVAC888's Avatar
    HVAC888 Posts: 674, Reputation: 75
    Senior Member
    		  
    #2

    Feb 13, 2007, 02:37 PM
    Have you tried Windows own error checking? Open My Computer, right-click on your data drive and select properties. Under "tools" select error checking.

    If that doesn't work, then boot from your Windows XP CD and choose "R" to to "use recovery console". Run the chkdsk program, using chkdsk C: /r. See Microsoft support site for more info. On the recovery console.
    Earthfree's Avatar
    Earthfree Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #3

    Feb 13, 2007, 02:51 PM
    Thanks for your quick answer, as I stated in the original question one of the problems is that windows does not "see" the faulty drive (altho its seen in BIOS )so I am unable to act upon your suggestions
    Curlyben's Avatar
    Curlyben Posts: 18,514, Reputation: 1860
    BossMan
    		  
    #4

    Feb 13, 2007, 02:54 PM
    Earthfree, as HVAC suggested, boot to your XP CD and use the recovery console.
    His link gives directions on how to access and use it.

    With the console, as long as BIOS can see the drive then it should be visible to the recovery system. This is a sub windows system.
    phillysteakandcheese's Avatar
    phillysteakandcheese Posts: 973, Reputation: 356
    Senior Member
    		  
    #5

    Feb 13, 2007, 03:23 PM
    Short of sending the drive to a data recovery service, I would suggest a product called SpinRite.

    It can really do a lot of amazing things with a hard drive and might possibly help you recover the data.
    Earthfree's Avatar
    Earthfree Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #6

    Feb 13, 2007, 03:49 PM
    Ah Ha now I undersatnd, I will try the recovery method and let you know how I get on.
    I have tried spinwrite, it also freezes at the bad sector same as HDD regenerator does.
    I need a recovery prog that will allow me to set it to "Ignore bad sectors" but don't know of one
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Replace existing hard drive with upgrade to larger hard drive? [ 6 Answers ]

How do you replace existing hard drive for a larger one and how to save info on existing device?

External Hard Drive not being read ? [ 5 Answers ]

I've had it for about 9 months... and yesterday it decided to stop working... the external hard drive powers up but I can't hear the drive spinning... my laptop says that there is a Hard drive plugged in but when I go into my computer it doesn't show up :mad: I have most of the files backed up on...

Bad clusters again [ 3 Answers ]

My 80 gb hd is a new one. It has 4 drives, each one with 20 gb each. One day while scan disk there were bad clusters in drive c: . I removed the partition of c: drive and formatted that drive. Few days after formatting, bad clusters were again found in drive c: . Now what should I do.. shall...

Hard Disk - Bad Clusters [ 1 Answers ]

Hi All I was getting physical problem in my hard disk C: drive, on scanning I got 11 bad clusters , also it was mentioned that from now onwards these bad clusters will not be used for data storage . Now I want to upgrade to WIN XP from 98 , so please tell me what should I do for that, and...

C: drive has bad clusters [ 5 Answers ]

:) Hi,. How you doing? I have a C: Drive with bad clusters on it and I was wondering,. is there any way possible for me to fix it? I just wanted to know before I just throw it out. Thanks ~YEONEZ~

View more questions Search