Hi all...
My hard drive crashed, i turned it on one day and it just said missing windows. I installed a new hard drive as a master, and installed windows ME on the new hard drive. Now the computer works fine.
My question is the old hard drive is still in the tower with all my pictures on it and i would like to get my pictures back. If i view the drive properties, all it shows is the small partition, system save (2.7 g), if i look at system information with Norton System Works, Drive Details it shows my partitons as 25.2 g partition 0 Type: unknown partiton type, 2.7 g Partition 1 Type: Extended (with extended int13 support). In my computer it shows the hard drive as drive D, but it's only the small partition (system save). Any idea how i can get to the large partition, where windows and all my files and pictures were?
Any help is greatly appreciated
Thanks,
Carl

Hi carlluvscorinne,

Try this only if solutions you'll get here does not work (as it's a desperate last attempt).
Logical problems might be fixed, physical problems are more difficult.

If it's a hardware problem on it and you have nothing else to lose, try to store your old HD on a freezer for 20 minutes (pack-it on a sealed bag before), connect-it immediately as slave and try to copy all (or parts) of it to a folder in your new HD.
I know, seems to be a bizarre thing to do, but we have done this and it may work for some minutes.

Chris.

Check THIS PINNED SAF THREAD for links to diagnostic software. Download, install and run the one for your drive.

Hi all...
Thanks for the advice, I tried as you said and I downloaded Maxblast3 software, the old hard drive is a Quantum Fireball Ict15 30, in Hard Drive info it says MBR partition table:
Type----Bootable----- Begin CHS-----End CHS-----Size

60 (3Ch)----True----0:1:1----3498:239...----27089 MB
FAT 32----FALSE----3499:1:1----3498:239...----2926 MB

I tried to copy from old hard drive to new hard drive, but all it will do is the 2926 MB partition. It doesn't show the 27089 MB partition.
Thanx for taking the time to help me...
Carl

Sorry that did not work.

Have you tried to diagnose/repair the drive (not sure what the maxtor software is called)?

I have heard of the freezer thing before. I do not remember, but I think it was for older drives where the arm was broken or mis-aligned. (Again, I might have this wrong) Heat causes the metal to expand and further move the arm. Placing it in the freezer delayed this and allowed it to work for a few minutes. Not sure that will work with newer drives though.

Have you tried Partition Magic on it ? Maybe you can recover data with it

http://www.soft32.com/download_151.html

Have you run any diagnostics or just tried to copy?

QUOTE (Alfons @ Apr 25 2005, 07:43 PM)

Have you run any diagnostics or just tried to copy?

What exactly do you mean by run diagnostics?
Thanx

I was talking about the same thing. Maxtor does have a program that can check each sector of the drive and mark the bad ones. It may also be able to repair the partition / file structure.

I am not sure of the name, but it is ontheir website.

Go HERE and download the boot-disk-maker program for the Maxtor and Quantum Diagnostics entitled Powermax. Follow the directions, make the floppy disk and start your computer with it and run the NON-DESTRUCTIVE tests on that drive. Non-Destructive means it won't wipe the data from your drive. If you have any questions on any of the tests - ask before running them.

Hi All:
I went to the web site,downloaded powermax4.21, created the floppy, restarted with it, and ran all the quicktests, then all the advanced tests...the results were: soft reset test: passed
drive recal test: passed
drive identify test: passed
drive r/w buffer test: passed
check smart test: passed
run smart test: passed
congratulations, your drive is certified error free.
I have a feeling its only checking the second partition, which i can access with windows....help please
Thanx Carl

It is possible the data cannot be recovered without very expensive professional help.

There is one more thing I can think of to try. Use another program to see if the damaged partition / data on that partition can be seen. It is possible that windows cant see it but another program/os might. A linux boot disk might work.

Acronis Disk Director might also work. The trial version does not actually apply any changes. If it does see the data though, you will know it is still there. You could then decide if you want to purchase the software.

Hey All:
I tried the acronis disk doctor, and it shows the partition, and says in that partitions file system : Errors: fat corrupted!
Is there a way to uncorrupt my fat? (that sounds kinda funny, like a new diet plan).
Thanx for all your help,
Carl

There are a lot of bogus programs out there that claim to do that. If there is a good one, I have not found it yet. Microsoft says the only thing to do is reformat, but I am not sure.

Has anyone else used something that worked?

Hi all...
Anyone have any other suggestions or ideas? Or do I need to just write off all my photos and reformat the old hard drive?
Thanx,
Carl

Installing the drive on a Linux machine might work. Check the page below. There is a tool that can fix the table for linux

I do not know if it will work (and you need linux or a linux machine), but MS says it requires a reformat.

http://bmrc.berkeley.edu/people/chaffee/fat32.html

Just a possibility.

QUOTE (Ironbender @ Apr 25 2005, 12:12 PM)

Have you tried Partition Magic on it ? Maybe you can recover data with it http://www.soft32.com/download_151.html

PartitionMagic has many annoying and dangerous habits, including formatting partitions without telling you, if you go to create a partition.

PartitionMagic lunched two of my dad's partitions when he was trying to merge. I tried to recreate, and PartitionMagic formatted the first one.

-That- said, the program we used to restore the second one was Active Partition Recovery.

http://www.partition-recovery.com/

It might not work in this case, but it may be worth a try.

It looks like you can download a demo of the program to see if it'll work on that crashed hard drive. If it does, you have to buy it for $30 to actually recover the partition.

There's really nothing to lose except maybe a floppy disk here. I'd try it, take a look.

Hey all:
I tried all the suggestions, all to no avail. I wanted to thank you all for trying to help me out though....I guess i'll have to reformat the hard drive.
Sincerely,
Carl