Tech: Crashed disc, lost documents help

Subject: Folklore: Crashed disc, lost documents help
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 08:38 AM

Help please
A newly purchased 3 terrabite disc has crashed, locking in a great deal of digitised material.
I have backed up all the sound, so that's no real problem, but had not got round to the large amount of data material, articles on music, folklore, storytelling, etc.
Most can be re-scanned in time from hard copy, but I was hoping to include some of it as a reference to our West Clare Collection - due to go on line shortly.
I particularly need the long article on Irish Storytelling by folklorist Seamus Delargey, but there are others I can't bring to mind at present.
Over the years I have posted out articles of interest to Mudcat members when they have shown interest.
If they read this, I wonder if they would be kind enough to contact me by PM or e-mail with a view to letting me have copies of what I have sent them.
I understand that there are ways of retrieving lost material from a damaged disc, but as the sellers have kindly agreed to refund the largish amount on the understanding that I return the old one to them.
Many thanks
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Folklore: Crashed disc, lost documents help
From: Lighter
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 08:48 AM

> our West Clare Collection - due to go on line shortly.

That's the (very) good news. Best of luck!

At first I'd hoped your headline was about a UFO coverup.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Crashed disc, lost documents help
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 08:54 AM

I expect a professional recovery service can get most of the data off - but there will be a cost.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Crashed disc, lost documents help
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 11:50 AM

Jim,

> ... the sellers have kindly agreed to refund the largish amount on the understanding that I return the old one to them. <

Try telling them that they're welcome to it AFTER everything possible has been done to retrieve the data.

Richard

Subject: RE: Folklore: Crashed disc, lost documents help
From: GUEST,big ballad singer
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 01:26 PM

Download Recuva from Piriform. It's free and has never failed to recover even deleted files for me.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Crashed disc, lost documents help
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 03:36 PM

There are multiple ways in which a drive can fail so "crashed disk" doesn't really tell what the problem is.

IFF the disk still spins, there are a number of programs that claim to be able to recover files that have been "corrupted" on the disk, or if the system just doesn't recognize the drive. I haven't found any of these that were useful in my own experience, but that may be mostly a matter of the kinds of failures I've seen.

It is probably a lot easier to "promise results" than to "produce results."

IFF the disk doesn't spin at all, there are places where they can look for component failures in the on-board circuitry and sometimes can make repairs, or who can disassemble the drive and mount the platters in proprietary machines to spin the individual disks and read the magnetic "bits" for recovery. The last time I had occasion to look at any of these, the fee for "looking at the drive to see what could be done" was in the $100 (US) range. Results, according to reviews, are very good, but "turn around time" to get the recovered files runs more to months than days. (Claims are that some of them got most of the files off of drives with bullet holes in them, but a shaker full of salt rather than a few grains is suggested when assessing those.)

Recovering deleted files is pretty trivial, and there are lots of utilities for that; but "crashed disk" does imply something more is wrong, in which case those may not be useful options.

A more complete descriptions of the "crash" might elicit advice here, if the failure is a simple one; but a seach for "data recovery" or something similar on the web will probably be a quicker way to see what your real options are, given that you know more about what the problem really is likely to be.

John

Subject: RE: Folklore: Crashed disc, lost documents help
From: Tradsinger
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 06:26 PM

I had a crashed disk a couple of years ago and a local data recovery firm managed to get most of the data back - at a price. The lesson is to have a good back up. My files are now all backed up automatically to a remote server with a system called Memeo (I'm sure other backup systems are available). I think this is particularly important when you have a major collection as I am sure you do, Jim.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Folklore: Crashed disc, lost documents help
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 06:46 PM

No reason the seller shouldn't be happy to wait till you've done everything to retrieve the data.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Crashed disc, lost documents help
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 08:50 PM

What caused the crash?

Subject: RE: Tech: Crashed disc, lost documents help
From: robomatic
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 11:56 AM

The big question is: What do you mean by 'crashed'?

Obviously check that the problem isn't in your power source or the adaptor cord connecting the disk to the 'puter. You do this by switching round connections to lines you know are good.

If the disk does not spin - big problem.
If the disk spins but sounds funny (one of the common sounds is a repetitive tapping called 'the cllick of death') probably a big problem.
There are recovery services out there that can get your data back at a cost of from 5x to 10x what your hard drive replacement cost is. Do not assume that your data will come back the way you remember it, i.e. you may well have lost the hierarchical data structures, so the organization of files may be flummoxed.

If it is a matter of the disk spins and sounds fine but the computer doesn't recognize it (it won't mount), try mounting the drive on a different computer and see if it the drive is recognized. (If it is, GET THE DATA OFF ASAP, don't assume the problem has gone away, it probably hasn't).

Subject: RE: Tech: Crashed disc, lost documents help
From: GUEST,grumpy
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 12:18 PM

I suspect Jim is referring to a 3 terabyte external hard drive. I had a similar problem recently by PC Inspector File Recovery managed to get most of it back.

http://download.cnet.com/PC-Inspector-File-Recovery/3000-2248_4-10118663.html

Subject: RE: Tech: Crashed disc, lost documents help
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 12:29 PM

Thanks for your responses so far - Mudcatters as helpful and generous as ever.
Recuva/Piriform
I've scanned the discs I was moving the documents from; the ones I've managed to retrieve are shown as being in good condition, but when I try to open them, I'm iformed they are corrupted.
Just had a friend/expert at the County Library try to open the disc - no success.
Bought the disc in September - loaded down files over the next couple of months - fine, except my PC started to play silly buggers.
Began to experience difficulties in opening new disc - PC froze, couple of programmes blocked - etc, so put PC in for repair - couldn't find a problem - worked perfectly for repair engineer (don't know if this had anything to do with disc).
When I got it back I tried to use disc again it became impossible to open and finally gave up the ghost completely.
It sounds to be running perfectly, but neither my PC nor lap-top will recognise it - nor will the library's.
The green indicator light on the disc, which originally flashed before opening, now remains static.
Mac/Richard
I agree that the seller should be willing to wait for the return of the disc - I was considering demanding that they should retrieve the lost material for me as it is a new disc that has swallowed several years work - though I have no doubt that they have created a firewall against all liability.
Lighter
"At first I'd hoped your headline was about a UFO coverup"
Still chortling at the thought of E.T. wandering over Mount Callan trying to phone mum!
Just been into the local library to check on the progress of our collection - around 450 songs to date, should be online in the next three months, God and Samsung willing!
In the meantime, will continue re-O.C.R'ing lost material (which I would otherwise quite enjoy but for the inconvenience) and admiring the willingness of Mudcatters to offer help when needed.
Many thanks all
Jim Carroll