Topic Wiki

Ok so my rule of determining the level of difficulty in data recovery is really 2 questions.
#1 -  is it making any noise
#2 -  is it detected in the bios if you connect it directly to the mobo

If the answer to #1 is yes - then if you want any hopes of recovering the data do not attempt to continue powering it on. It can be making noise because the heads are broken or bent and if that's the case you will scrape the platters and kill the drive beyond any hope of recovery. (data recovery isn't like the way they show it in the movies you cannot actually remove a platter and recover any data off it) And please do not attempt the Freezer Trick - it doesn't work on current drives anymore and actually introduces condensation in the drive that can kill the platters.
If its detected in the bios we can try a couple of things - and i can usually recover the data for about $250 - $799 - over 50% of the time its about $300.

DH Data Recovery
718.509.9211

« Last edited by etech0 on November 08, 2018, 02:55:58 PM »

Author Topic: Data Recovery - Any Questions?  (Read 175293 times)

Offline Novo

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 1144
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Up In The Air
  • Programs: Chase A/A, Amex F/R, Citi A/A. Hertz DNR.
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #480 on: September 01, 2014, 06:30:28 PM »
I try my best :-\
Quote from: Centro
If you wanna go fast, go alone
If you wanna go far, go together

Offline DH Data Recovery

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4543
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 64
    • View Profile
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #481 on: September 01, 2014, 08:36:14 PM »
Depends on the job, most of the time it's only doable by repairing the original device.

Offline WAM

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 1389
  • Total likes: 307
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Location, location, location.
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #482 on: September 02, 2014, 04:07:08 AM »
I tried to validate online (http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate/DownloadValidationSupport.aspx?displaylang=en), this is what I keep getting when running the program they ask me to download:



How can I use the key from the bottom of the laptop?
Bump

Offline Novo

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 1144
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Up In The Air
  • Programs: Chase A/A, Amex F/R, Citi A/A. Hertz DNR.
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #483 on: September 02, 2014, 10:42:30 AM »
Depends on the job, most of the time it's only doable by repairing the original device.
Thanks! I'll try to get it repaired.
I try my best :-\
Quote from: Centro
If you wanna go fast, go alone
If you wanna go far, go together

Offline DH Data Recovery

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4543
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 64
    • View Profile
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #484 on: September 02, 2014, 11:58:07 AM »
Bump
You may need a tool to clear the original attempt to activate and then it can try again. Try using the tweaking AIO repair tool from tweaking.com

Offline WAM

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 1389
  • Total likes: 307
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Location, location, location.
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #485 on: September 02, 2014, 02:39:27 PM »


You may need a tool to clear the original attempt to activate and then it can try again. Try using the tweaking AIO repair tool from tweaking.com

Thanks! I will try that and let you know the result.

Offline DanH

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 2181
  • Total likes: 26
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #486 on: September 03, 2014, 02:33:36 PM »
OK, here's my issue: I bought a 1tb hd to replace my 320gb hd on my laptop that I bought on Black Fri in 2009. The laptop came with Windows 7, preinstalled. I transferred the data using Macrium Reflect - free edition. Now, Windows keeps telling me to verify my Windows, but it won't verify when  I try to do it online. I tried calling them up & they said that they can't help me - I need to call Acer. I didn't call Acer, because I'm out of my 1 year warranty & the Microsoft guy basically told me that calling Acer would be a waste of time if my laptop is older than a year old. My question is as follows: is there any free & easy way to verify my Windows so that I can get the microsoft updates, without the need to transfer data again from ym old HD to the new HD?

TIA!
You can use MTK.  Just open it, click the Windows button (bottom right, to the left of "Settings"), click "Activation", and press "Activate".  You have valid SLIC, so it should just work.
Link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2iGJWPxOzXvbk9qWE9ldDVuLVE/edit?usp=sharing
For tech help feel free to Telegram me @DanTechSupp

Offline WAM

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 1389
  • Total likes: 307
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Location, location, location.
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #487 on: September 04, 2014, 10:01:02 PM »
You can use MTK.  Just open it, click the Windows button (bottom right, to the left of "Settings"), click "Activation", and press "Activate".  You have valid SLIC, so it should just work.
Link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2iGJWPxOzXvbk9qWE9ldDVuLVE/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks, just downloaded.
I'm up to:
---Processing--------------------------
----------------------------------------
I'll update when it's done.

ETA: The program never said anything else. I'll see if Windows continues to bug me about validation.
« Last Edit: September 04, 2014, 10:16:18 PM by WAM »

Offline WAM

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 1389
  • Total likes: 307
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Location, location, location.
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #488 on: September 05, 2014, 02:04:54 AM »
DanH, MTK didn't work for me :(
Thank for your help though!

Offline DanH

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 2181
  • Total likes: 26
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #489 on: September 05, 2014, 03:00:55 AM »

DanH, MTK didn't work for me :(
Thank for your help though!
What if you do "check system". It's on the tab to the right of "activation"

Did mtk give you an error or it just didn't work?
For tech help feel free to Telegram me @DanTechSupp

Offline WAM

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 1389
  • Total likes: 307
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Location, location, location.
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #490 on: September 07, 2014, 06:32:28 PM »
You may need a tool to clear the original attempt to activate and then it can try again. Try using the tweaking AIO repair tool from tweaking.com
Tried this, my result was the following:
Quote
Windows could not be validated as genuine. The validation service couldn't determine whether the copy of Windows that is running on your computer is genuine. Please try to validate Windows again. If you keep getting validation errors, try to again later or contact support.
ETA This was only on IE. On FF I had the same issue as before - it asked me to download WindowsActivationUpdate which came up with the error attached.
« Last Edit: September 07, 2014, 06:36:03 PM by WAM »

Offline hh613

  • Dansdeals Bronze Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 33
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #491 on: September 11, 2014, 01:06:18 AM »
I don't know if this is what you meant by data recovery questions.

I have a sd card that became corrupted. After many assorted attempts to recover the data, I mostly recovered all photos. But some of them have some type of colored film covering them. The funny thing is, that when I open the folder (with viewing large icons) all pictures are clearly visible, but after a few seconds they get a film over them that covers most of, if not all of the pic. Some pictures when opened look like a bunch of photos merged together.

Please advise if you have any ideas.

Thank you

Offline DH Data Recovery

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4543
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 64
    • View Profile
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #492 on: September 11, 2014, 12:10:58 PM »
Basically the ones with the colored film on it are corrupt. You can view them for a second because its showing you the thumbnails (a tiny version of the photo). The ones with slices of photos are because it merged some photos together or it's carving small portions of the photos.

With better software you may have a little better results.

Offline hh613

  • Dansdeals Bronze Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 33
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #493 on: September 12, 2014, 03:08:29 AM »
What do you consider better software?  And is there anyway to uncorrupt the files?

Offline whYME

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 3213
  • Total likes: 1240
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #494 on: September 29, 2014, 01:40:39 AM »
I have a drive that appears to have died on me.

When I plug it in it spins for about 10 seconds then stops. (no unusual noises)

Windows doesn't recognize it at all, if I connect it using a SATA > USB connector it shows up in the device manager as "USB Device" with all the info blank.

In the BIOS it just says "hard disk error" by this drive.

Offline DH Data Recovery

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4543
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 64
    • View Profile
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #495 on: September 29, 2014, 10:20:13 AM »
Does it stop spinning completely?
Is it a Seagate?
Sata to USB is detecting the USB Connector not the drive.

Offline whYME

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 3213
  • Total likes: 1240
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #496 on: September 29, 2014, 11:17:50 AM »
Does it stop spinning completely?
Is it a Seagate?
Sata to USB is detecting the USB Connector not the drive.
1. It feels like it stops completely, but "hand against the drive" is probably not the most accurate measurement.
2. WD blue 500gb (3+ years old)
3. It seems to be recognizing that there is something there. If I plug in just the connector without a drive attached it says something like "sata to usb connector," but if I plug in the drive, it takes s couple of minutes buy then shows up as "usb device"

Offline DanH

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 2181
  • Total likes: 26
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #497 on: September 29, 2014, 12:30:10 PM »
DH, are external WD drives more popular, or just fail more often then others?
For tech help feel free to Telegram me @DanTechSupp

Offline DH Data Recovery

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4543
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 64
    • View Profile
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #498 on: September 29, 2014, 01:57:04 PM »
Both I think.

Offline whYME

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 3213
  • Total likes: 1240
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Data Recovery - Any Questions?
« Reply #499 on: September 30, 2014, 09:12:00 AM »
1. It feels like it stops completely, but "hand against the drive" is probably not the most accurate measurement.
2. WD blue 500gb (3+ years old)
3. It seems to be recognizing that there is something there. If I plug in just the connector without a drive attached it says something like "sata to usb connector," but if I plug in the drive, it takes s couple of minutes buy then shows up as "usb device"
Any options for me, anything I can do here?