Anyway to repair a corrupt HDD?

[shoja]

My friend's PC was getting BSOD because of a corrupt HDD and I had to remove it. The HDD freezes up the system when connecting and creates extreme lag, but I will still ask this: Is it possible to fix it in some way? Would be great if I could save it.

Thanks

[Brendruis]

Corrupt file system or damaged sectors?

A corrupted file system can be as simple to fix as running CHKDSK.

Damaged sectors can't be 'fixed' so to speak but utilities can re-arrange your data so it is not stored in the sectors which are known to be bad.

[Pill Monster]

You could try a low level format.

[sykozis]

Originally Posted by Pill Monster

You could try a low level format.

If the drive is damaged, a consumer level "low level format" isn't going to fix it.... You'd need access to be able to do the same "low-level format" that the manufacturers do....

[k1net1cs]

There are commercial apps that do (literally) repair bad sectors, such as SpinRite & HDD Regenerator.
I've never tried SpinRite, but I've been using HDD Regenerator and it does what it says on the tin.
It recovers bad sectors, along with the data on it, and allows you to copy them before the HDD goes out.

The caveat here is that HDD Regenerator works quite slow on big drives (up to 2~3 hours on a 1TB disk IIRC), especially if it has a lot of bad sectors.
It also has to run on IDE Compatible mode on SATA drives for it to work effectively (and relatively faster), so most of the time you won't be able to fix it straight from Windows since most people probably had it set on AHCI or IDE Enhanced.

In any case, after recovering the bad sectors you need to full format the drive; quick format won't do it.
Also, you may need to redo the repair process until there are no more bad sectors reappearing.
Thus, it may cost you a half day or even a few days, but the thing is that the data can be properly recovered, unlike using chkdsk or low-level format.

[Li4m79]

HDD Regenerator....

http://www.hdd-regenerator.net/

[Pill Monster]

Originally Posted by sykozis

If the drive is damaged, a consumer level "low level format" isn't going to fix it.... You'd need access to be able to do the same "low-level format" that the manufacturers do....

A zero fill or low level format will map out any bad sectors that aren't physically damaged and and replace them with good sectors.
This can be done with utilities like Seatools, KillDisk, DBAN or software packaged with Hiren's Boot CD and UBCD just to name a few - all of which are free and easily available.

[anticupidon]

http://hddguru.com/software/2006.04.13-HDD-Wipe-Tool/

[mmicrosysm]

Originally Posted by Li4m79

HDD Regenerator....

http://www.hdd-regenerator.net/

or HDAT2 http://www.hdat2.com/

[shoja]

Originally Posted by Brendruis

Corrupt file system or damaged sectors?

A corrupted file system can be as simple to fix as running CHKDSK.

Damaged sectors can't be 'fixed' so to speak but utilities can re-arrange your data so it is not stored in the sectors which are known to be bad.

I am not sure, but when the HDD is connected through sata the system doesn't make it past the my motherboard's logo when the system is fired up. Once made it to XP setup to do a chkdsk, but as soon as it said windows is starting, it went into blue screen and crashed. Would it work if I try the HDD wipe tool(The one linked above) by equipping the hdd to a usb enclosure?

[Brendruis]

Originally Posted by shoja

I am not sure, but when the HDD is connected through sata the system doesn't make it past the my motherboard's logo when the system is fired up. Once made it to XP setup to do a chkdsk, but as soon as it said windows is starting, it went into blue screen and crashed. Would it work if I try the HDD wipe tool(The one linked above) by equipping the hdd to a usb enclosure?

It sounds completely dead. There isn't much you can do with the drive as a user if it won't get past the BIOS. If the data on there is important to you then consider sending it to one of the recovery establishments like Gillware, but it could cost you a few hundred.

[shoja]

Originally Posted by Brendruis

It sounds completely dead. There isn't much you can do with the drive as a user if it won't get past the BIOS. If the data on there is important to you then consider sending it to one of the recovery establishments like Gillware, but it could cost you a few hundred.

Few hundreds? Damn.. I will pass

[Brendruis]

Some people have had success with buying a replacement PCB on eBay or the like and try a swap.. but there are many different firmwares for these, Seagate and WD don't generally release the updates to the public, and you risk making the drive unrecoverable by doing the swap incorrectly.

[clawhamer]

Are you simply trying to repair the drive so it can still be used or are you at a point where you are trying to recover critical data?


I’ve had decent success with replacing the drive’s PCB, but only under circumstances where the controller is at fault and accessing the drive long enough to grad the user’s data (usually for businesses)... then replace the defective drive with new.


A few things to consider:
1. You are very positive the PCB is dead
2. There is obvious damage on the PCB board
3. The hard drive does not spin (the hard drive never fell or was shaken)
4. If the hard drive simply can't be detected, or if it is clicking, then it could be a circuit board problem, but it could easily be internal damage as well. It is often a gamble in this case.
5. If BIOS can see the hard drive, probably it's not board issue



Replacing the drives board is considered a last ditch approach before totally writing it off, IMO, and after unsuccessful attempts of standard data recovery.

[shoja]

Originally Posted by clawhamer

Are you simply trying to repair the drive so it can still be used or are you at a point where you are trying to recover critical data?


I’ve had decent success with replacing the drive’s PCB, but only under circumstances where the controller is at fault and accessing the drive long enough to grad the user’s data (usually for businesses)... then replace the defective drive with new.


A few things to consider:
1. You are very positive the PCB is dead
2. There is obvious damage on the PCB board
3. The hard drive does not spin (the hard drive never fell or was shaken)
4. If the hard drive simply can't be detected, or if it is clicking, then it could be a circuit board problem, but it could easily be internal damage as well. It is often a gamble in this case.
5. If BIOS can see the hard drive, probably it's not board issue



Replacing the drives board is considered a last ditch approach before totally writing it off, IMO, and after unsuccessful attempts of standard data recovery.

We were trying to get pictures out of it, but it's not a problem anymore. My friend just told me that her pictures were magically available on Google+(instant upload lol). I guess Google+ is useful after all. I will just buy a new HDD now. Thanks for all the help!

[clawhamer]

Glad to hear indeed.

Even cheap ass on-line storage back-up is better than no back-up ;^)