Recovering Data Tools?

Question

I'm trying to help restore a Hard Drive for a friend. I started off trying to restore (the Laptop In question was stuck in an infinite "restore" loop, wouldn't even go to Windows or anything, just kept looking saying "Diagnosing..." and stuff like that.). I've seen this is common or happens in Windows 8 when something with the HDD goes wrong.

When trying to system restore to retain files (booted from Windows 8 system disc) I was not allowed to because the HDD was "locked" or something. Looked this problem up as well, tried solutions, nothing.

Finally I plugged the HDD into my tower and found out quickly that the HDD is corrupt. I can thankfully see the HDD, but it's so corrupt that I can't access or see files. I can't even see how large it is.

My main question: I need a tool to help recover the files, preferrably free. I've used EaseUS so far and HAVE recovered files. However it's only free to recover like 1GB of data, and with the pictures I need to recover over or around 35GB so....

Here's the other problem I have, and why I'm hesitant to use a non-free program: SOME of the recovered files were entirely corrupt, and unsalveagable. So you can see my conundrum (a lot of unrecoverable ones were pictures). Currently I have all the files/documents my friend needs, since those were under 1GB. But the pictures are important to my friend.

I don't want to SPEND money to possibly recover the pics when it seems they're a lost cause. However, if I can recover them and repair them?

Anonymous · Answer

You may use Asoftech Data Recovery which I used before.

Laurence I · Answer

if you download and boot from Hirens MiniXP you avoid the booting issues with the actual hard drive. It will allow you to see your files which may be fine, and you can transfer them to usb. If there are so many and you want to try and fix the disk, its probably not going to happen. Programs that do Deep scanning wont help as they are for deleted files. You can use Piriform RECUVA which is free. Remember if you are Live on the disk, so its trying to update its filing system eg by you trying to recover a file and tell the disk its a real file again, then you are more likely to spread the damage. Damage is most likley to need low level sector repair(after you get the data back) you can use manufacturer diagnostics (after you get your data OFF that drive). you didnt quote the maker. SEATOOLS is for seagate drives, DFT(drive fitness test) is for IBM/HITACHI drives and LifegGuard for Western Digital, You can safely use DFT/Hitachi bootable cd on most other makes of drive. http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd  see cd image 2720k fir dft here https://www.hgst.com/support/hard-drive-support/downloads/legacy-downloads#DFT thats all you should need. Remember the hard drive may be made much worse by trying to start it, instead start from a CD and copy off important stuff then start a diags cd and repair.

Bigge · Answer

You might check this website, it collects 5 free and safe Data recovery software for you. It also provides video guides and text guides.
http://www.top5soft.com/top-5-free-data-recovery-software.html

Recovering Data Tools?

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