Strange HDD issue

TBirdUK · 7 Aug 2008 at 08:52

Had a 250g SATA hdd in a machine, no issues, windows worked etc etc. Then all of a sudden would not boot, just reset as it tried to go into windows, tried re-install (with original disk which will do a non-destructive re-install), no go BSOD. Tried hot plugging into another machine and bam - BSOD and restart. Have removed all other hardware to see if thats causing it, reset BIOS etc etc. Hdd powers up, and is recognised in BIOS.

There is some data I could really do with getting back from it, everything I have tried has not helped - anyone come accross similar before?

edscdk · 10 Aug 2008 at 14:50

try and boot from a good drive and use the failing one as a secondary? - its not clear weather you tried that (hot plug into another machine?)

if its accessable get your important data off FAST!

TBirdUK · 10 Aug 2008 at 22:49

Have tried to use it as a 2nd drive but machine keeps resetting itself during boot

edscdk · 11 Aug 2008 at 08:48

if hot plugging killed the other PC (and assuming you did not cause hte crash by somethign you touched) I'd say it kinda sounds like the drive electronics are up the spout..

the only things I can think to try (assuming its not electronics)
1) try it on a vista setup
2) try it with a usb external-ma-jig
3) some linux boot CD that reeds ntfs (you will ahve to get some suggestions on that as I use some boot cd I have had for ages I does not say what its called)

If that does not work, if the data is important consider data recovery might be as cheap as £200 if its jsut the electronics that are broken

if you are not ever goign to pay to get it recovered

1) try the freezer trick
2) try and get hold of an identical drive and swap the PCB (but it might be the other bit thats faulty)

EsaT · 11 Aug 2008 at 09:32

TBirdUK said:
Have tried to use it as a 2nd drive but machine keeps resetting itself during boot

During what phase of boot?
POST or OS loading and does it happen without this particualr HDD connected? (you sure OS is loaded from other disk)

Knoppix is good for accessing data on computers with crashed Windows. (Windows can turn itself to such overhand knot that only way to get it back to work is format C: because even repair install crashes)