[jdiamond59]

Here is my problem for any out there who can help, please. I'm close to losing it if all my data is history.

I have a fairly new WD 160 GB hard drive, running Windows 2000 Pro. In the process of moving some files from my external hard drive (clearing it so that I could make it my primary backup) to my internal, I suddenly got a blue screen announcing that it was doing a physical memory dump. I'd never seen this message before. In attempting to do a repair on Windows, it ran through all the processes but stopped after the 4 diskettes at c: and said basically I could reformat the disk. I have 125 GB of data that I can't do without so this wasn't an option.

Next, I removed the internal HD and slipped it into the external HD's enclosure and attached it to another desktop machine running Windows XP. It recognized the device, though as a Local Drive (F): and not as a New Volume (F): (as it usually does when the external is hooked up to it) and once again when I clicked on it, it said it needed to reformat it first.

Is my data forever gone? Can anyone recommend what I can do by way of data recovery software for retrieving these essential files? I'm at my wit's end at this point. Any input is welcome. Thanks.

 

[bigbear]

Try PC Inspector its freeware
http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/uk/download.htm

 

[griffinspc]

I have a fairly new WD 160 GB hard drive, running Windows 2000 Pro.

Is the 160 GB with W2K the primary drive so when you say you were trying to move files from the external to the internal you mean this drive, right?

So, can you boot that internal drive normally and see all your files or are you saying that the 160 GB drive is dead or dying and will not boot?

 

[telegramsam]

You might give this a try:

http://www.jufsoft.com/badcopy/

Also download Western Digitals diagnostics and see if the drive is wasted or if you have a software problem.

 

[jdiamond59]

Thank you all for these responses. I'll try whatever software I can to get my data. And, yes, griffinspc, I'm saying that after I got the blue screen regarding the physical memory dump, I could no longer boot up the drive. I don't know if this means it is physically incapable or if Windows is just so corrupted somehow that I can't boot. At this point, the only thing I care about is getting my data off. I can then reformat the disk, but the data is the most important thing I cannot, absolutely not lose. In case I hadn't mentioned it, the data is important. lol

 

[griffinspc]

Just re-read your first post and I guess you've tried the recovery process using a set of disks. Have you tried this: http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?cxml=n&pid=999&swid=2

 

[jdiamond59]

Once I determine whether or not it is the physical disk's problem, that is, a failing hard drive or not (and I'm hopeful it is not and just a corrupted Windows) is there an easy (relatively speakinig) way to recover the data from the disk. My hope is to do just that, move it to another drive and then just reformat the now-empty sucker. This in a nutshell is what I guess I need help with. So, thank you, for the WD software; I'll try that first.

 

[Mulderator]

Once I determine whether or not it is the physical disk's problem, that is, a failing hard drive or not (and I'm hopeful it is not and just a corrupted Windows) is there an easy (relatively speakinig) way to recover the data from the disk. My hope is to do just that, move it to another drive and then just reformat the now-empty sucker. This in a nutshell is what I guess I need help with. So, thank you, for the WD software; I'll try that first.

Its not a corrupted Windows unless the Windows disks you are using are corrupted because that's the point of reinstalling Windows--it writes over the old one (why are you using disc rather than CD, BTW?). It is more likely to be a damaged disc although not necessarily an unreadable disc. Did you try a simple chkdsk /f, which fixes damages sectors? You can run that from recovery console.