How to get data off corrupted hard drive?

[emmaxirene]

I am trying to transfer some video files from an external hard drive (extracted from a 2010 Macbook pro) onto a 2012 iMac. I can transfer smaller files, such as PDFS, with success, but whenever I try to transfer a .MOV file, I keep getting error code -36 and it says the file is unable to be copied because some of the data in the file cannot be read or written. After doing some research, I tried running "dot_clean" on Terminal to address error -36, but this failed, too.

I tried running first aid on my external drive, and got the following errors:

Repairing file system
Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume
Checking extents overflow file.
Checking catalog file.
Invalid node structure
Invalid node structure
Invalid node structure
Invalid node structure
Invalid node structure
Invalid node structure
The volume could not be verified completely.
File system check exit code is 8.
Updating boot support partitions for the volume as necessary.
File system verify or repair failed.
Operation failed….

It seems like my hard drive might be corrupted or damaged, but I really need to get video files off of it. They are my only copy of some of my work I made in college (thought they were backed up on google drive, but no - lesson learned.)

 

[BadActor]

You might try a data recovery service, although they tend to be a little expensive.

https://www.securedatarecovery.com/services/hard-drive-recovery

 

[emmaxirene]

I'm open to data recovery service, but since they are pretty expensive, wanted to see if there was anything I could do on my own first, especially since I can get some files off of it (PDFS), etc, but not the videos...

 

[junkeymonkey]

thing is you get the data of it has it been corrupted as well ?? you may find you just recovered bad data in the end anyway ?

I just hook the old drive to a computer like its a storage drive open it up copy and paste /transfer over to what ever you have to put it on [new drive / pen drive / dvd , ect.. ]

I got drive I do this with as far back as XP cant use then to boot with but if something s on one of them I need I do as I said above and grab it off to where I do

 

[emmaxirene]

thing is you get the data of it has it been corrupted as well ?? you may find you just recovered bad data in the end anyway ?

I just hook the old drive to a computer like its a storage drive open it up copy and paste /transfer over to what ever you have to put it on [new drive / pen drive / dvd , ect.. ]

I got drive I do this with as far back as XP cant use then to boot with but if something s on one of them I need I do as I said above and grab it off to where I do

Yea, I'm worried about the data being bad too, it seems like there's something wrong with the video files, which is why they won't transfer.... I wonder if its from being transferred from different computers many times.

I have hooked up the external drive to computer via USB cable....I can't get the video files to even transfer onto the computer. So I'm not sure how to do the copy/paste solution you suggested :/

 

[junkeymonkey]

you have to use the old drive you want to get the files off as a storage drive on another working computer booted in to windows / OS then make a folder on the desktop open your old drive like you would a storage drive and drag and drop your files in to that folder then put that folder on what ever you use for keeping it on ?

it work well for me but sometimes I explain this and cant do it ??? maybe more wrong with that drive and cant do it and its over out side of that recovery thing suggested above ?

 

[DR_Luke]

Data recovery services shouldn't be that expensive for this case, but could quickly turn into a more expensive situation if the drive gets worse during your efforts.

In North America, I suggest https://www.data-medics.com/ or https://www.recoveryforce.com/ and in the UK/Europe, I suggest http://pcimage.co.uk or http://www.databusters.co.uk.

If you do choose to go at it on your own, you first objective should be to get a full sector-by-sector copy of the drive to a known healthy drive...and then focus on the file system recovery from the stable drive. There are two open source applications for this, gnu ddrescue and new kid on the block, hddsuperclone. I just ran hddsuperclone for the first time yesterday and can attest that it is very good and quite simple to use.

 

[emmaxirene]

you have to use the old drive you want to get the files off as a storage drive on another working computer booted in to windows / OS then make a folder on the desktop open your old drive like you would a storage drive and drag and drop your files in to that folder then put that folder on what ever you use for keeping it on ?

it work well for me but sometimes I explain this and cant do it ??? maybe more wrong with that drive and cant do it and its over out side of that recovery thing suggested above ?

Yes...That's what I've been trying that is not working. I am looking for another solution. Thank you though

 

[emmaxirene]

Data recovery services shouldn't be that expensive for this case, but could quickly turn into a more expensive situation if the drive gets worse during your efforts.

In North America, I suggest https://www.data-medics.com/ or https://www.recoveryforce.com/ and in the UK/Europe, I suggest http://pcimage.co.uk or http://www.databusters.co.uk.

If you do choose to go at it on your own, you first objective should be to get a full sector-by-sector copy of the drive to a known healthy drive...and then focus on the file system recovery from the stable drive. There are two open source applications for this, gnu ddrescue and new kid on the block, hddsuperclone. I just ran hddsuperclone for the first time yesterday and can attest that it is very good and quite simple to use.

Thank you, I will look into these options. Definitely don't want to make it worse!!

 

[junkeymonkey]

I guess this is where making regular scheduled back up's pay's off ??

 

[emmaxirene]

I guess this is where making regular scheduled back up's pay's off ??

Yeaa.

 

[junkeymonkey]

well, I neglect that here matter of fact I guess I never have myself [gone is just gone for me ] most times like vid's I burn on a dvd for friends or what ever pretty much don't keep things like that on my drives anyway and put on a disk [dvd]

get something like this and a 1tb hard drive put the files you worked hard on and finished over to the 1tb when done remove drive put back in its box with its anti static bag and use it as you need it to store and save your hate to loose work ??

https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Hot-Swap-External-Docking-Compatible/dp/B001A4HAFS