PC died, Cannot view/access its HDD connected to another PC, need to recover data.

[chris_shadez]

My cousins' PC died after around 10years of use, found faults in PSU and dead GPU. Not looking for a fix, already dismantled to sell off parts and built him a new one.

The HDD was still working, he could get to windows vista login screen before auto shutdown occurred.
I have tried using it in my SATA-USB docking stations and direct to motherboard on my other various PC's too.
The drive spins up but does not show up anywhere, neither in BIOS nor Partition Manager, neither in Windows OS nor in Linux.

The drive is; Samsung Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ

Any idea's how I can get this to show up to recover the data?

 

[rgd1101]

does it show up in device manager or disk management ?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Any idea's how I can get this to show up to recover the data?

Professional data recovery services.
Prepare your wallet - it's gonna be expensive.

 

[toshibitsu]

You could try using software like R-Studio. If that doesn't work, then the professional recovery route SkyNetRising suggested would be next. At an old job, whenever we couldn't do software recovery we'd tell customers to try Drive Savers(they have a location here in San Diego). 99% of the time they'd be able to get the customer's data, but it was usually expensive($700+)

 

[InvalidError]

The HDD was still working, he could get to windows vista login screen before auto shutdown occurred.

What do you mean by "auto-shutdown" and was that before or after the PSU died?

A HDD mysteriously having issues after "surviving" a dying PSU could very well mean that the HDD's control board got damaged when the PSU died and is now dead. In that case, the only cost-effective way to MAYBE recover the data would be to find an identical drive down to firmware revision on the control board if possible and swap the logic boards.

 

[chris_shadez]

I know there are expensive data recovery services available but want to try fix this myself, as I have had this happen to my own drives from older pc's in the past too and many people have asked me about it too.

The PC was unusable due GPU failure, pixelated screen/ and lines.
The PC would boot, get to a pixelated login screen then auto-shutdown. The fact that it was able to get to the login screen and sometimes to desktop before auto-shutdown, to me suggested the HDD was still operational and possibly accessible externally through another system.

The motherboard did not support cpu's onboard graphics i.e. no monitor outputs on the mobo, so could not simply unplug GPU and use system without that, to backup wanted data.

PSU is not dead totally just showing to be on its way. I used an ATX PSU tester which showed the power readings were messed up, I stated this just as a possible cause of system failure. Though the actual cause is the GPU.

Was my cousins' call to ditch the system and build a new one, rather than get a new gpu for around $50 and keep using the old outdated system.

I actually have a few of my own drives with this same problem, they worked fine in their original towers and do spin up when connected to an external SATA/IDE dock but don't show up in BIOS or Disk Management e.t.c.

[EDIT]

To clarify auto-shutdown - I get to user login screen or rarely to desktop then power cuts off -shuts down itself without warning

 

[rgd1101]

So you are using the SATA/IDE dock that might not be working?

 

[chris_shadez]

I have 3 SATA docks, all work fine. The HDD spins up but not visible in BIOS/ Disk Management.
I also connected it to my motherboard directly on 2 systems, same result

 

[InvalidError]

PSU is not dead totally just showing to be on its way. I used an ATX PSU tester which showed the power readings were messed up, I stated this just as a possible cause of system failure. Though the actual cause is the GPU.

Or you got it backwards and the failing PSU damaged the GPU, HDD and possibly other components. That seems like a much more likely explanation for multiple closely spaced failures.

Many people say the PSU is the most critical component in a system and a key reason for that is because when a PSU goes bad, it has the potential to bring all of the PC's components down with it. If that PC has had the same PSU for the whole 10 years of its life, even decent quality PSUs may get questionable over such a long lifespan.

 

[androbourne]

Are you using a USB Adaptor kit or an actual USB docking station? The USB Adaptor kit might not be providing enough power for the disk. I've seen this happen a few times before.

However, if you are using a USB docking station. This shouldn't be the case.

As other have also stated. The hard drive could have died as well. PSU is connected to everything in the system. This easily could have happened.

If you can't access it via OS from docking station or adaptor. Your least try it to attempt to access the data via a recovery tool or Linux based OS. (however, if you dont have experience with it. Dont do it. It could make having a professional company recover the data that much harder).

And of course the last course of action. Professional Data Recovery.

For the future. This is why backups are important and there is a lot of free backup softwares that do a really good job. one of them I'd recommend is Veeam Agent for Windows. Check it out.

 

[chris_shadez]

Please read my posts properly;
HDD still worked fine before dismantling the system;
it reached loging screen and sometimes desktop

My usb docks are mains powered and power delivery can't be the issue, I have also connected them directly to my motherboards.

Forget the dead system and psu with poor power readings.
Focus on the harddrive; it spins but doesn't show

I did say i've tried it in linux (which were ubuntu & kali)

I have all my data backed up, not looking for a lecture on that... this is my cousins'.

I know there are professional data recovery.
-how do they do it? How/what similar tasks can I perform/ take steps that they would?

 

[InvalidError]

Forget the dead system and psu with poor power readings.
Focus on the harddrive; it spins but doesn't show

I know there are professional data recovery.
-how do they do it? How/what similar tasks can I perform/ take steps that they would?

HDD won't register anywhere after one last huzzah in a PC with bad PSU, likely damaged controller on the HDD.

The only possible cheap fix for that is to find an absolutely identical working HDD, swap the control boards, hope there is nothing else wrong with the HDD and that the controller doesn't mind having slightly different platters. Some HDD controllers have parameters that are factory-calibrated on a per-drive basis and if that is the case with yours, then even getting a seemingly identical HDD may still not be good enough. Good professional data recovery shops have hacked HDD controllers which they can tweak as necessary to accommodate most drives.

 

[androbourne]

Please read my posts properly;
HDD still worked fine before dismantling the system;
it reached loging screen and sometimes desktop

My usb docks are mains powered and power delivery can't be the issue, I have also connected them directly to my motherboards.

Forget the dead system and psu with poor power readings.
Focus on the harddrive; it spins but doesn't show

I did say i've tried it in linux (which were ubuntu & kali)

I have all my data backed up, not looking for a lecture on that... this is my cousins'.

I know there are professional data recovery.
-how do they do it? How/what similar tasks can I perform/ take steps that they would?

First off. It wasn't a lecture and a very valid point to bring up. It would have been more helpful if you stated you knew about this ahead of time and that it wasn't your system. Aka troubleshooting for someone else.

Secondly. Just because YOU state the drive is functional in the old system. Does mean it didn't die with the other components or was damaged. It could still spin or even boot, doesn't mean there is't any damage to the disk. To rule out a damaged disk in your situation, would be a very dumb idea. Especially considering it doesn't show up in Linux or in Windows via a USB adaptor kit...

Thirdly, You wouldn't be able to perform the work a real professional does to restore the drive. It is done in a clean room where they take part the drive, attempt to fix the issue and if they can't they swap the damaged parts out with spares to keep the drive running long enough to copy the data off onto another drive.

Without a clean room and proper knowledge of rebuilding drives. If you attempt to open the disk yourself, you could damage it beyond repair.

 

[InvalidError]

Without a clean room and proper knowledge of rebuilding drives. If you attempt to open the disk yourself, you could damage it beyond repair.

There is no need to open the drive to attempt a controller swap, assuming the reason the drive is not showing up regardless of how it is hooked up to the systems it got tried on is due to a dead or defective controller. Attempting this is relatively low risk and low cost.

Depending on how its firmware was written though, there is a chance that the firmware gets hung during initialization due to some other hardware failure such as a damaged head and the controller itself is actually still fine. In that case, it would indeed turn into a delicate drive rebuild case.

 

[androbourne]

Without a clean room and proper knowledge of rebuilding drives. If you attempt to open the disk yourself, you could damage it beyond repair.

There is no need to open the drive to attempt a controller swap, assuming the reason the drive is not showing up regardless of how it is hooked up to the systems it got tried on is due to a dead or defective controller. Attempting this is relatively low risk and low cost.

Depending on how its firmware was written though, there is a chance that the firmware gets hung during initialization due to some other hardware failure such as a damaged head and the controller itself is actually still fine. In that case, it would indeed turn into a delicate drive rebuild case.

You asked how professionals do it. That is how they do it. Try the controller but if it doesn't work next step in opening the disk. As I said before. Don't. let a professional do it.

 

[chris_shadez]

Seems like there's some kind of hardware based encryption on it...
I got hold of his mobo/cpu/ram and setup the system again with a spare psu and gpu and managed to login as normal, transferred files he wanted.
But still, I don't see the hdd when in an external dock or direct sata to my other pc's.
HDD works perfectly fine with the mobo/cpu it was originally setup on the decade ago, no encryption but seems locked to that mobo/cpu some reason, same configuration worked with my older HDD's with same issue, luckily still have the entire tower it was in

Any idea how this situation works? Maybe someway to keep the data on these drives and allow them to work externally docked?

 

[InvalidError]

I have one or two drives that have a similar issue: I cannot get them to work inside a PC but they work perfectly fine in external USB enclosures.

 

[chris_shadez]

I have one or two drives that have a similar issue: I cannot get them to work inside a PC but they work perfectly fine in external USB enclosures.

That's an opposite, more useful. These are the primary OS drives that, only work with the cpu/mobo they originated from but not externally usb docked or sata.
Any theories?

 

[InvalidError]

That's an opposite, more useful. These are the primary OS drives that, only work with the cpu/mobo they originated from but not externally usb docked or sata.
Any theories?

I don't think there is such a thing as HDD that "lock themselves" to a specific motherboard. The more likely explanation may simply be that the SATA interface/controller has bugs or compatibility issues that got worse over time and lead to the drive no longer being able to reliably interface with different computers or bridge adapters.

 

[androbourne]

I have one or two drives that have a similar issue: I cannot get them to work inside a PC but they work perfectly fine in external USB enclosures.

That's an opposite, more useful. These are the primary OS drives that, only work with the cpu/mobo they originated from but not externally usb docked or sata.
Any theories?

Only way this is possible is if the drive had a disk based encryption enabled.

If there is no encryption and disk is in a good condition. You should be able to view its contents via another machine from the adapter.

 

[chris_shadez]

So I left the drive alone in a conservatory for a few weeks, coldest room in the house. Thought I'd give it another go and it was actually detected and worked fine briefly.
I was able to access all data and transfer some over, after about 10 minutes, it kept spinning but disappeared. It was very warm too.

It working fine with its originating mobo/cpu was just coincidence.

So I sealed it in an airtight container and put it in the fridge an hour and again, I was able to read and transfer data a short period of time before it got too hot and became inaccessible even though it was spinning.

- It's readable whilst cool, gets too hot and keeps spinning but becomes inaccessible until cooled down again.

1) Any idea what the problem/fix is considering this new information?

2)
a) Does the ancient "put it in a freezer" method still work (and safely)? Hoping it may remain cool enough for several sessions of data transfer.
b) If not, how would you go about safely keeping the drive well cooled whilst in use? (placing it in my case front bay behind dual 140 fans where other HDD's are 23C doesn't seem to keep it cool enough for much longer)

 

[rgd1101]

replace it once you get all the data out.

 

[androbourne]

Like I originalyl stated. Hard drive is bad. Freezing it is an poor mans guide to data recovery....

If the data is that important to you. Stop using make shift ways of doing data recovery and have a real data recovery professional do this for you.

A lot of techniques such as freezing is only good for a quick view of copy of data. Obviously the disk is bad. Continuing to freeze and unfreeze the drive or using other techniques could cause further damage to the drive. When you finally cave to have a true professional recover the data, it may be damaged beyond recovery due to these techniques you used on the drive that further damaged it.

It's like, you know the axle is bad in your car but you continue driving it anyways...

You are asking people to give you bad advise on how to use the poor mans method for data recovery. The only real option to safely recover your data is by a professional.

If you do not like that option. Then search google and try the other poor techniques. This forum isn't meant to provide incorrect ways to do things. The correct way is by a professional and that is the only real answer you should be seeing in these forums for such a recovery of data.

 

[InvalidError]

1) Any idea what the problem/fix is considering this new information?

HDD doesn't work reliably nor predictably under what should be benign normal operating conditions for a health drive, backup data and replace.

There is no fix that would make the drive trustworthy ever again, you need a factory refurb and re-certification at the very least.