Windows Explorer locks up when accessing old HDD

Jimbobo

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Mar 6, 2013
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So, I'm in the process of building a new computer and almost have all of the components to be able to build it (including my PSU and GPU from my current rig) but before I retire the current build I'm using, I'm trying to salvage some data from a HDD from two computers ago.

THAT computer was retired for several reasons but probably mostly because it ended up succumbing to some nasty trojans (I'm guessing), as I was very ill-informed at the time concerning anti-spyware, etc. That computer/HDD is about 10+ years old and the HDD I'm trying to salvage is a Western Digital Caviar WD1200, 120GB Enhanced IDE.

I hooked the HDD up to my current rig using the cables that were previously running to my DVD drive and booted up just fine. When I went to access the drive, it opens just fine. But in trying to open any one single file or folder within the HDD, Windows Explorer freezes up every time and I end up having to end task via Task Manager.

I have no doubt that the drive is in some way corrupted but I couldn't tell you exactly how. When I tried booting up the old computer with this HDD in it, months and months ago, some error would occur that notified me of an eminent shutdown within 1 minute or so, and I have no idea how to get around that. The eminent shutdown gump popped up after Windows XP booted up and I was at the home screen, FYI.

So, in a nutshell, I simply cannot access any file or folder on the HDD without it freezing up, despite my computer detecting it and it opening just fine. Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated. I'm really hoping I can get this troubleshot because I have a feeling there's more on that drive I'd like to save than I originally thought.


P.S. I've searched quite a lot on the ole interwebs for a solution to this but I haven't found one instance of this specific problem.
 


Thanks. I just downloaded DiskCheckup and once I can get the HDD hooked back up I'll check it out and post the results here, since I'm quite sure I won't know how to interpret it all.
 
Okay, so I ran Windows XP default disk check upon booting up my computer (current computer) after hooking up the HDD in question, and upon finally starting, it simply read this:

"File record segment XXX is unreadable"

I let it run through about 16,000 "file record segments" before I just shut it off. That doesn't sound terribly promising.

This HDD has literally been sitting inside the old computer this entire time, inside its case, inside a closet. I have absolutely no reason to believe any physical damage has befallen is considering where its been sitting.
 
WD's drives sometimes bog down when reading difficult sectors. The following threads explain how to clone your drive after applying a "slow" fix:

http://forum.hddguru.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29187&start=20

http://www.alexsoft.org/viewtopic.php?t=998&p=4345#p4345

Tools such a WDMarvel (US$10 for one month licence) have a single-click solution for this problem:

http://wdmarvel.com

Alternatively, you could clone your drive using ddrescue (freeware), and then recover your data from the clone, if necessary.

Ddrescue can perform multipass cloning. It clones the easy sectors on the first pass, and attempts the more difficult ones on subsequent passes. It can also clone your drive in reverse, thereby disabling lookahead caching. It keeps a log, allowing it to resume after an interruption.

http://www.gnu.org/software/ddrescue/ddrescue.html

Ubuntu Rescue Remix:
http://ubuntu-rescue-remix.org/

Install Ubuntu Rescue Remix to a Flash Drive:
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/install-ubuntu-rescue-remix-to-a-flash-drive/

Clone a failing Windows hard disk with ddrescue on Ubuntu Rescue Remix:
http://keystoneisit.blogspot.com/2011/08/clone-failing-windows-hard-disk-with.html
 


Alright thanks for the info and leads. I'll read up and check it all out when I get a chance here very soon and report back with what I find, or come back with some questions.

 
I might actually need someone to kinda walk me through this step by step if possible. I'm quite the layman concerning anything technical like this and I want to make sure I get this right.

To reiterate, the furthest I can get and have gotten thus far with the HDD I'm trying to save, is hooking it up and getting my computer to detect it. The moment I try to do anything within the HDD (open a program or file), it freezes up.

So, regarding FREE methods of cloning the drive fzabkar, where exactly should I start? With ddrescue?
 
Ddrescue would be your best DIY chance. However, you should apply the "slow fix" to prevent the drive's firmware from attempting to deal with bad sectors. This error handling is what appears to be bogging down your drive and causing it to become unresponsive.

WDMarvel has a single-click solution to "deal with slow responding".