Hard Drive Failure

[disneychrista]

It is not looking good for the data retrieval at this point. They said they needed to put it on another device to see if it can pull anything off.

 

[Communicore1991]

It is not looking good for the data retrieval at this point. They said they needed to put it on another device to see if it can pull anything off.

I'm not sure what solution you decided to go with but keep in mind on a failing hard drive, the more the drive gets heated up and the more attempts that are made at reading the data, the more likely the drive is to get damaged. That's why you want to use a service that knows exactly what needs to be done rather than screwing around and guessing and checking while your data is being further destroyed.

 

[disneychrista]

I'm not sure what solution you decided to go with but keep in mind on a failing hard drive, the more the drive gets heated up and the more attempts that are made at reading the data, the more likely the drive is to get damaged. That's why you want to use a service that knows exactly what needs to be done rather than screwing around and guessing and checking while your data is being further destroyed.

It is at a local shop. Depending on what they are able to do or not. The next step is sending it out. I appreciate the suggestion of a reputable business.

 

[SteveMouse]

Most retail hard drives are/were expected to run between 3 and 5 years before failing (MTBF), so yours was likely at the upper end of its lifespan.

Connecting the drive to a different computer to investigate recovery isn’t unusual. Often, a recovery attempt may include copying data to different media, such as copying a recovered file to a different drive.

There is some key information (a directory) on the drive. If the directory is damaged, it can make recovering any files more challenging. Recovering files can also be affected by when the drive was last optimized (cleaned), which moves the data around the disk, consolidating where information physically sits. Optimization speeds up how quickly data can be written and read. It can affect optimization in a couple of ways, including limiting file loss.

 

[disneychrista]

Recovering files can also be affected by when the drive was last optimized (cleaned), which moves the data around the disk, consolidating where information physically sits. Optimization speeds up how quickly data can be written and read. It can affect optimization in a couple of ways, including limiting file loss.

Is it better to have a recent optimization or to have never optimized?

 

[bcla]

It is not looking good for the data retrieval at this point. They said they needed to put it on another device to see if it can pull anything off.

That sounds right. Just try to get off all the raw bits and then see what's there. If there's anything physically damaged on the drive, you really want the data off of it even if it requires figuring out what it is.

 

[SteveMouse]

Recently optimized increases the likelihood for retrieval of more files. You are better off if physical damage affects a smaller number of files than a larger number of files.

 

[disneychrista]

Recently optimized increases the likelihood for retrieval of more files. You are better off if physical damage affects a smaller number of files than a larger number of files.

Bummer. As far as I know this has not been optimized ever.

 

[Communicore1991]

Recently optimized increases the likelihood for retrieval of more files. You are better off if physical damage affects a smaller number of files than a larger number of files.

That was true in the past when you had the older spinning platter drives where you were moving the bits of data to different physical locations on the drive. With solid state drives data doesn't get moved by "optimizing" or defragmenting the drive. Best case it does nothing, worst case it uses up write cycles of the drive.

That sounds right. Just try to get off all the raw bits and then see what's there. If there's anything physically damaged on the drive, you really want the data off of it even if it requires figuring out what it is.

Yeah basically you would want to find some place which will just copy all the raw bits off of the damaged drive onto a new, undamaged drive. No repair work is done, it's literally just reading everything and making a copy of those bits. Then on the undamaged drive, that's where the recovery work should occur. Depending on the type of file system the drive is formatted with would then also determine next steps in recovery efforts. If it's a Windows system, it may be using the NTFS file system in which case there is a Master File Table file which is like a card catalog of the files on the drive. Where they're located, size of the file, timestamps, things like that.

 

[SteveMouse]

The OP’s computer is at least 5 years old. My bet it that it does not have solid state drives.

 

[bcla]

The OP’s computer is at least 5 years old. My bet it that it does not have solid state drives.

I think we're just talking in theoreticals here, but solid state SATA drives have been around for over a decade. 5 years has been about the time that SSDs were starting to be as common as spinning hard drives as the prices went down and when I swapped out one.

Still - everything about the OP's story suggests a spinning hard drive.

But regardless of what is being used, having a good backup is better than trying to revcover data once there's a failure.

 

[disneychrista]

But regardless of what is being used, having a good backup is better than trying to revcover data once there's a failure.

Lesson learned.

And I have no clue what type of hard drive it has. I didn’t purchase it. I “inherited” it.

 

[disneychrista]

Bonus questions:
What are the pros & cons of replacing just the hard drive vs purchasing an entirely new machine?

Do desktops have more power & storage vs a laptop?

 

[sam_gordon]

Bonus questions:
What are the pros & cons of replacing just the hard drive vs purchasing an entirely new machine?

Really, the only pro for replacing just the hard drive is cost. On a 5 year old machine, you can probably get more processing speed and lighter weight with a new machine. However, if you have special software, make sure it will work with the latest operating system that would come with a new machine.

Assuming you just have a single hard drive, you will have to go through some hoops to set up the new hard drive (need to install an Operating System and all the software you need).

Do desktops have more power & storage vs a laptop?

Generally, yes. Desktops will also generally be cheaper for the same specs. The big laptop benefit is portability. If you don't need that, then a desktop is better (IMO).

 

[bcla]

Really, the only pro for replacing just the hard drive is cost. On a 5 year old machine, you can probably get more processing speed and lighter weight with a new machine. However, if you have special software, make sure it will work with the latest operating system that would come with a new machine.

Assuming you just have a single hard drive, you will have to go through some hoops to set up the new hard drive (need to install an Operating System and all the software you need).

Generally, yes. Desktops will also generally be cheaper for the same specs. The big laptop benefit is portability. If you don't need that, then a desktop is better (IMO).

For most applications, laptops are fine. The average user will never need that much performance unless it’s for gaming of 3D graphics.

I’m finding that computing power isn’t necessarily the issue, but rather the availability of security updates. At least in my industry, laptops are the norm now, although perhaps with external monitors and/or docking stations. My own computer is one that was released over 10 years ago.

And today a lot of “desktops” are just all in one units similar to iMacs. Not terribly expandable, but larger than most laptops. There’s nothing inherent about being small that precludes high performance other than maybe battery life of a laptop.

 

[sam_gordon]

For most applications, laptops are fine. The average user will never need that much performance unless it’s for gaming of 3D graphics.

I’m finding that computing power isn’t necessarily the issue, but rather the availability of security updates. At least in my industry, laptops are the norm now, although perhaps with external monitors and/or docking stations. My own computer is one that was released over 10 years ago.

And today a lot of “desktops” are just all in one units similar to iMacs. Not terribly expandable, but larger than most laptops. There’s nothing inherent about being small that precludes high performance other than maybe battery life of a laptop.

Of course laptops are fine. I never suggested otherwise. My point was for the same amount of money, you can get a "beefier" desktop, OR for the same specs, SAVE money on the desktop.

The question is whether you want/need portability. If "yes", laptop is the way to go. If "no", then decide if you want a desktop. Desktop computers are pretty small now, but of course you need a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, and that is all built in to a laptop. BUT, even with a laptop, you might want a larger monitor, an actual mouse, and possibly even a keyboard.

 

[SteveMouse]

If you just “replace the drive,” you will also need to install it, format it, install an operating system, all relevant “drivers.” and all software (quickbooks, MS Office, etc.).

You will need to find or repurchase the software to reinstall it, or in some cases, install it from the Internet, if you have a valid product key,

If you buy a new computer such as a Dell or HP, it will come with the operating software and, if you choose, MS Office installed. It will have a new copy of the operating system.

You can order a computer with two hard drives and set one up to be a duplicate of the other. You can also use a variety of tools to backup your computer to a secure place on the Internet, but choose wisely, since it is a full copy of everything you send.

If you are using it only for basic business function, an i5 or any current AMD microprocessor is likely sufficient. You don’t really need an i7. If you are NOT playing games on it, you do NOT need a sophisticated video card.

 

[disneychrista]

While I don't "need" it to be portable per se it would definitely be handy. So I will likely purchase a laptop. I spent yesterday recreating all the financial data for 2022 on my personal laptop. It sure was nice doing it sitting on the couch vs at the desk in the office.

 

[bcla]

While I don't "need" it to be portable per se it would definitely be handy. So I will likely purchase a laptop. I spent yesterday recreating all the financial data for 2022 on my personal laptop. It sure was nice doing it sitting on the couch vs at the desk in the office.

So you had something like a hard copy of everything?

And yeah portability might cost a little bit more. Desktops may or may not depending on what's already there, such as a monitor or keyboard. Some systems come only with the box or a box and keyboard given that monitors are pretty common. But being able to move around a computer is actually quite nice. For decades I'd see laptops being taken into meetings where presenters would take turns plugging them into the main monitor/projector.

But most users barely tap into the computing power of any of their computers - especially for business purposes.

 

[bcla]

If you just “replace the drive,” you will also need to install it, format it, install an operating system, all relevant “drivers.” and all software (quickbooks, MS Office, etc.).

You will need to find or repurchase the software to reinstall it, or in some cases, install it from the Internet, if you have a valid product key,

If you buy a new computer such as a Dell or HP, it will come with the operating software and, if you choose, MS Office installed. It will have a new copy of the operating system.

You can order a computer with two hard drives and set one up to be a duplicate of the other. You can also use a variety of tools to backup your computer to a secure place on the Internet, but choose wisely, since it is a full copy of everything you send.

If you are using it only for basic business function, an i5 or any current AMD microprocessor is likely sufficient. You don’t really need an i7. If you are NOT playing games on it, you do NOT need a sophisticated video card.

A lot of that might be a huge pain for those who haven't done it before. I do remember when a drive failed on an old machine with a DVD drive, I reloaded Windows 10 from a DVD that I downloaded from Microsoft, although I used a Mac to download the image and burn the DVD. Not sure what's done now, but I think I'd be able to do it myself.

This is the sort of thing that one either gets or doesn't. My parents would never be able to do it; my dad always asks me to help with the most basic things. And it's something that shops do brisk business in. So either someone pays a bunch of money to do it or needs to find a friend who can figure it out.

There are some setups now where there's a built-in SSD that can't be replaced. All Mac notebook computers sold new have a permanent SSD. A lot of Windows computers might have card-based SSDs. But the average user isn't going to understand this.