I wonder, if this is Win98, it is perhaps FAT32,
so can we just boot from Linix CD, dd away image
and try to access that image as a loopback device?
On Wed, 27 Nov 2002, R. Gary Cutbill wrote:
> There's a company call Excalibur in North Billerica. It'll be
> expensive. The faster you want the data, the more expensive it
> will be.
>
> My vague recollection is that for a few hundred dollars ($200-$400) they'll
> do an evaluation within a week or so and tell you if there is any hope, and
> what it will cost to get data back if it's possible. They have a rush fee
> for two day turn around that can run has high as $4K.
>
> Things to try for the do-it-yourself-er*.
>
> 1 - Stop running scan disk. If it hasn't helped by now, it can only make
> things worse.
>
> 2 - Duplicate the data onto a known good drive. A professional disk duplicator
> is easiest, linux 'dd' works, there's probably a PC tool (ghost?) that can
> do it too. Perform all future data recovery attempts against the known good
> drive so that the original doesn't get any worse, and so that bad sectors on
> a failing disk don't add to your problem. Before trying to copy the disk
> put it in an airtight container (I use two ziplock bags) and chill the drive
> in the fridge for an hour or two. (some people use the freezer) This may
> temporarily improve the integrity of the bad drive for reading. Also, if
> you can keep the drive cool (without getting it wet) while duplicating that
> may help.
>
> 3 - It's possible the drive is good, but the controller board is bad. If you
> can find an IDENTICAL drive (same revision and date codes) you may be able to
> swap the controller boards between the two drives and read the data that way.
>
> 4 - Try Norton utilities on the good drive you created in step 2. I've seen
> one instance where Scandisk after norton helped even more.
>
> 5 - If you recover data put it somewhere else. The original drive and the
> copy may not have reliable directory informion, so you shouldn't use the
> second drive for day to day stuff until it's been reformated.
>
> I imagine there are other thoughts on this, but these are things that have
> worked for me. (But only about 30% of the time. Usually when a drive goes
> bad, nothing you can do makes it better.)
>
>
> * Or you, if you're inclined to help her out. This can be a dicey
> proposition, if you fail, you family may think you're not any good
> at what you do, if you succeed, everybody in your family may want
> you to come fix every stupid little PC problem they have. You might
> have an imaginary 'friend at work' take a look at it. Then the next time
> something goes wrong, you coworker could have moved out of state... :-)
>
> > A relative of sorts has seriously hosed her un-backed-up laptop. I think
> > it's a Windows 98 box. She's already had it to one data recovery place who
> > failed to recover the data, and she keeps trying to run scandisk and I
> > don't know what else on it.
> >
> > Can anyone recommend a reputable data recovery place or warn against any
> > not-so-reputable ones? I'm concerned at this point that she's just going to
> > get ripped off by an unscrupulous operator, but she has months of school
> > work on this box and she is determined to keep trying.
> >
> > My definition of an ethical place is one that will tell her to give up if
> > it is hopeless, without charging her in four figures. She's an unemployed
> > student and really can't afford this.
> > (she's in Newton/Needham area but planning to send the disk to NH, so
> > anywhere is OK)
> >
> > thanks
> > Betsy
> >
> >
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>
>
>
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