My hard drive started making ticking sound then it finally died b4 I could backup the data. Is it possible to recover some of the data from the HD?

 

You should be able to yeah....
I managed to recover 4+ gb from a hard disk that windows could not even read.You need to get hold of a copy of Easy Recovery Professional....
Top software!!!

 

Ive used spinrite in the past with good results http://grc.com/spinrite.htm

 

I've got to echo this. I used OnTrack's EasyRecovery Lite to rescue a borked CF card full of images from a holiday. They even offer a trial version for download so you can check whether any recovery will be possible before paying for the fully functioning version.

Well worth it. http://www.ontrack.com

 

I've done this using Knoppix. It's a linux based operating system that boots from the cd and doesn't need windows. I networked a drive then and dragged everything across.

 

Does the computer see the disk during POST?

 

somethimes

 

if the computer doesn't see it during POST, then it will be difficult to get anything from it. It really needs to see the drive at a low level before Windows and other operating systems detect them.

 

its a bit of a hit and miss when I boot it up.

 

It should still work with knoppix I had a corrupt hard drive that wouldn't even boot and knoppix helped me recover all of my files

 

will have to try the knoppeix but its nit looking good.

Iv set the jumpers to slave but its not letting it boot up or if it does it does not detect the drive

 

Ray_li... I'll do it (for beer tokens )

I'll need 2 drives though - the original, and the one you want to put the data on to.

 

Paul,

Were your files actually damaged or was it just a non-booting Windows installation? I ask as whilst I've used Knoppix like you have to move files to a network share before a reinstall, I've never seen any mention of a true data recovery/repair application.

Alex

 

SPADA is a specific forensic-orientated version of Knoppix, with a full forensic suite on it.

There's also a forensic flavour of Knoppix, called The Penguin Sleuth or something like that.

 

LOL.

BuRR. Im not in to child **** or hardcore so I dont have anything to hind I might just take that offer on.

How do you recover data from smashed, deleted HD?

 

Hadn't heard of those, thanks! Another CD to add to my toolkit. Linkage for others: http://www.linux-forensics.com/links.html

 

None of the files I wanted were corrupt but the windows install was I managed to recover all sorts of files without trouble