Data recovery :(

[FlamingParrot]

I was wondering whether someone can recommend a reliable, affordable data recovery service (I want it all, don't I? :grin. It's for an external USB that still get recognised on and off but I can no longer access the files on it.

Also is there something that could be done to read old CDs and DVDs that have just become unreadable over the years?

[Kati]

Re: Data recovery

My OH uses a program called Hirens to recover data from hard drives and memory sticks etc (I wouldn't have a clue myself :lol:, I just like to point and click )

Have you tried putting the CDs/DVDs in the freezer for 1/2hr? it sometimes works x

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Data recovery

My OH uses a program called Hirens to recover data from hard drives and memory sticks etc (I wouldn't have a clue myself :lol:, I just like to point and click )

Thanks for that, Kati :yo:

I shall take a look, I guess it would be cheaper than a data recovery service. ray:

Have you tried putting the CDs/DVDs in the freezer for 1/2hr? it sometimes works x

No, somehow it wasn't the first thing that occurred to me when trying to read an old disk, I wonder why not! msl:

As it's free and easy, I shall give it a go and will report back.

OK, I've got a CR-R and a DVD-RW, both around 12 years old, in the freezer. I put them in a plastic bag.

[Kati]

Re: Data recovery

OK, I've got a CR-R and a DVD-RW, both around 12 years old, in the freezer. I put them in a plastic bag.

oops I forgot about that bit :lol: :tinysmile_twink_t2:

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Data recovery

Well, I've just taken them out and I'm happy to report that it worked with the CD-R! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :whoo: :whoo: :whoo:

The DVD+RW doesn't seem to be working, I guess it's because of the RW element and Windows 8 probably doesn't recognise the formatting.

Having said that, I have very few rewritable and lots more standard CDs/DVDs so thanks for the useful tip! :yo: :yo: :yo:

[Kati]

Re: Data recovery

Glad it helped :nod: ... you could try a little longer with the DVD+RW to see if it works?

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Data recovery

I shall give it another go... :grin:

[seduraed]

Re: Data recovery

Try using one of the linux disk readers you may get some joy there but i'm no expert also if there are surface scratches a dvd cleaner often helps. If you pc has any age at all, get a lens cleaning disc for the dvd drive . I would think maplins : although expensive, will have what you want .

[Kati]

Re: Data recovery

OK ... [MENTION=37786]FlamingParrot[/MENTION], my OH asks what sort of external usb is it (a stick, hard drive) and what size and make?

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Data recovery

Try using one of the linux disk readers you may get some joy there but i'm no expert also if there are surface scratches a dvd cleaner often helps. If you pc has any age at all, get a lens cleaning disc for the dvd drive . I would think maplins : although expensive, will have what you want .

Thanks :yo:

I've used the DVD surface cleaners and they do work with some of the disks but not all of them. The disks are ancient but laptop I'm using to read them is fairly new (around 18 months old).

Can I use the Linux disk readers on a Windows laptop? Are those the sort of thing you have to burn to a bootable disk? That seems to ring a distant bell somewhere. Any idea where to find them?

[Kati]

Re: Data recovery

Thanks :yo:

I've used the DVD surface cleaners and they do work with some of the disks but not all of them. The disks are ancient but laptop I'm using to read them is fairly new (around 18 months old).

Can I use the Linux disk readers on a Windows laptop? Are those the sort of thing you have to burn to a bootable disk? That seems to ring a distant bell somewhere. Any idea where to find them?

Hirens is a Linux ... you can find them on DistroWatch (http://distrowatch.com/) xx

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Data recovery

OK ... @FlamingParrot, my OH asks what sort of external usb is it (a stick, hard drive) and what size and make?

It's a 1TB Hitachi external HD, from around 2007. :nerd:

[Kati]

Re: Data recovery

He suggests trying the freezer trick first, before Hirens (put it in a ziplock bag with silica gel packs that you get in shoes/handbags, inside a ziplock bag for protection) ... for a couple of days - it might work. And is free :nod:

[Kati]

Re: Data recovery

If that doesn't work, try connecting it (with the USB bagged in a closed fridge) to a laptop/pc ... the cold sometimes works :noidea:

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Data recovery

Ah, I didn't realise the freezer trick was also for the HD! :nerd:

Yes, I've seen the little silica bags here and there, just can't think of where I could find some at this point, I may have to go shopping just to get some of those! :lol: :lol: :lol: