Retreiving files from a crashed harddisk

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

Retreiving files from a crashed harddisk

I know this is not really the right forum to ask this type of question, but I thought some of you guys might know how to help me out.

Hey guys, about half a year ago my pc was hit by a massive bunch of virusses. A guy fixed my computer and bought a new harddisk, no problems so far. A few weeks ago I realized there are some files on that old harddisk that I’d love to have (some unfinished songs). I’ve still got the harddisk here, but how can I move the files from the old HD (let’s say HD1) to the new HD (let’s say HD2) without my computer being f***** up again, and crash.

Can I make HD1 some sort of a external harddrive? So that I can move over the files I need and keep the virusses away?

Thanks in advance!

2

just connect the drive to an external hard drive cradle and then plug that into your computer via usb cable.

3

should be ok if you get a usb caddy for the drive. drive can only be 2.5 or 3.5 inch pata (ide) or sata i guess? not going to be scsi etc on a normal pc i guess…

make sure you have up to date virus software on the pc you connect the drive to ofc :wink:

if it was me i’d boot into linux and selectively copy the files from there - and rescan copied files just to be sure - but probably no need. you could always boot from a linux live cd tho if u wanted to go that route.

as you’re not booting from the virus-infected disk the only way one can get onto memory is by something on the drive being run - which it wont be if all u do is connect and copy the files u need.

familiar situation anyway :stuck_out_tongue:

4

I work in computer repair, why would the guy buy a new HDD that had viruses? You just need to format the hard drive and its as good as new, if your paranoid, low level format.

Yes its very easy to connect a internal hard drive externally. Look for a Sata/IDE to USB connector. Check amazon and Newegg. They go for like $20.

5

he didnt say he bought a new hdd that had viruses on afaics - he said he just needs to recover some files from the old virus-laiden hdd.

i presume once he has all files off the old one that he wants to keep then he would format and reuse the old one.

6

thanks for the help so far. I’ve got no knowledge about harddisks, can you guys tell me what type of HD my HD1 is (see pic below)




7

It’s a SATA harddrive. Have you got a external harddrive lying around which isn’t more than 2-3 years old? If that’s the case, you can open it up and switch the hard drive with this one for a minute…

8

Yes, I’ve got a Toshiba HDD, won’t this damage my Toshiba? (Because there are a lot of viruses on that HD1).

9

It won’t fit in the Toshiba 1TB HDD
HD1 length: 3.9 inch
width: 2.8 inch

What should I buy? a 3.5 or a 2.5 inch housing?

10

2,5 inch since it’s a notebook harddrive. But why didn’t it fit in the external HD enclosure? The 1TB is a 3,5 inch HD right? Can you post a picture of the insides of the external HD (before you buy stuff you don’t need)?

11

stick it in a usb enclosure and then plug it into a mac… then copy all the files you need off the drive and then format it.

use a mac so you don’t need to worry about the viruses infecting your pc (pretty much the only useful thing about macs :wink:)

12

A Linux live CD has been mentioned before. Should do the trick and you won’t need a Mac…

13

Prepare an USB stick with Ubuntu, open up your PC, hook up HD1, boot into Ubuntu from USB, copy the needed files to HD2, shut down PC, unhook HD1, remove USB stick, boot into Windows, Done.

The easiest way to prepare an USB stick with Ubuntu is via UnetBootin, boot into Ubuntu by hitting the boot-media key at POST screen (F8, F10, I dunno, varies per BIOS).

Good luck!