I did one of these threads several months ago, when the site was new, and thought now was a good time to do another.

Message me if you

  • Want to try installing Linux for the first time
  • Want to try Linux but don't want to install it
  • Have some Linux-related problem you want another pair of eyeballs on
  • Want to learn a programming language
  • Want to build a computer
  • Want tutoring in any of the above
  • Need help with any old technical problem

(also play Arma with me)

  • Neckbeard_Prime [they/them,he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Seconding DDRescue from a Linux LiveCD, preferably with an external USB hard drive to contain the backup image. Trying to read the drive under Windows is a great way to trash what's left of it, because Windows will keep thrashing on those bad sectors.

    Regarding Windows-based tools, Spinrite, the de facto Windows drive recovery, works by retrying a failed sector over and over and over again before moving on -- as in, it doesn't skip and return to failed sectors like DDRescue does. As a result, it tends to destroy a failing/damaged drive before it even recovers all of the salvageable data. Don't use Spinrite. Spinrite is terrible. Unless you have an old Maxtor DiamondMax ATA/100 with noisy bearings and you're trying to piss off the neighbors. It's pretty good for that. But not data recovery.