Re: [OT] Hard Drive Failure - data recovery

["Ian Lowe" <ian@xxxxxxx>]

Neil,
That *really* doesn't sounds like a hard drive problem, at least, not a
physical one.

My gut instinct is that you have a section of the NTFS structure borked, or
a couple of frazzed system files. One of the registry hives being hosed
(for
instance) would look exactly the same. (especially as XP install doesn't
find the install: that's absolutely in line with a hosed hive file)

I would suggest that you get a USB caddy for laptop drives (I got mine from
ebuyer) pull the drive, and access it from a desktop machine.

once you copy your data off, you can stick the disk back, and download the
appropriate diagnostics from the drive manafacturer and test it..

I just had one in a customer PC, that when powered up goes
"KA-THUNK" loud
enough to be heard from a room away, then goes into "chainsaw
mode" trying
to tear itself apart. not *thats* a drive hardware problem ;)

I think the chances of your data being still there are prety good.

Ian.