Test Disk, a free software to recover data from corrupt HDDs
- 1813
- 31
-
- Last Comment
The past week something unexpected happened with me and which almost ruined my weekend. My 1TB WD external 3.5” HDD got corrupt and I was not able to open it. So far I was living under the impression that the HDDs with external power supply do not get corrupt often, well its true somewhat as it did not have any problem for 2.5 years or so. However, something like this was unpredictable, besides I had filled it up to almost 900 GB, so was a bit annoyed (3-4 saal ki mehnat hai bhai). I am sure many of you guys must have faced similar probs in the past.
Well now coming to the prob, the HDD got converted into RAW format and was unreadable by windows and other OS. Next thing what I did was try a myriad of free and so called miracle paid programs or their demos. However, none of them were able to rescue the data like I wanted. While googling, I stumbled upon a free program called Test disk. On the first look it looked like a tedious program, as it was cmd prompt based. Its actually cygwin based, which I assume is Linux derived(correct me if I am wrong, I am not a computer grad 
At first, I thought the software was pretty tedious with all antique DOS look and all, but upon using I found it very simple.
Now about the software, I will explain everything step by step. First of all download the version according to the platform you are using or that which you are comfortable at. I had downloaded the one for windows, so will be explaining according to that. The best part of this software is its totally free and there are no restrictions wrt to filesize or anything like that.
Now run the downloaded software, in my case it was Testdisk.exe, which upon running shows a window like this one.
Now here it asks to create a log file. Its not mandatory and you can skip the creation as well. Next thing, it will ask to select the disk which you need to recover/ repair. The window looks like this one, select the appropriate disk and select proceed.
Next it asks for the selection of your partition table type. In most of the cases it will be Intel/pc partition, however if you are using any specific types it also gives an option of selecting that as well. Now select intel and click proceed.
When it finishes analysing the partition, which was fairly quick, it will show you a list of files/folders as they were in your disk before it got corrupted. Now all you have to do is select the file/folder and press c, after which it will ask you the location where you want to recover the deleted file (you can use another external HDD for this). Now select your location and press Y to copy it to the location and you are done. Next go on pressing c on the directories you want to recover and you will not have to specify the recovery path again and again, it will automatically copy it to your earlier selected folder.
This free software turned out to be a life saver for me and I hope many of you will find this useful. I wish I had found this earlier, coz most of the times I was left with no other option but to format and forget about the data. If anybody has doubts/questions plz lemme know. Peace
Link to the software
copying rate is pretty fast, not an issue…recovery will depend according to the file condition, I was able to recover all the files in the corrupt partition…It was also able to recover a few files that I had deleted a long time back…So I guess its almost close to 100% for the corrupt partition and a little less for the deleted files/formatted partitions…No errors in my case
Good & informative post. Voted up.
thanks a lot cm bhai…
Great. On downloading queue
good share. will certainly come here during a crisis and try these steps
VU
It din’t worked for my pen drive 
Just now saw this. Awesome share mate as usual. One of my friend’s drive is in a comatose state for years. Will see if this works with that. Thanks
Once again splendid work Vikrant bhai. Very well composed.
It would surely help many users. 
thanks a lot Jackal n DM bhai…
@ankit, It will work well in case of corrupt and damaged partitions, a little less with deleted files…Is your pendrive completely wrecked or just corrupt?
Superb Work Vikrant Bro, keep it up
Awesome post. Voted up
Very nice share… This one goes to my bookmarked threads
noice…………
Thanks a lot RDX bhai, harsh, sagar and achilles
K apart from the thread, I had one major issue with WD external HDDs, I called them up saying that I have a prob with the HDD, so can you please let me know your service center in baroda or ahemedabad and the guy says we dont have them, if you have any issues you will have to send it to bangalore…How stupid is that 
I dnnw about seagate, but if that one has service centers all over India, I would never buy or recommend WD stuff to anyone…I guess its better to warn fellow dimers just in case..;-}
spectacular job Vikrant bhai will surely help in case of crisis
Bhai this is not clearing the data from my Pen drive. Was trying this software as i am unable to format via windows.
Error: The disk is write protected. Any idea on this.
Brand: Sandisk cruzer edge 4GB
Its a very odd problem and people have tried using several methods…See if this one works…
Dak! wrote:
Bhai this is not clearing the data from my Pen drive. Was trying this software as i am unable to format via windows.
Error: The disk is write protected. Any idea on this.
Brand: Sandisk cruzer edge 4GB
That is not error in pendirve, just change registry value, and restart your PC, so you can format or write normally again
@vikrant @m0667 I already tried setting the registry values but went in vain.
SanDisk confirmed that Pendrive is dead.
Cruzer edge models having serious write protected issue.
thats bad man…hope they are covering it under warranty…
Waiting for their email regarding RMA details
I am still waiting for my WD HDD to be replaced…Horrible customer care experience from Western Digital, Its been past their deadline to pick up the HDD from my place (yeah no Service center outlet anywhere)…Cannot contact their logistics partner or whatever, just have to wait and watch this piece of rock till they come and pick it up…God knows how long its gonna take for the actual replacement
I had a prob with my Belkin router last week, Went to their service center, with no questions asked they took the product, and guess what got replacement in 4 days, ya thats right 4, n its been 15 days since I have raised RMA with Western Digital n m still clueless…
Guys my advice will be do not buy WD external HDD or you shall be having nightmares when the product malfunctions…:evil:
vikrantgohil wrote:
I am still waiting for my WD HDD to be replaced…Horrible customer care experience from Western Digital, Its been past their deadline to pick up the HDD from my place (yeah no Service center outlet anywhere)…Cannot contact their logistics partner or whatever, just have to wait and watch this piece of rock till they come and pick it up…God knows how long its gonna take for the actual replacement
I had a prob with my Belkin router last week, Went to their service center, with no questions asked they took the product, and guess what got replacement in 4 days, ya thats right 4, n its been 15 days since I have raised RMA with Western Digital n m still clueless…
Guys my advice will be do not buy WD external HDD or you shall be having nightmares when the product malfunctions…:evil:
^^ My experience with WD.. Be aware while you are going to replace your HDD with Western Digital Warehouse. While packing your please make video shoot so that ofter stolen you can at least have a proof. My WD Portable HDD corrupt and i logged complaint about this.. they told me sent your HDD to warehouse which are in Bangalore.. I packed and sent it with AFL as they tied up with AFL Courier service after 2 – 3 days later i got phone call from warehosue department and they told you didn’t sent us your faulty HDD.. You sent empty courier. So i lost it… So one advice please make video shoot while you pack you HDD so that you can claim it against warehouse department of WD 
^^ Very good post.. Karma Given 
thanks buddy for the useful info…
very useful, great work !
Got a replacement from WD today…Was a refurbished unit, but got a 2TB replacement in place of 1 so can’t complain…:-P
Once again very precise and clear with screen shots. What about the transfer speed while copying in general.
Did it failed/ Error to copy any of your file at least one. If no, Success rate would be 100%
Voted up