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Hello; I'm new to CGSecurity, and after hearing so many horror stories turning into sweet dreams thanks to TestDisk, I thought I should ask for help.

Basically, my laptop hard drive randomly stopped being read while directly in my laptop. It's recognized in Disk Management as RAW. Clicking it in My Computer makes it ask to reformat it. Basically, I would like to get some of the files off that drive, if at all possible. I followed the Step by Step instructions for TestDisk on the Wiki, but it seems to get a disk error at about 5% of the quick search.

Can anyone walk me through the process of getting my files from this drive?

It looks like that you have a partition in your partition table.
That's why your partition appears as unformatted.
Don't format it.
Formatting would override your previous file system and you'll need datarecovery software to read data in sectors.
So it's not helpful.
But before you're going to have a boot sector diagnose, I'll check that your partition in your partition table is correct.
Would it be possibkle to upload a screen from TestDisk and if you confirmed the menu Analyse?
It's your current partition structur.
Boot sector later would be similar like in this diagnose;
http://forum.cgsecurity.org/phpBB3/part ... h-t14.html

Until yet, I've no idea about your error.
Would it be possible to repeat your diagnose and let me know?
If you receive your error, a screen would be appreciate also.
But don't stress your disk, if you receive any read errors.

Fiona

Thanks, Fiona. Here's a screen of the frozen Analyze.

TestDisk hangs due to an read error
I'd need a screen earlier directly if you press enter at Analyse.
There is a description current partition strcutur.
This is your current partition table (situation).
If it's ok, you can diagnose your boot sector.

Fiona

Oh, of course. Sorry; I'm a little sleep deprived. Here's the screenshots. If I've given you the wrong information (again), let me know.

And, again, I posted everything EXCEPT for what you asked for. Sorry...

[EDIT] Just noticed the Edit post function. I need sleep...

It looks like that TestDisk hangs.
Because there is still a description about checking your current partition table.
Would it be possible just two wait up to 2 minutes.
If you don't get any info and TestDisk still hangs, please let me know .
It's not possible to make a boot sector diagnose if you have no partition, because the first sector of a partition is the boot sector.
Also check your status of your disk using CrystalDiskInfo.
http://crystalmark.info/software/Crysta ... dex-e.html

I've waited hours, and it only goes to 5% before hanging. Here's what CrystalDisk says.

Just noticed the Edit post function. I need sleep...

Well, looks like that I need to sleep too!
Because I found a screen with your current partition table here;
http://forum.cgsecurity.org/phpBB3/down ... php?id=551
Your partition diplays that your boot sector is not valid.
Start TestDisk, confirm at create a log with enter and select your affected disk.
Confirm at partition table type with enter also
Don't confirm at Analyse but Advanced.
Select your affectedpartition and upload a screen.
Confirm at Boot.
If you see the menu list, please check it and press p to list your files.
If your files are not listed but an error message or TestDisk hangs, please let me know.
Highlight Rebuild BS and hit Enter.
Rebuild your BS will be in progress.
Normally, it takes some minutes.
If it's finished, please post the infos or upload a screen.
If you see a menu List, please highlight it and press enter.
Please let us know, do you see your data or an error message.
To get back to the previous screen, easily press q for Quit.

Infos will follow.

Fiona

How do I know which partition is the affected one?

[EDIT] Nevermind; the one that showed up twice in the earlier step, I think. What's my next step?