WD 2Tb External HDD You need to format the disk Error

[azahirr]

Hi,

I'm in deep trouble now. I have not been using this External HDD for a couple of months and when I tried to access it a couple of days ago it gives be this error. You need to format the disk in drive G: before you can use it.

2012-08-17_05h34_58.png (8.55 KiB) Viewed 10466 times

I tried to access the drive using Dos and gives this Data error (cyclic redundancy check).

2012-08-17_06h06_15.png (13.46 KiB) Viewed 10466 times

I have tried the step by step guide blindly because I don't know all these technical stuff. I got to the end whether it asked to reboot the PC. Which I did. But I still cannot access the drive. Please help this is my life's worth of photos.

I have the screenshots in a Word Document. How can I send this to you?

Thank you so much.

The log as below
Thu Aug 16 11:03:06 2012
Command line: TestDisk

TestDisk 6.13, Data Recovery Utility, November 2011
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org
OS: Windows Vista (6002) SP2
Compiler: GCC 4.3, Cygwin 1007.7
Compilation date: 2011-11-15T08:36:54
ext2fs lib: 1.41.8, ntfs lib: 10:0:0, reiserfs lib: 0.3.1-rc8, ewf lib: 20100226
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sda)=320072933376
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sdb)=1500301910016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive0)=320072933376
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive1)=1500301910016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\C:)=309988393472
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\D:)=10081009664
filewin32_getfilesize(\\.\E:) GetFileSize err Incorrect function.

filewin32_setfilepointer(\\.\E:) SetFilePointer err Incorrect function.

Warning: can't get size for \\.\E:
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\G:)=1500306473984
file_pread(4,1,buffer,625153409(38913/254/63)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2930288129(182401/254/63)) lseek err Invalid argument
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 320 GB / 298 GiB - CHS 38913 255 63, sector size=512 - FUJITSU MHZ2320BH G2, S/N:364b383138543239364c55332020202020202020, FW:8909
Disk /dev/sdb - 1500 GB / 1397 GiB - CHS 182401 255 63, sector size=512 - WD 15EARS External, S/N:WD-WMAVU1123235, FW:1.75

Partition table type (auto): Intel
Disk /dev/sdb - 1500 GB / 1397 GiB - WD 15EARS External
Partition table type: Intel

Analyse Disk /dev/sdb - 1500 GB / 1397 GiB - CHS 182401 255 63
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63
NTFS at 0/32/33
Info: size boot_sector 2930275120, partition 2930286082
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
Current partition structure:
1 E extended LBA 0 32 1 182401 254 63 2930286114
No partition is bootable
5 L HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 182401 254 63 2930286082 [Elements]
Failed to read index block: Input/Output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/Output error.
Ask the user for vista mode
Computes LBA from CHS for Disk /dev/sdb - 1500 GB / 1397 GiB - CHS 182402 255 63
Allow partial last cylinder : Yes
search_vista_part: 1

search_part()
Disk /dev/sdb - 1500 GB / 1397 GiB - CHS 182402 255 63
NTFS at 0/32/33
filesystem size 2930275120
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 183142194
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 182401 80 63 2930275120 [Elements]
NTFS, 1500 GB / 1397 GiB
file_pread(5,8,buffer,2930277176(182401/81/9)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,2930277184(182401/81/17)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,2930277231(182401/82/1)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,8,buffer,2930277247(182401/82/17)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,11,buffer,2930277294(182401/83/1)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,2,buffer,2930279216(182401/113/33)) lseek err Invalid argument

Results
L HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 182401 254 63 2930286082 [Elements]
NTFS, 1500 GB / 1397 GiB


dir_partition inode=5
L HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 182401 254 63 2930286082 [Elements]
NTFS, 1500 GB / 1397 GiB
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2638666568(164249/101/21)) read err: No such file or directory
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2638666568(164249/101/21)) read err: No such file or directory
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /
5 dr-xr-xr-x 0 0 0 25-Feb-2012 16:48 .
5 dr-xr-xr-x 0 0 0 25-Feb-2012 16:48 ..


dir_partition inode=5
L HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 182401 254 63 2930286082 [Elements]
NTFS, 1500 GB / 1397 GiB
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2638666568(164249/101/21)) read err: No such file or directory
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2638666568(164249/101/21)) read err: No such file or directory
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /
5 dr-xr-xr-x 0 0 0 25-Feb-2012 16:48 .
5 dr-xr-xr-x 0 0 0 25-Feb-2012 16:48 ..

interface_write()
1 E extended LBA 0 32 1 182401 254 63 2930286114
5 L HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 182401 254 63 2930286082 [Elements]
Failed to read index block: Input/Output error.

search_part()
Disk /dev/sdb - 1500 GB / 1397 GiB - CHS 182402 255 63
NTFS at 0/32/33
filesystem size 2930275120
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 183142194
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 182401 80 63 2930275120 [Elements]
NTFS, 1500 GB / 1397 GiB
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742450176(170709/160/12)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742450175(170709/160/11)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742450192(170709/160/28)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2742450192(170709/160/28)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742452287(170709/193/44)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742452303(170709/193/60)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742452350(170709/194/44)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2742452360(170709/194/54)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742456229(170710/1/17)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742456383(170710/3/45)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742456399(170710/3/61)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2742456399(170710/3/61)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,11,buffer,2742456446(170710/4/45)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742460416(170710/67/46)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2742460416(170710/67/46)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742460104(170710/62/49)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742460415(170710/67/45)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742460479(170710/68/46)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742460495(170710/68/62)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742460422(170710/67/52)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742466623(170710/166/16)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2742466624(170710/166/17)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,8,buffer,2742466639(170710/166/32)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,11,buffer,2742466686(170710/167/16)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742473174(170711/15/15)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2742473174(170711/15/15)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742476863(170711/73/50)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2742476864(170711/73/51)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,8,buffer,2742476879(170711/74/3)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,11,buffer,2742476926(170711/74/50)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742480912(170711/138/4)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742480959(170711/138/51)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742480975(170711/139/4)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2742480975(170711/139/4)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742484992(170711/202/52)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2742484991(170711/202/51)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2743433216(170770/208/63)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2743433215(170770/208/62)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2743433231(170770/209/15)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,3,buffer,2743433232(170770/209/16)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2743433342(170770/210/63)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2743433222(170770/209/6)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2744544599(170839/254/63)) read err: Input/Output error
file_pread(5,2,buffer,2930278400(182401/100/36)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2930278400(182401/100/36)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,8,buffer,2930277176(182401/81/9)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,2930277184(182401/81/17)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,2930277231(182401/82/1)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,8,buffer,2930277247(182401/82/17)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,11,buffer,2930277294(182401/83/1)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,2,buffer,2930279216(182401/113/33)) lseek err Invalid argument

Results
L HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 182401 254 63 2930286082 [Elements]
NTFS, 1500 GB / 1397 GiB


dir_partition inode=5
L HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 182401 254 63 2930286082 [Elements]
NTFS, 1500 GB / 1397 GiB
file_pread(5,16,buffer,2638666568(164249/101/21)) read err: No such file or directory
file_pread(5,1,buffer,2638666568(164249/101/21)) read err: No such file or directory
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /
5 dr-xr-xr-x 0 0 0 25-Feb-2012 16:48 .
5 dr-xr-xr-x 0 0 0 25-Feb-2012 16:48 ..

interface_write()
1 E extended LBA 0 32 1 182401 254 63 2930286114
5 L HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 182401 254 63 2930286082 [Elements]

[cgrenier]

Well, there is two ways to try to recover your data:
- the quickest is to run PhotoRec
- the best is to clone the harddisk as described in http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/Damaged_Hard_Disk
try again testdisk on the clone and if it failed, use photorec on the clone.

[azahirr]

Hi,

I'm not a computer expert and this is the first time I use the Lunix screen. I followed the steps in http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/Damaged_Hard_Disk and reboot from Knoppix CD.
Then, I launched the terminal screen and type in sudo -s

then, i type in command lshw and fdisk as listed on the wiki page but it says command not found? I'm stuck.


Please help.

Thanks

[azahirr]

Any suggestion guys? What if I do a clone using Windows? Would it work? Any good utilities software out there?

[NeverSayDie]

Hi Azahirr

It looks like you typed
fdisk -1
fdisk dash one
when it should be
fdisk -l
fdisk dash l as in linux

Happens all the time

James

[azahirr]

Thanks for that, James! As u have noticed, I'm 'technologically-challanged'.
I have run the fdisk -l command and got the folowing result (see attached screenshot).

Disk identifier : 0xebbf2e28 = laptop harddisk
Disk identifier : 0x0007279b = the external harddisk that cannot be accessed (the problem one)
Disk identifier : 0x2e50b8cd = new external harddisk that I want to copy / clone the problem harddisk to

Both external harddisks have identical capacity : 1.5Tb

The website list several commands. Which one should I use to clone the external harddisk into the new one?
Is this is the most appropriate one? However, the damaged external harddisk listed two devices boot /dev/sdb1 and /dev/sdb5

Which one should I use?

sudo dd bs=262144 if =/dev/sdb1 /dev/sdc1 conv=noerror,sync

or

sudo dd bs=262144 if =/dev/sdb5 /dev/sdc1 conv=noerror,sync

Thanks a lot for your help, guys.

[dragonfly41]

dd can be a dangerous command in inexperienced hands ..

might be better if from knoppix live CD you used a GUI utility such as clonezilla

http://clonezilla.sourceforge.net/

or luckyBackup

http://luckybackup.sourceforge.net/

there are others ...

[Lito]

The dd command is not more dangerous than the fdisk command. The latter is a possibly more dangerous.
How dangerous could it be, Duplicate Data or Disk?
Anyhow, Knoppix as you can see in the link below, comes with GParted, a graphical user interface (GUI) application to deal with disks and partitions. Far more efficient than CloneZilla. Knoppix also come with ddrescue. No need to download and compile anything.

http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/ftp. ... es-dvd.txt

The best way would be, to make a printout of the commands as pointed by C. Grenier. Make your printout (hard copy) bigger if possible, to make more readable. The Antonio Diaz bit, as the best directives. No need to follow the instructions for downloading and compiling. Just use the commands, making sure you replace the bits "old disk" and "new disk" with the correct names of your disks.

No need to type sudo everytime. You would issue this command to gain access as superuser or root, otherwise the system will not let launch the commands that you need to succeed. If the shell shows you a # at the command prompt you are already root. Otherwise you would see a dollar sign, at the prompt, as a normal user.

If you still feel intimidated by the commands, you could download and burn a CD with Redo, Backup and Recovery.
Even your granny could use this software and is free!

http://redobackup.org/

You can burn the iso file to disk with K3B, included in Knoppix. Burning an image is under the Tools menu of K3B.

Best of luck

[dragonfly41]

The dd command is not more dangerous than the fdisk command. The latter is a possibly more dangerous. How dangerous could it be, Duplicate Data or Disk?

Having read the op's post

"I'm not a computer expert and this is the first time I use the Lunix screen"

and

"Please help this is my life's worth of photos"

I was pointing out that in a new user's hands dd command might .. just might .. cause some harm if not typed correctly.

Various degrees of warning are posted here and elsewhere:-

http://askubuntu.com/questions/146127/h ... or-windows

http://www.shibuvarkala.com/2008/11/dan ... t-run.html

......

GParted does not allow disks to be cloned and certainly shouldn't be used if photos are trying to be recovered. Efficiency doesn't come into it. The advice from cgrenier is to try to clone any suspect drive (containing the op's photos) before trying to recover. Clonezilla as a GUI serves that purpose as does other commands.

......

p.s. luckyBackup was suggested since it allows a "dry run" to be done as a test to ensure that the command is correct.

[Lito]

I am not setting myself as computer expert. No offence was intended either.
As far as I remember Clozilla is based in GParted. But that is by the bye.
My point would be that some people come for help and afterwards do not want to follow the advise given, in this case by the most experienced hand of the creator of the forum and the software, as many as well never answer or give feedback.

Cheer up