cgsecurity.org

Hi everyone!

I’m about to start my first data recovery journey. I think I’ve covered all my bases, but just wanted to post my plan to check for blind spots.

Goal: use my Mac to recover photos from 2 very old Windows hard drives.

Background: I don’t believe either hard drive is damaged, but the computers that they were originally in are dead. So, I’ve removed them from the computers.

I believe that both hard drives are 3.5” PATA, and that both will require an external power supply (since they have already been removed from the computers).
(1) Seagate ST3300831A
(2) Seagate ST3500630A

Step 1: Buy a PATA-to-USB adapter with external power supply.

Product: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002OV1VJW/re ... UTF8&psc=1

Step 2: Download PhotoRec to my Mac.

Step 3: Plug in hard drive (1) and begin data recovery. Repeat for hard drive (2).

—————

Am I insane, or is that all I’ve got to do?

Thanks in advance for your insights!

vinverma wrote: 02 Dec 2021, 22:30 Hi everyone!

I’m about to start my first data recovery journey. I think I’ve covered all my bases, but just wanted to post my plan to check for blind spots.

Goal: use my Mac to recover photos from 2 very old Windows hard drives.

Background: I don’t believe either hard drive is damaged, but the computers that they were originally in are dead. So, I’ve removed them from the computers.

I believe both hard drives are 3.5” ATA.

Please avoid using the term "ATA" and use "SATA" and "PATA" depending on which drive type you are talking about: Please correct your posting accordingly where you are mentioning "ATA"!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_ATA
When somebody states "ATA" I think about the hard drive standards and communication protocol.

(1) Seagate ST3300831A
(2) Seagate ST3500630A

Step 1: Buy an ATA-to-USB adapter with d/c power supply.

Assumption: it appears that PATA adapters can be used on ATA hard drives (but SATA adapters cannot).

This is totally confusing. Please clarify!

Product: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002OV1VJW/re ... UTF8&psc=1

Step 2: Download PhotoRec to my Mac.

Step 3: Plug in hard drive (1) and begin data recovery. Repeat for hard drive (2).

—————

Am I insane, or is that all I’ve got to do?

I am wating for your corrections before I answer.

Hi recuperation,

Thanks for your quick reply!

Point 1:

Please avoid using the term "ATA" and use "SATA" and "PATA" depending on which drive type you are talking about: Please correct your posting accordingly...

I've just read up a bit more on the differences between ATA / PATA / IDE / etc, and I think I now understand what you're saying. I've editing my post accordingly.

Point 2: (referring to the part about adapters, power supply, etc)

This is totally confusing. Please clarify!

I've edited my wording and rearranged the info to present my intentions and situation more clearly.

Point 3:

I am wating for your corrections before I answer.

Please let me know if there is anything else that needs clarification, and thanks in advance for your time!

When connecting one of your drives to your adapter it might be necessary to set a jumper to set the drive to "master" status.

Unfortunately I can't tell you the size of the jumper as you don't know what size your drive is.
Honestly I am not telling you the truth - I already know it! But why didn't you try out a simple search engine run to enquire about the size of your drives?
Any technical specification from your manufacturer will give you that information.

Don't get me wrong but it's kind of sad for me that people come so unprepared.

Ok, thanks