Problems with my external hard drive

[Anasus]

Hi everybody!

I'm not good at technology, but I was able to "repair" my external hard drive the last few times it didn't work. This time I had to install testdisk, but I don't know how to use it. This is what appears when I use Analyse:

TestDisk 7.0, Data Recovery Utility, April 2015
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org

Drive F: - 500 GB / 465 GiB - CHS 60800 255 63
Current partition structure:
Partition Start End Size in sectors

1 * Novell 120512 47 32 235785 20 46 1851859059

Bad relative sector.
2 * Sys=79 82800 34 51 116349 218 61 538976288

Bad relative sector.
3 * OnTrack DM WO ??? 33550 137 11 120594 153 54 1398362912

Bad relative sector.
4 * Sys=49 86811 142 3 86812 225 45 21337

Warning: Bad starting sector (CHS and LBA don't match)
Only one partition must be bootable
Space conflict between the following two partitions
3 * OnTrack DM WO ??? 33550 137 11 120594 153 54 1398362912
2 * Sys=79 82800 34 51 116349 218 61 538976288
Space conflict between the following two partitions
2 * Sys=79 82800 34 51 116349 218 61 538976288
4 * Sys=49 86811 142 3 86812 225 45 21337

*=Primary bootable P=Primary L=Logical E=Extended D=Deleted
>[Quick Search] [ Backup ]
Try to locate partition

Can anyone tell what to do next? I wouldn't like to loose 10 years of photos since I don't have a buck up because the hard drive stop working while I was doing it

[Fiona]

Did you use TestDisk 64bit?
TestDisk 32bit is recommended.
In case, can you repeat your diagnose and select your affected disk instead of a drive?

Fiona

[Anasus]

I don't know what you're talking about, sorry. I've just downloaded Testdisk and run it. I'm not got and informatic.. just know the basics

Do i have to get a specific version of testdisk??

[TaJm]

Fiona can you tell me how long quick search should take, I've made 3 attempts to repair my hard drive since downloading this software on 29 May, none have made it to 20%.

[Fiona]

Difficult to guess how long does it take?
I've no idea about the size of your disk.
If it takes too long, do you receive read errors?
Have you been able to select your affected disk instead of a drive?
Example disk selection:

Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63, sector size=512
Drive C: - 981 GB / 913 GiB - CHS 119300 255 63, sector size=512

Fiona

[TaJm]

I have a 500GB western digital, and I'm scanning the disk not the drive. I did see read errors before Windows update restarted my laptop. I have no desire to save any data, I just want to repair my hard drive. Thanks

[TaJm]

Fiona, please see Quick search not so quick for further details regarding my issue.

[Fiona]

I have no desire to save any data, I just want to repair my hard drive. Thanks

If too many sectors are physically damaged, you should replace your disk.
Can you check your disk using CrystalDiskInfo?
http://crystalmark.info/download/index-e.html
Please download the portable version, because the installer (exe) contains the adware open candy.
You can have a try to run chkdsk driveletter: /r wthin a command prompt with administrator privileges.

[Anasus]

Fiona, can you tell me what do I have to do with the problems in my hard drive? It says space problem between 2 sections and something else.

You said something about 64 or 32 bits, but I don't know what you meant. Please, i really need to fix my hard drive beacuse I have important things inside!!

[Fiona]

Until yet, I've no info nor diagnose.
You were running a diagnose on your drive instead of your disk.
Look here:

Drive F: - 500 GB / 465 GiB - CHS 60800 255 63
Current partition structure:
Partition Start End Size in sectors

1 * Novell 120512 47 32 235785 20 46 1851859059

Bad relative sector.
2 * Sys=79 82800 34 51 116349 218 61 538976288

Bad relative sector.
3 * OnTrack DM WO ??? 33550 137 11 120594 153 54 1398362912

Bad relative sector.
4 * Sys=49 86811 142 3 86812 225 45 21337

Warning: Bad starting sector (CHS and LBA don't match)
Only one partition must be bootable
Space conflict between the following two partitions
3 * OnTrack DM WO ??? 33550 137 11 120594 153 54 1398362912
2 * Sys=79 82800 34 51 116349 218 61 538976288
Space conflict between the following two partitions
2 * Sys=79 82800 34 51 116349 218 61 538976288
4 * Sys=49 86811 142 3 86812 225 45 21337

*=Primary bootable P=Primary L=Logical E=Extended D=Deleted
>[Quick Search] [ Backup ]
Try to locate partition

This Info didn't help us much.
That's why I suggested to repeat your diagnose, selecting your disk and running Analyse.
At least I'd get some info about your current partition structure (partition table).
I don't even have any idea about your OS either.
You also mentioned that you'll get all your photots back and on the other hand you wrote:

I have no desire to save any data, I just want to repair my hard drive. Thanks

To judge, how far a repair would be possible I'd need more info.

If you already have testdisk 32bit, it would be ok.
If you're unsure you can use this link to download it:
http://www.cgsecurity.org/Download_and_ ... IP.win.zip

Fiona