Data Recovery Possible??

[wjperry]

I have a new Seagate 300 GB (IDE Ultra ATA100) installed in an old Dell Dimension 4100 that is used as a file/print server on my home LAN. It is installed on the primary IDE channel as a CS slave. The drive is used as a place to backup master files from other clients. After being up and running for a little more than a month (24/7) the PC was asking for a Boot Diskette this morning, as sure sign of bad things to come!! :mad: Before this the drive was doing great!!

When I attempted to boot the PC I was right back to the diskette request. Went into BIOS and neither of the HDD’s on the primary IDE were being recognized. The CS master boot disk is a Maxtor that came with the PC originally. Then I booted to the Seagate utility SeaTools. SeaTools didn’t recognize the drive either.

When the Seagate drive is removed from the IDE Channel, the PC boots normally. Obviously the thing is shot and going back to either NewEgg or Seagate. However, there are a couple of files created yesterday before the nightly backup process ran unsuccessfully, that I would sure like to recover before it departs. But, since nothing recognizes it and when it is attached it blocks the channel, I suspect there is little to do. The files are not critical but would prevent a bunch of duplicate work done yesterday.

Any suggestions appreciated. Sorry for the long post!!

[kilgoretrout]

It's almost cetainly shot, but I'd at least try disconnecting the maxtor, both ide cable and power, and using those on the seagate. It may just be a cable thing or psu connector. A long shot but worth trying.

[wjperry]

I've used a completly separate cable from a working PC in hopes it would be that easy. No luck there. I know there is power since you can hear and feel spin up at power on.

Thanks for the post!!

[glc]

Unfortunately, data recovery software won't work if the drive is not recognized by the bios.

[wjperry]

GLC,
That's pretty much the way I felt about it as well. Just wishful thinking on my part. Losing a day of work is far better than other possibilities.
Are you still high on Seagate? This my first problem afetr having bought 4 others in the past six months?
Thanks again!