New to linux, trying to recover data on IDE hard drive

Linx_88 · 11-26-2019, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachboy2

Linx_88,

I have an IOMAX USB to SATA/IDE adapter and it works fine on the very rare occasion I need to use it.

I have no wish to knock kilgoretrout's recommendation for the above two items, it is sensible advice.

However, do look at the Amazon one star customer feedback for those particular items which includes references to fried drives and data loss.

fatmac's suggestion is the safer one, plus you don't need to lay out cash on new hardware.

Just a thought.

This is a good point. Thanks for the reminder to not forget to look into these possibilities. I have looked at the reviews to the product mentioned and you are correct, people have claimed that the vantec adapter was garbage, and had difficulty mounting it. While the drive is already screwy, I'm not too interested in purchasing a product that could hard the HDD causing it to be bricked.

I do have a PC with a SATA mobo, and I do have a SATA to IDE adapter. I may be able to make it work on that end. I'll post updates if I can get past the part

Code:

sudo smartctl -l /dev/sdb

Resulting in unknown USB bridge.

Linx_88 · 11-26-2019, 06:31 PM

This is the adapter I have now.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F254321853041

It does not have a way to supply power though so I think I'd have to purchase a different one.

syg00 · 11-26-2019, 07:36 PM

I agree with post #5. I just had a look at that video - skip the smartmon bit and proceed as shown. Not worth all the angst.

Linx_88 · 11-28-2019, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatmac

Basically.
Boot a 'live' pendrive, plug in your IDE drive, use

Code:

dmesg|tail

to check what the system says it is, likely /dev/sdb.
Mount /dev/sdb by partition number,

Code:

sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt

your files should be seen by issuing

Code:

ls /mnt

in the terminal.
Copy your files to backup media.

I have another less aged USB SATA adapter. I typed in the dmesg|tail and this is what it says

Code:

dmesg|tail
[ 1487.082098] scsi host2: usb-storage 1-1:1.0
[ 1488.091763] scsi 2:0:0:0: Direct-Access     Seagate  USB 2.0 Cable    0148 PQ: 0 ANSI: 4
[ 1488.093565] sd 2:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0
[ 1488.097558] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdb] 488397167 512-byte logical blocks: (250 GB/233 GiB)
[ 1488.097922] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 1488.097925] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 1c 00 00 00
[ 1488.099345] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdb] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[ 1488.155129]  sdb:
[ 1488.156715] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI disk
[ 1873.536402] perf: interrupt took too long (2506 > 2500), lowering kernel.perf_event_max_sample_rate to 79750

I then entered the next code you mentioned. I heard the HDD engage and this is what I got.

Code:

sudo mount /dev/sdb /mnt
mount: /mnt: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev/sdb, missing codepage or helper program, or other error.

Bad superblock.. that doesn't sound good. Hopefully there's still a slight chance. Gonna review that video after the smartmontool like syg00 said and see if I can't get some gears turning.

Happy turkey day all.

mrmazda · 11-28-2019, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linx_88

Code:

sudo mount /dev/sdb /mnt
mount: /mnt: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev/sdb, missing codepage or helper program, or other error.

That tried to mount a partitioned disk without identifying which partition. /dev/sdb1 is the first partition, likely what you need. Use parted -l or fdisk -l /dev/sdb to try to determine which number to use.

syg00 · 11-28-2019, 10:17 PM

It has been shown several times there is no partition table. The video walks through testdisk and photorec.

beachboy2 · 11-29-2019, 04:17 AM

Linx_88,

In your situation I would clone the existing IDE drive to another drive using Clonezilla.

https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...o-image-38106/

I would then work on the copy drive using the adapter below and QPhotoRec on a friend’s Windows computer.

NB Contrary to its name QphotoRec recovers ALL known file formats, not just photos. You can select all file formats before the recovery starts. If you know exactly which file formats you require then obviously the recovery process will be that much shorter.

https://www.ghacks.net/2015/04/20/ho...tos-and-files/

https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...hotorec-37712/

QphotoRec is the GUI version of photorec and it is so much easier to use than photorec in Linux for the inexperienced user.
I have found it 100% successful on recovering personal data on other people’s computers.

I have found a USB 3.0 to SATA/IDE adapter with 100% feedback.

AGPTEK USB 3.0 to SATA/IDE adapter:
https://www.amazon.com/AGPTEK-Conver...5021082&sr=8-1

Notes:
1. For 3.5” IDE drives and old SATA HDD, you need to connect 12V 2A power adapter and 4-pin power cable provided. Attention please turn on the switch on IDE adapter in the last step.
2.Please use the 1 meter USB 3.0 data cable provided instead of the other long data cable.
3.If the device cannot be read, please try to reconnect the data cable to your computer's rear USB port.
4.It cannot read 2.5 IDE and 3.5 IDE hard drive at the same time because there is only one reading line and if you insist on doing so, it will conflict fiercely when reading two hard drives in the meantime. However,2.5 IDE hard drive or 3.5 IDE hard drive can respectively be read with 2.5/3.5 SATA hard drives simultaneously.

Linx_88 · 11-29-2019, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachboy2

Linx_88,

In your situation I would clone the existing IDE drive to another drive using Clonezilla.

https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...o-image-38106/

I would then work on the copy drive using the adapter below and QPhotoRec on a friend’s Windows computer.

NB Contrary to its name QphotoRec recovers ALL known file formats, not just photos. You can select all file formats before the recovery starts. If you know exactly which file formats you require then obviously the recovery process will be that much shorter.

https://www.ghacks.net/2015/04/20/ho...tos-and-files/

https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...hotorec-37712/

QphotoRec is the GUI version of photorec and it is so much easier to use than photorec in Linux for the inexperienced user.
I have found it 100% successful on recovering personal data on other people’s computers.

I have found a USB 3.0 to SATA/IDE adapter with 100% feedback.

AGPTEK USB 3.0 to SATA/IDE adapter:
https://www.amazon.com/AGPTEK-Conver...5021082&sr=8-1

Notes:
1. For 3.5” IDE drives and old SATA HDD, you need to connect 12V 2A power adapter and 4-pin power cable provided. Attention please turn on the switch on IDE adapter in the last step.
2.Please use the 1 meter USB 3.0 data cable provided instead of the other long data cable.
3.If the device cannot be read, please try to reconnect the data cable to your computer's rear USB port.
4.It cannot read 2.5 IDE and 3.5 IDE hard drive at the same time because there is only one reading line and if you insist on doing so, it will conflict fiercely when reading two hard drives in the meantime. However,2.5 IDE hard drive or 3.5 IDE hard drive can respectively be read with 2.5/3.5 SATA hard drives simultaneously.

I am looking into how to install Clonezilla, but I cannot figure out how to. I downloaded the .iso, but don't have a DVD to write it to. I could use a USB though, but would booting into the USB be what installs it?

Code:

1. About Clonezilla Live

    Clonezilla Live is a small bootable GNU/Linux distribution for x86/amd64 (x86-64) based computers. Clonezilla SE (Server Edition) has been developed from 2004, and it is used to deploy many computers simultaneously. It is an extremely useful tool, however, it does have several limitations. In order to use it, you must first prepare a DRBL server AND the machine to be deployed must boot from a network (e.g. PXE/iPXE).

I looked at the Live CD/USB link on Clonezilla website, but I am not sure about the DRBL server or booting from a network. Anywho.. I ignored all of that and went to start creating a bootable USB with tuxboot. I have downloaded the clonezilla zip file and everything seems like it should work but this is where I stand. When trying to load tuxboot in terminal I get this.

Code:

sudo tuxboot
QMetaObject::connectSlotsByName: No matching signal for on_frebootbutton_clicked()
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
X Error: BadAccess (attempt to access private resource denied) 10
  Extension:    130 (MIT-SHM)
  Minor opcode: 1 (X_ShmAttach)
  Resource id:  0x14b
X Error: BadShmSeg (invalid shared segment parameter) 128
  Extension:    130 (MIT-SHM)
  Minor opcode: 5 (X_ShmCreatePixmap)
  Resource id:  0x2e0000d
X Error: BadDrawable (invalid Pixmap or Window parameter) 9
  Major opcode: 62 (X_CopyArea)
  Resource id:  0x2e0000e
X Error: BadDrawable (invalid Pixmap or Window parameter) 9
  Major opcode: 62 (X_CopyArea)
  Resource id:  0x2e0000e
X Error: BadDrawable (invalid Pixmap or Window parameter) 9
  Major opcode: 62 (X_CopyArea)
  Resource id:  0x2e0000e

This is after I followed all the steps to install tuxboot via PPA. It opens the window but its blank. Now, if I just type 'tuxboot' in terminal, it does open it. It shows

Code:

tuxboot
Gtk-Message: 20:57:57.624: Failed to load module "canberra-gtk-module"
QMetaObject::connectSlotsByName: No matching signal for on_frebootbutton_clicked()
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile

So I am not sure how to install the clonezilla program on linux. Can it be installed on windows and be able to clone the corrupt drive? I have some other programs on my PC that I was using today to clone a HDD, but I tried that and it said it was unable to clone an 'empty' drive.

Linx_88 · 11-29-2019, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syg00

It has been shown several times there is no partition table. The video walks through testdisk and photorec.

Yes the video does walk through testdisk. Though I'm stuck at the part where there is no partition table. It says 'No partition is bootable' and gives me the option to do a quick search. I do that and it goes through the analyse cylinder function, x/34000. I don't know if this is relevant but it only goes to about 1300/34000 and then completes, and prints this:

Code:

Disk /dev/sdb - 250 GB / 232 GiB - CHS 30401 255 63
     Partition               Start        End    Size in sectors
>* Linux                    0  32 33 30141 123 62  484220928
 P Linux Swap           30141 156 32 30401  75 10    4171776










Structure: Ok.  Use Up/Down Arrow keys to select partition.
Use Left/Right Arrow keys to CHANGE partition characteristics:
*=Primary bootable  P=Primary  L=Logical  E=Extended  D=Deleted
Keys A: add partition, L: load backup, T: change type, P: list files,
     Enter: to continue
ext4 blocksize=4096 Large_file Sparse_SB Backup_SB, 247 GB / 230 GiB

That is when the *Linux option is selected and when the P Linux swap is selected it shows this instead on the last line:

Code:

SWAP2 version 1, pagesize=4096, 2135 MB / 2037 MiB

I'm not sure what any of this means, but it gives me the option to press enter to continue when I am selected on either one. It seems I can change the partion characteristics by pressing left and right on each one of those but I am very much unsure of what that will do. I see that it can change the 'Structure: Ok' to 'Structure: Bad' if and only if the Linux and Linux swap are both '*' option. Otherwise there are P, L, D and *. Thats as far as I'll go. I believe this has to do with rebuilding the partitions which he fortunately doesn't have to do to his 'seriously damaged drive'.

syg00 · 11-29-2019, 08:46 PM

Finding lost partitions is what testdisk is designed to do - and it has. Leave the options on the found partitions as-is, and hit enter then save the partition table and exit testdisk.
Now let's see the "lsblk -f" again - reboot if necessary.

Linx_88 · 11-29-2019, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syg00

Finding lost partitions is what testdisk is designed to do - and it has. Leave the options on the found partitions as-is, and hit enter then save the partition table and exit testdisk.
Now let's see the "lsblk -f" again - reboot if necessary.

It gives me an option to do a deeper search, or write partions to disk, I'm not sure I'd want to write anything quite yet before I can copy/clone the drive first. I had done this before and it got stuck at 1343/34000 which is the same spot it jumps to complete and shows the writable partitions, Linux and Linux swap.

Is there a reason why its getting stuck?

Linx_88 · 11-30-2019, 12:01 PM

Working on trying to get this Clonezilla program installed and I've gotten a step further, but of course ran into an error. I'm on the 'Clonezilla live on hard drive' page: https://clonezilla.org/livehd.php . I'm not sure how to do the first instructions where it says to mount /dev/sda4 in effort to unzip the Clonezilla zip file on the USB drive (I put it there with the tuxboot app on my windows PC). That being so, I would assume I should mount the USB drive? I am able to type in

Code:

sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt

but nothing happens, aside for of course it being mounted. Not sure what command is used to unzip the file. SO, I moved onto the second install method:

Code:

Besides, you can use only the Clonezilal live iso file in grub2 (Thanks to the patches files from grml). For example, put clonezilla-live-2.6.0-37-amd64.iso in dir /home/isos/, then make the grub2 custom menu (/etc/grub.d/40_custom) like:
================================================
menuentry "Clonezilla live" {
set isofile="/home/isos/clonezilla-live-2.6.0-37-amd64.iso"
loopback loop $isofile
linux (loop)/live/vmlinuz boot=live union=overlay username=user config components quiet noswap nolocales edd=on nomodeset ocs_live_run=\"ocs-live-general\" ocs_live_extra_param=\"\" keyboard-layouts= ocs_live_batch=\"no\" locales= vga=788 ip=frommedia nosplash toram=live,syslinux,EFI findiso=$isofile
initrd (loop)/live/initrd.img
}

================================================
Then run "update-grub2" to update your grub2 config.

I successfully got the Clonezilla live option on the grub2 menu, but when I try to boot from it, it gives me the error:

Code:

error: file '/home/isos/clonezilla-live-2.6.0-37-amd64.iso' not found.
error: no server is specified.
error: you need to load the kernel first.

Press any key to continue...

I clearly left a step out, but im actually glad I could figure how to edit the grub file and get this Clonezilla live option onto the menu. I did create the directory '/home/isos/' and add 'clonezilla-live-2.6.0-37-amd64.iso' to it.

What step am I leaving out?

Thanks for your help.

Linx_88 · 11-30-2019, 01:50 PM

Ok so I found something that isn't matching up. In the guide it says to set clonezilla-live-2.6.0-37-amd.iso in the home/isos/ dir. The one I put there is 'clonezilla-live-20191024-eoan-amd64.iso' instead. I'm going to change it so I have that filename in 'etc/grub.d/40_custom'

I fixed the filename in the 'etc/grub.d/40_custom' file located in grub.d to match what I have located in the /home/isos/ dir. Now it says '/home/isos/clonezilla-live-20191024-eoan-amd64.iso'. Both of them match and it is still saying the same message where "/home/isos/clonezilla-live-20191024-eoan-amd64.iso" is not found and that I have to load the kernel first.

Code:

error: file '/home/isos/clonezilla-live-20191024-eoan-amd64.iso' not found.
error: no server is specified.
error: you need to load the kernel first.

Press any key to continue...

I'll keep trying to get it installed, but the guide you posted Clonezilla: A Basic Step-by-Step Guide to Cloning (Disk to Disk) & Imaging (Disk to Image) shows all that I did but I used tuxboot instead of etcher to make the bootable iso. I'll try that program now and update with my results.

Linx_88 · 11-30-2019, 02:41 PM

FML. man. WTF.

OK, so I used the etcher program, flashed the .iso onto the fat32 usb drive and tried to boot from the drive. What it was initially doing was booting to windows. Hmmm. I looked into it and installed grub customizer to see if maybe windows was the primary partition it was booting from. It was not. So I entered efibootmgr and made the Windows Boot Manager (Boot0003 & Boot0007) inactive. Which Unbuntu was primary so IDK why it was booting to windows primarily anyways. Regardless, I restarted and then it booted to GRUB2. No option of

Code:

Then insert the Clonezilla USB drive.
Switch on the computer and press F12 (or other boot device key) several times to bring up the Boot Menu.
Use the Down arrow to select the Clonezilla USB drive and press Enter.
Select either Default OR Other Modes of Clonezilla Live → Clonezilla Live (To RAM. Boot media can be removed later).

This was with 'clonezilla-live-2.6.4-10-amd64.iso'. Which I just realized is supposed to be on a DVD... sigh back to the zip file option. Though it does say Use Etcher to burn the ISO image to a USB drive.
Download and install Etcher from:
https://www.balena.io/etcher/

beachboy2 · 11-30-2019, 03:08 PM

Linx_88,

Clonezilla can be used on a DVD or USB drive.

You could just take a gamble and forget all about Clonezilla, using the original drive in an IDE to USB adapter and let QPhotoRec do its job.

Then again, maybe not.