INEXPENSIVE Data Recovery?? Any Suggestions?

[Ryan]

Hi,

I have a hard drive that Windows XP suddenly refuses to access. On
that drive, I have about 10 gig of data that was not backup up (my
fault) that I would really like to get off the drive.

I have downloaded the demos of several pieces of data recovery
software (FirstData, etc.) and ALL have tested the drive and tell me
all the data I need to recover is on the drive and undamaged. Of
course, none will recover any data without being registered.

While I have no problem paying for software, ALL of these programs
seem to run from $79 - $300. This is a ONE TIME data recovery project
of not alot of data and even $79 is alot to pay. Apparently, the
business of writing data recovery software is one where you can make
alot of money!

I am new at this. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced data
recovery program that I can download and use for this project. Again,
I am not looking for free... I am just not looking to pay nearly $100
for this.

Thanks!

[QuarkBomb]

My local computer store, who shelled out the ridiculous amount of money for
this software, offered to do it for £30 ($50?), they couldn't retrieve the
data so they didn't charge.

Have you phoned around to see who would do it for you?

--






www.CheaperThanBT.org.uk/2
"Ryan" > wrote in message
m...
: Hi,
:
: I have a hard drive that Windows XP suddenly refuses to access. On
: that drive, I have about 10 gig of data that was not backup up (my
: fault) that I would really like to get off the drive.
:
: I have downloaded the demos of several pieces of data recovery
: software (FirstData, etc.) and ALL have tested the drive and tell me
: all the data I need to recover is on the drive and undamaged. Of
: course, none will recover any data without being registered.
:
: While I have no problem paying for software, ALL of these programs
: seem to run from $79 - $300. This is a ONE TIME data recovery project
: of not alot of data and even $79 is alot to pay. Apparently, the
: business of writing data recovery software is one where you can make
: alot of money!
:
: I am new at this. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced data
: recovery program that I can download and use for this project. Again,
: I am not looking for free... I am just not looking to pay nearly $100
: for this.
:
: Thanks!

[Ryan]

"QuarkBomb" > wrote in message >...
> My local computer store, who shelled out the ridiculous amount of money for
> this software, offered to do it for £30 ($50?), they couldn't retrieve the
> data so they didn't charge.
>
> Have you phoned around to see who would do it for you?
>
> --
>

Yes, I have and it's been in the hundreds of dollars. The other issue
is this drive has detailed financial data on it. While I could
duplicate the data if it is lost forever, I am uneasy about handing
this drive to a 3rd party to work on when I could do it myself given
the right software at the right price.

I will keep looking. I normally backup this drive, but had been away
for a few weeks and a new backup was overdue. Lesson learned, but now
we have to try and clean up the mess.

[VManes]

Can you give more info about the problem with the drive. Is it Fat32 or
NTFS? Could it be accessed from a purely DOS environment? There are apps
available that let you read an NTFS drive from DOS.

Have you heard of SpinRite (www.grc.com) disk repair tool - not as expensive
as the recovery tools you've mentioned, and it can give time to move data
when a disk starts to fail, in some cases.

Val
--
Bringing you BeadWizard Design Software
www.beadwizard.com
***************************
Practice safe eating -- always use condiments.
***************************

"Ryan" > wrote in message
m...
Hi,

I have a hard drive that Windows XP suddenly refuses to access. On
that drive, I have about 10 gig of data that was not backup up (my
fault) that I would really like to get off the drive.

I have downloaded the demos of several pieces of data recovery
software (FirstData, etc.) and ALL have tested the drive and tell me
all the data I need to recover is on the drive and undamaged. Of
course, none will recover any data without being registered.

While I have no problem paying for software, ALL of these programs
seem to run from $79 - $300. This is a ONE TIME data recovery project
of not alot of data and even $79 is alot to pay. Apparently, the
business of writing data recovery software is one where you can make
alot of money!

I am new at this. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced data
recovery program that I can download and use for this project. Again,
I am not looking for free... I am just not looking to pay nearly $100
for this.

Thanks!