How to recover data from non-mounting external drive?

christopher rigby1 wrote:

What you didn't say is whether you tried Disk Utility to repair the disk (it sounds like it has software rather than hardware problems, as your friend's PC was able to read it)? If not, then run the 'repair disk' option in Disk Utility first, see if that helps.

I hadn't and now I cannot. I just checked to answer your question (because I seemed to remember that while it was showing up it wouldn't let me repair it, only reformat it) So- whatever my friend did to it in reading it- he has rendered it unsupported. 😟 Drat, drat, drat...

Second, there are tools - not cheap - that can repair disks more effectively than DU does. Disk Warrior and TechTools Pro are two that come to mind. If you bought either of those, you could stand a chance of repairing your disk's faulty structure.

I guess that not being able to read the disk is now no longer supported by my Mac I cannot do anything with a Mac anyway. Meh.

Third, the Terminal is a command line tool contained in Applications/Utilities - I wouldn't recommend your using that if you don't know what you're doing, unless you have a very specific command to type in, that you have in front of you.

OK, understood. Probably now moot anyway.

It sounds as if your friend's PC recovery software contains conversion software in it when it encounters certain types of file, which may be why your iMovie files are now MPEGs and MOVs (MOV is a QuickTime file - isn't there a way of importing them to iMovie??).

Yes, I know a MOV is a QT file. However they are of transition only and no use without the other parts.

I know it's too late and a bit 'wiseguy', but if you have important files that ONLY exist on an external drive, you really need a second drive as backup.

I have 18 external drives with over 10TB of data, duplicated. I was in the process of moving the data from the now faulty work drive to a storage drive when disaster struck. Meaning- even the wisest editor can have a mishap they cannot recover from.

Did you try using a powered USB hub?

Mac's now cut off port powered drives if they draw too much current.

The external drive is a powered SATA, currently residing in a powered SATA to USB housing, no extensions. No, the drive is actually just not supported anymore and was not mountable before.

Also use the Mac version of Data Rescue for file recovery, it knows the Mac file formats better than PC file format recovery.

I cannot recover anything with a Mac because the Mac will not read it. It is not supported due to something my friend did with his PC:

This is only since he had a go at recovery. Before then it was supported and appeared fine- just not mountable.

Obviously what happened is it took the MPEG portions of the Mac files as it understood that and discarded the rest.

Yes, I gathered that and explained as much to him. It discarded the entire 120GB FCPro project file I kind of would like to recover. 😝

Not sure what now...

You had mentioned cloning/imaging etc. which you edited out. Could that be something which can be done with a PC (I am not a PC user but I guess I could have a go) and then I use said image on the Mac to copy the bits I need to transfer to the Mac-formatted storage device? Or- with a different Mac? Not sure why that would make a difference but I am happy to try anything! 🙂

Thank you to you both christopher rigby1 and ds store- means a lot not to be completely up the creek without a paddle. I just wish that I had not been overwhelmed by the offer of assistance from a PC user and had had more of a go myself. I suspect it would not be this difficult now.

ds store wrote:

That's where Data Rescue comes in, see if it will read disks that the Finder wont' mount, it's supposed to work outside OS X and access the drive directly.

Sorry for the tardy reply. Been away unexpectedly. OK, will have a look into Data Rescue. Assume it is a software programme. 🙂

ds store wrote:

Yes, the Mac boot drive uses HFS+ file system, so you need MacDrive installed on the PC, then if the drive is mounting it can read the files directly and then drag n drop copy to another exFAT formatted drive (formatted on the PC, not the Mac)

If the Mac drive is not mounting on the PC, then there is software that can read it directly, bypassing the file system and reading the bits, imaging it to another drive aka cloning or ghosting.

Another method is to install VirtualBox, then installing Parted Magic into VirtualBox, use Parted Magic's GParted to mount the drive and unlock anything and then open two windows to transfer files to a external exFAT drive.

OK- I will leave this bit for the now as I personally do not have access to a PC and will probably not have access to my friend who lives hours away from me. But for future reference this is good stuff.

ds store wrote:

The files are there and recoverable, it's just finding the right tool that will do the job.

Not THAT (^) makes lovely reading. Finding the right tool indeed! And I have had an offer from a software recovery company of £68 plus VAT for recovery if it doesn't require a clean room but last time I did that (for an internal drive of a MacBook) I got the same useless data back as they used a PC and didn't care how it came out for a Mac user. Meh.

So I might just have a go myself if I can work it all out and that way I know what I can do if it ever happens again. And if all else fails I can still send it to the company to have a go at. 🙂

Thank you so much.

Update- I have got the demo version of Data Rescue and a deep scan shows me the files, I assume, also my PC using friend saw. Ie- all bitty and there but not as a whole. Meaning- I get transitions and perhaps a second of a DV clip, nothing more.

I don't know if this means that the data is there but in corrupted state or if I need to do something which Data rescue cannot really do (I know it does have a Clone function but is that the answer, given the drive is not recognisable?)- make a copy but a GOOD and working copy of the various files which are the whole files the ones I can see are only tiny components of.

Hmmm...

ds store wrote:

Cloning is worth a try if the cloned drive is mountable in OS X.

Understood. Though- in order to clone the drive I probably have to commit to buy the software and it costs almost as much as if I take it to the folk who will recover it and charge or not charge if they don't.

So I am "hmm-ing" and "haa-ing" just now. And it will take ten hours from what I can make out. Not trying to be a whinge-bucket but am nervous, I guess.

ds store wrote:

Also remmeber that OS X uses packages, so even though you might see one file, it's actually a folder of files inside.

To see what I mean, right click on iPhoto Library and "show package contents" it's actaully a folder with more folders and files inside.

So the recovery software will interpretate the packages as folders, as it's looking at only the files on the drive, not what OS X is faking for your eyeballs.

Yes, I gathered as much. What I am therefore reading out of this is if I were to copy ALL the files across to, say, another hard drive which IS mountable, I would then (possibly) see the individual files "repackaged" for my eyeballs? 🙂 Problem is only if the iMovie and Final Cut Pro project files don't make it across- because then there is nothing to reconstruct the blocks of data for me. Right?

ds store wrote:

Also did you try force mounting the drive in Terminal?

Do a man mount for details

Now you are writing Chinese. I only know that "Terminal" looks black and sounds dangerous for one such as I; clueless.

My problem is that I am Jill of all trades, mistress of not this one. I am good with taking computers apart and putting them back together again but this kind of thing is too virtual for me.

I want to say a big "thank you" for taking the time to help me with this on your Sunday. Means a LOT.

Update- I had a wee Eureka moment when I did a five minute Deep Scan with Data Rescue and checked the first folder, not the one with the "restored" files. And it contained the project files in a format which I recognised- within project folders in folders depending on type of files etc!

So I bit the bullet and bought it! 🙂

I am at just under 3 percent Deep Scanned and twenty minutes in of a ten or so hour scan. Besides a warning about slow speed when I had the target drive (a non-powered portable one) I have nothing bad to report. I am HOPING that the message about the failing drive as per the slow-speed symptom was NOT about the drive to be rescued and that the ten hours are not going to be too much like hard work for it all. AND that the work space doesn't have to BE the same size as the drive being rescued as the workspace (on a second MacBook Pro) is only 41GB!

So- I will report back tomorrow when I get a look at what there is and decide which of the files need to be rescued (since not all haven't already been mirrored!) and then mark this as answered.

My thanks to everyone again and sorry only that I cannot award more Solving Answers but there you are. I am so very appreciative as this is another hurdle I have overcome (I do have another drive but it is making a horrid noise and sounds like a clean room job. More's the pity...)

Thank you!

Data recovered NO problem. Data Rescue 3 worked a charm. 10 hours + 9 hours and it was a done deal. 🙂

Tried it on the other drive but it just clicks and will not show up. I realise that it is a hardware issue and that that puts paid to things but it was worth a shot. Now to sell the various cases I bought for the drive and didn't need. 🙂

Thank you to all for the discussion and the encouragement.