If the drive is physically damaged, recovery software won't help. One of those hard drive recovery joints in the back of computer mags can disassemble and scan the platter manually. Probably cost ya plenty. A friend of mine dropped her laptop and hosed the drive. Cost her $500 to recover her Ph.D dissertation (no backup!).
Microdrives are known to be very delicate. The newest versions have more advanced safeguards against damage from physical shock, but they are still sensitive to rough handling.
Good luck... And invest in some solid state CF cards. They are much more durable. As an example, I've "accidentally" put a couple of them through wash and dry cycles and they still work.
Microdrives were a great idea at one point, kind of like 8-track was a great idea at one time. The microdrives used to have better density than solid state, but now there is no advantage, and you have unfortunately stumbled upon the obvious disadvantage.
You should try photorec first, but I would not be too hopeful. The hard drive recovery services might fare better, but charge plenty. You have to judge what the photos are worth vs. the cost to recover, factoring in the chance of recovery. Might be cheaper to reshoot, if possible.
called one place. Wanted 1700. I don't understand how something so important can be so delicate. I called Sony and gave them a bunch of crap to no avail.
mountainrivera wrote:
called one place. Wanted 1700. I don't understand how something so important can be so delicate. I called Sony and gave them a bunch of crap to no avail.
That is a typical price. The equipment and technicians are rather specialized and the value of data usually far exceeds the recovery costs for business purposes.
I fail to see how can Sony be responsible for the physical damage caused by your clumsiness.
EB-1 wrote:
That is a typical price. The equipment and technicians are rather specialized and the value of data usually far exceeds the recovery costs for business purposes.
I fail to see how can Sony be responsible for the physical damage caused by your clumsiness.
EB
It shouldn't crap out. It didn't fall that far. It's not like it fell out of a six story window. It is not unreasonable to expect a certain amount of hardiness out of a device used by people that may have to make a living from a product. These drives are supposed to store data and provide a resonable amount of protection. They made a peice of shit and now I'm F'ed. That is why I am going after them.
Handling precautions
• Follow these suggestions to optimize the use of your Hitachi Microdrive, as well as those devices in which it is installed:
• Do not seal the breather hole! Sealing the breather hole may result in loss of data.
• Do not press on the drive! Do not apply any force to the drive during handling or installation.
• Always handle the drive with care to prevent damage from shock, vibration, or electrostaticdischarge (ESD).
• Handle the drive carefully by the edges. Do not touch any exposed printed circuit board.
• Do not write on the label or remove it. Do not apply additional labels.
• Always carry the drive in its plastic case. • Do not drop the drive.
• Do not expose the drive to wet conditions.
• Do not place the drive near a strong magnetic field.
• Do not expose the drive to extreme temperatures.
Try wrapping on it with a hard object while it's in the reader trying to access. If that doesn't work, slam it again the desk on a side and try reading it. Sometimes that can dislodge a stuck head.
mountainrivera wrote:
It shouldn't crap out. It didn't fall that far. It's not like it fell out of a six story window. It is not unreasonable to expect a certain amount of hardiness out of a device used by people that may have to make a living from a product. These drives are supposed to store data and provide a resonable amount of protection. They made a peice of shit and now I'm F'ed. That is why I am going after them.
It's just a drawback of ALL microdrives, no matter who makes it. It's not like an external hard drive that they can build an extra rugged case around. They have a standard size they have to cram everything into. Good luck on finding an affordable way to recover them.
Try dropping it a few feet onto your bed. That method occasionally works for stuck hard disks. If not, it's an expensive reminder that solid state devices are more robust than anything with moving parts
I have dropped 2 of them. Neither drop was from more then the height of the computer that they being inserted into. so what 2 1/2 feet?
I have tried all types of ways and have never recovered 1 single image from them.
Its the nature of the beast.. Thats why I will never use one again.
Sorry for your loss but its always been that way.
FYI the one time it happen to me I didn't even drop it. The computer guy did when he was plugging the card in to the PC. We were on location at our biggest event of the year.
The card was full (300 plus images) and none of the images could be re shot. All images and 2 hours of shooting lost. Not to mention this was in 2002 and I just bought that card for $500 2 days earlier.
I had did some special add photos on that card so after it was all said and done that one drop cost me at least $2500 and the card.
Thanks all. I will five the remedies suggested a shot. Yes, in the end it was my mistake to have dropped the MD. Definately a lesson learned for me. Sorry to hear about your story Homey. Still makes me say how can such a fragile instrument be brought to market. Mine was just over a year old and I got it in a few months back in a trade for gear and really never used it. The old saying goes, better to learn from someone else's mistakes than your own so if you haven't already take those MDs and throw them in the trash.
good luck