[mdlug] Recovering damaged EXT2

[Aaron Kulkis]

Michael Mikowski wrote:
> ----- Original Message ----
> 
> From: Michael ORourke <mrorourke at earthlink.net>
> To: MDLUG's Main discussion list <mdlug at mdlug.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 6:59:04 AM
> Subject: Re: [mdlug] Recovering damaged EXT2
> 
>> Dave,
> 
>> If you were using the external USB drive in a pseudo RAID-1 configuration, 
>> then all you data would be on the other drive (internal), and there would be 
>> no need to recover anything.  And I suspect that the new USB drive would 
>> have some sort of warranty, so if you can't get it working again, then just 
>> send it back for a replacement.  Or am I missing something?
>>
>> -Mike
> 
> You missed that one drive failed, and then he broke the /other/ one too.
> 
> Dave --
> 
> This does bring up a good point: perhaps it is time to go back to the original drive?  Sure it might be hosed, but perhaps /less/ hosed than the one you dropped on the floor.  Have you tried the same amount of due diligence on that drive?  You might have better luck with that.
> 
> You might consider "soaking" either drive in the fridge for 4 hours before spinning it up.  This has worked for me before, and have been able to recover data until the drive warmed up.
> 

I prefer the freezer.  And then a damp (not wet...DAMP)
washcloth on the top of the drive (circuit-board side
being the bottom side of the drive).

For copying the data, in this case, the best program to
use is dd, since it will read the drive in byte-by-byte
order, minimizing the amount of time-wasting head movement.

> Good luck.  I feel your pain.