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My portable hard disk just had problem again..

I tried the trial version of Kernel Recovery and it seems able to retrieve all the data, but I will need to buy it if i want to copy the data.

So before i pay anything, any data recovery software which is freeware?

thanks.

I am downloading recuva to try out..so it is a freeware that i can copy all the recovered files?

Recuva isnt bad, but I am not sure it will recover a deleted partition.
a non freeware software I can reccomend is: "easy recovery pro"

is the HD recognized at all ? (in storage manager for example)

pet_chia: if your harddisk isn't seen at all by the system it can be possibly broken.
Sometimes connecting this harddisk as an external harddisk to usb helps, if you are lucky. Otherwise I am afraid it is over...
When people call me having this kind of problems the first I ask is: are the cables connected well?
You have to open the computer to look at that, but you have to do this also to put the harddisk to an external case with usb connection.
This recovery software is no help when the harddisk is not seen by the system at all.

When considering making a new backup I would suggest to put it on an extra harddisk instead of DVD's. This is cheaper, safer and not so much work.

  I know this sounds weird, but if you have a hard disk that won't mount- i.e be recognized by the system, something that can sometimes help is to put it in the freezer for a half hour, take it out and immediately connect it up and see if it mounts. I had 2 days of location shooting saved by this method. My computer geek son heard of it from his freind that works in data recovery. This guy said 75% of data recovery jobs get resolved this way. The reason it works is that the little arm that floats above the disk gets stuck onto the disk, and freezing it contracts the metal to free it up. If it works, transfer all your data right away to another hard drive, because it will only work until the drive heats up again. Not saying it will always work, and only after all else fails...

Never heard of that freezer tip. Thanks! This can be useful sometimes!
And yes, spinrite is good, but only when your harddisk in recognized by the system.

You are right about the freezing tip. It is only useful as 'last option'. And you have to buy a new harddisk, for it is only to recover some data. The harddisk itself has become useless.

My workflow should be:
First start the computer and go to the bios section (On the screen at the start you can mostly see which key, or combination of keys you have to press to get to the bios.) and see if all settings stay correct. Correct the settings if the harddisk is not correctly recognized.
No problems in the bios? Shut  the computer down and then open the computer case.
Untie the connection cables from the harddisk one by one and connect them again. carefully and firmly.
Start the computer and see if it had helped. (I always start the computer with an open case, so I can see if the harddisk works or remain silent. Be careful when doing so and touch nothing!)
If the harddisk remain totally silent, it seem clearly be broken, but you can try the other tips also if you want to spent some more time on it.

pet_chia wrote that she only is missing the processed version of two shoots. Processing them again should propably be cheaper then data recovery. Which is very expensive.
So the question is how useful it is to spend time on a harddisk that has to be replaced by a new one for it works no longer well.
But if you want so: go further with the next options:

Take the harddisk from the computer and connect it via usb. (There are different options to do so: external case, special cables...)
Or start the computer first with a linux bootable dvd and see if it will be recognized. If this is so: copy the data you want to save.)
I've sometimes also seen that connecting a harddisk to another computer helps too. strange enough.
If this all not helps, try the freezing tip.
But very likely you will find out that the harddisk has died silently.

A data recovery centre can restore data even from burned harddisks and from broken harddisk plates. But it is very expensive and not all data can be restored that way of course.

 

Great tip!  I will try this if and when I will get a chance.  Quite curious actually.