Looking at your problem, it seems like you’re in deep waters if your hard disk is making strange noises and isn’t recognized by your computer. Weird noises usually like clicking, buzzing, or grinding, often spell physical damage, not just a typical file system corruption or some bad sectors.
You’ve got some suggestions already, but I’ll add a bit from my experience. For physical damage, your best bet is professional data recovery services. They cost a good chunk, but when the hardware is at fault, software alone won’t get you far. Think of services like DriveSavers or Kroll Ontrack for instance. They have cleanroom facilities to physically repair drives if needed and are experts in rescuing data.
However, if you still wanna give the software route a shot before committing to spending big bucks, there are some tools I’d like to point out.
Firstly, beyond Disk Drill and EaseUS, consider using Acronis True Image. It’s often overlooked when it comes to data recovery, but it’s a beast for creating disk images. Before you start recovery attempts, clone your ailing drive to a new one, if possible. You can mount the image and try to recover without stressing your already dying drive. Acronis is user-friendly, and the image can be recovered on different hardware if necessary. They have a lot of tutorials to guide you:
Then there’s R-Studio. This one’s less elegant and more gritty, leaning heavily towards professional users, but it’s immensely powerful. It can handle complex cases and has a versatile set of features like network recovery, supporting a wide range of file systems and RAID configurations. You might struggle a bit with the interface, but if you’re somewhat tech-savvy, it’s a solid tool.
For scanning and attempting minor fixes, don’t skip CrystalDiskInfo. This one’s more of a diagnostic tool rather than a repair utility, but it gives you S.M.A.R.T. data insights and can sometimes pinpoint issues that can then be addressed with other tools. Worth a brief detour in your troubleshooting journey.
Software like HDAT2, like mentioned, is robust but appeals to hardcore users due to its rather raw interface. However, what doesn’t get enough spotlight is Victoria HDD. It’s a low-level, advanced utility for diagnosing and fixing HDD issues. Primarily focused on bad sectors, Victoria can do wonders if the drive is recognized at a hardware level.
Let’s also look at another important step that’s often ignored – cables & connections. Retry with a different cable and even a different port. Or as suggested, use a USB-to-SATA adapter to rule out any internal connection issues. You’d be amazed how many “dead” drives come back to life with a mere cable change.
But let’s be honest here— Disk Drill (https://www.disk-drill.com/) reigns supreme in ease-of-use and versatility. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of data recovery tools. It’s applicable for both noobs and seasoned pros. Disk Drill can not only recover data, even from unrecognized drives but also offer byte-to-byte backups to prevent additional drive stress. A sensible precaution before you delve into heavy recovery efforts.
If you prefer open-source, ddrescue could be your tool. It’s command-line based but extraordinary in copying faulty disks by mapping and skipping bad sectors, then retrying to read them. It’s complex but with ample guides out there to hold your hand through the process.
Remember, in catastrophic disk failures, every additional run might nudge your disk further towards complete death. That said, if the issue is truly mechanical, professional intervention could be inevitable. Disk Drill’s website - Disk Drill can assist initially.
Stay cautious, and always keep a lookout for potential hardware replacements when persistent issues arise. Best of luck getting this resolved!