ntfs HD with io errors

[Ernie Luzar]

Polytropon wrote:
> On Mon, 16 Apr 2018 10:07:38 -0400, Ernie Luzar wrote:
>> Have a 3TB ntfs HD with i/o errors.
>>
>> ntfs-3g does read it, but a ls command of 2 different directories get 
>> error msg about i/o errors and nothing is listed.
>>
>> Is there a way to fsck this HD to fix it?
> 
> This depends on the actual reason for the error message.
> As it has been suggested, Spinrite can do a great job
> to "re-activate" broken disks, at least for copying
> their content once. Also check the tools in "ntfsprogs",
> one might be able to repair the file system... but I/O
> errors often indicate hardware failure. Have you tried
> to get a smartctl report for the disk yet?
> 
> 
> 
>> There is only 600GB of data on the 3TB HD. Looking for way to copy the 
>> data to a 1TB ufs HD.
> 
> 
> 
>> What will dump command do with i/o errors?
> 
> With dump, you can only process UFS file systems (as
> input); NTFS does not support it.
> 
> 
> 
>> Can dd command skip over unused space?
> 
> I think it can. You can also try dd_rescue or ddrescue
> which can handle I/O errors much better than stock dd,
> for example by using a dynamically adjusted block size
> for reading, or performing several attempts on a failed
> block.
> 
> 
> 
>> Any other ideas?
> 
> Find out if you have a hardware error or a filesystem
> inconsistency.
> 
> Oh, and give Spinrite a try, it's really a great tool.
> Why isn't it on my list?! ;-)
> 
> In worst case, use magicrescue to get at least the data,
> in case you might not be able to get the sorting information
> (directory hierarchy and file systems lost).
> 
> 
> 
> 

Spinrite is a $90 utility. All the documentation is for xp fat32 HD and 
uses an a:floppy drive to boot msdos from. Sent them a email about 
outdated documentation. Got reply saying no purchasers in many years so 
not going to update their documentation. Sure sounds like a dead product 
to me.

Since the mbr was deleted looks like win10 got a malicious virus that 
made the external usb HD un-mountable and screwed with the last file I 
had open. Nothing physically wrong with the HD.

All ready used dd_rescues and recovered 50% of user data which had no 
i/o errors. dd_rescue could not fix any of the i/o errors.

Read the man on dd and found no mention of skipping "free space" IE; 
unused space in the allocated partition.

Only 600gb of data on the 3tb HD.

Looking for method to copy this data to 1tb HD bypassing i/o errors.