There are actually 2 ways to
recover hard drive from the dead using ViVard. First is by remapping the bad sector and the second method is by erasing the HDD.The first method is best to be used if the bad sector counts on your HDD is low. Meanwhile the second method is useful if the first method failed.
Warning: using the second method to recover hard drive will wipe out all data from your HDD.My suggestion would be to use the first method and if you are able to access your Operating System, backup as much data that is possible. Then if the problem persists, use the second method. Keep the second method has your last resort.
Prerequisite
Before we can proceed on how to
recover hard drive, go
here to get instruction on how to load Hirens Boot CD. Once it is loaded, go into
Dos Programs and then
Hard Disk Tools… Select
ViVard 1.0 (Surface) and press Enter on your keyboard. Please wait until it automatically loads.
Method 1: Recover Hard Drive by Remapping Bad Sectors
1) On the main menu of ViVard, you will see you hard disk listed. Select the correct storage device and press Enter on your keyboard. The selected HDD will be shown on the menu’s left. Refer picture below.2) Use your keyboard to go down to
Surface test with remap and then press Enter. This option is used to recover hard drive bad sectors.3) Another menu will pop up called
LBA Range. Press Enter twice to select the whole drive surface from LBA 0 to maximum LBA.
4) The process to recover hard drive will start. It will take some time depending on your HDD’s size. Once it is done, you can see how many errors and remaps were done during the test.
5) A message saying
Press any key to back to main window will pop up at the bottom of the screen. Just press any key.6) Choose
Exit and press Enter. Once you are back on Hirens Boot CD menu, type
shutdown and then press Enter. Press
S on the resulting message. Now you have completed the process to
recover hard disk using the software.
Method 2: Completely Erase All Data to Fix Faulty Disk
Before attempting this method to recover hard drive, read the description above.
Warning: All data on your problematic HDD will be lost. 1) Similar to method 1, select the device that you want to erase and press Enter.2) Navigate to
Erasing sectors or whole drive and press Enter.3) The
LBA Range menu will pop up. Press Enter on your keyboard twice (to select 0 and maximum LBA).
4) The recover hard drive process will start. Wait until it finishes and then press any key to return to ViVard main menu. Select
Exit and press Enter.
5) You will be back on Hirens menu. Type
shutdown and press Enter. Press
S to initiate shutdown. The erase process is complete. You will have to reinstall new Operating System and your storage device will be useful again.
Conclusion
ViVard is a very simple and useful program to save your storage device from the dead. Best outcome can be achieved if you follow the instructions above correctly. I cannot promise that you will
recover hard drive 100% but there is no harm in trying.