Actually my favorite method for fixing a computer involves backing up as well. First set the computer in back of my truck, put the truck in reverse and backup. Repeat if necessary, then drive to town and buy a new one.
Got the adapter to hook up hard drive via USB and am using R-Studio (highly rated data recovery program) and its running a scan now but everything so far is coming up as "the request could not be performed because of an I/O device error (1117)". It read the drive, showed the files/folders and the sizes. I'm thinking that's a good thing and gives me some hope?
The initial read isn't where the problem is. Its when you actually have to copy the files where you're going to be fucked. My laptop drive actually took a crap on me over the weekend. Bought a new one (got a SSD/HD hybrid), swapped it in, ran Time Machine and everything is all good.
...a lot of valuable information regarding the ins and outs of backing up a PC can be found at --> www.PCbackupify.com
I'm giving up and going to take it to an "expert". Probably start here: http://fixmydeadpc.com/services.html or http://www.1201.com/default.asp?area=services
Here is a free disk or partition clone. It works, I just cloned my C drive and booted it up. It comes up as what ever drive it was before the clone. Mine was "L" so go into the register in Local Machine/System/Mounteddevices and change "C" to something unused, then "L" to "C" Close regedit and reboot, Shazam running and a New C drive. http://www.todo-backup.com/ The free version only recognizes Two Hard drives but hell, make your primary and your desired backup 1 and 2 and it will work. I have been using Norton Ghost for years but it really doesn't like this Quad CPU so new clone tool was needed and a freeby found. I guess I can still do backups with Ghost, but the clone blows up in the end. The damn scan at the front of starting Ghost is slower than a crotch crab on this Quad. New Partition backup tool needed. Apparently the purchase version of this tool will do it.
No, you want to clone it before it is bad. I assume you will have a good one someday, well when you do, clone it while it is still good.
I have a good one now, installed it the same day the old one went bad. I guess I dont understand what the purpose of a clone of a bad drive. I still wont be able to access the files on the clone, correct?