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An external hard drive had trouble mounting after bootup. So I began to clone it using dd.This was quite a while ago, and so I don't recall the exact parameters. Something rather standard for a failing ntfs partitioned drive I'm sure. Anyhow, it failed around a 1/3rd of the way through. And now I have a partial replica of about 350 GB. The external died for good during the dd. I've never been able to get it recognized again.

Is there any way to mount or explore this partially dumped drive?

file -i tells me it is an application/octet-stream; charset=binary

Victor2748
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matchew
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1 Answers1

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Anyhow, it failed around a 1/3rd of the way through. And now I have a partial replica of about 350 GB.

Your chances from a partial replica are very slim. Data in a file may have pieces in the good part and pieces in the failed part.

A local recovery agency is likely your best choice.

Second choice might be Recuva (cc cleaner) or Spinrite (https://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm)

There are other tools and methods such as ddrescue, but none are guaranteed to be completely successful.

DDRescue

If the tools do not recovery data then it is gone. Not much else you can do.