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Yeah, it sounds like you've got a long slog ahead of you. Bummer. It also sounds like a couple of orders of magnatude worse than the inadvertant disk wipe of 2012, which completely took out my Projects disk. That was no fun at all.
I don't know whether it's any consolation whatsoever, but I've always found that rebuilding something generally takes *much* less time than building it in the first place did. For one thing, you've generally got better tools than you started with, for another you know where you're going with them, and end up in a lot fewer blind alleys.
Keep us posted, okay?
That seems that the VHD is a backup from the C Drive. I don't think it's of any use
The mounted VHD is either corrupt or you don't have full access to it.
Take ownership of it then reassign full right to your user : Right click on the file -> Properties -> Security Tab -> advanced -> click on Modify next to "Owner" -> Type in your Windows username then click "check names" or click advanced and search your username, select it and confirm
After taking ownership right click again on the VHD file -> security tab -> give yourself full control of the file
If you still can't mount it properly, it may be a good thing to backup your C drive again.
Still that wont get your DAZ file back. So unless you can get your HDD repaired, you'll have to start from zero or do something new
...did that and still get the same results in WinZip so likely the backup is corrupt or in some kind of unreadable format. The part that gets me is the partition that was created by Attaching the VHD is listed as being an "SCSI" drive in "Properties" and not initialised (the initialise option was "greyed out" when I right clicked on that drive).
Yeah, not into sending it to a recovery service as it's not just the money, but more the extra waiting around having to ship it back and forth and I also had personal information backed up on that drive (which later was copied to a USB stick). The drive is currently sitting in the freezer in a ziplock for now, may try to hook it up and give it one shot to boot so I at least might be able to rescue my Daz library and runtime folders. If not I may take it to a local shop to see if they can do anything while I'm there.
I haven't bothered reading multiple pages of the threads, but just in case its not mentioned, you can get cloud storage.
I'm currently using Microsoft One Drive, but I'm going to switch to iCloud which offers more space at a cheaper price. I would have continued with Microsoft but they don't offer more space unless you subscribe to Office 365, which I don't need because I already of some of the desktop applications.
Check out Apple's iCloud, great space at very competitve pricing.
Could you use something like the data recovery program that is free in today's GiveAway of the Day?
Google gives 15GB per account for storage. Mega.nz gives 50GB for free accounts.
If you have not already tried 7zip instead of Winzip, I recommend it for decompressing archives and making new ones as the 7z format compresses smaller than zip.
...the system didn't even recognise the drive was there (even in the BIOS) so no recovery tool can be used without a target drive.
...downloaded the trial version of WinZip and that is where I received the error messages about the file possibly being corrupted or not being a "valid archive".
Waiting until my next cheque to get a second 2 GB drive to mirror the new Library drive as I rebuild the runtime structure (still have a balance from the gift card).
I'd have to pay a monthly fee for the amount of data I would need to back up in the cloud (the Library D: drive had around 760 GB on it just relating to 3D). A second 2 GB drive seems a more cost effective solution in the long run
It's been a long day, up since 1:30 AM, so I am beat tired, but I was wondering if the old drive spins up? I recently got a great partition recover tool and rescued the data from the old drive I had saved in a drawer for close to 10 years.
EaseUs Data Recovery Wizard, it recovered the partitions and data when no other tool would even read the drive, they have a free trial version to see if the data is recoverable. Not sure if you have recovered anything, and I am too lazy to read the whole thread, but thought I would mention it, if someone has already suggested this tool, well call me an idiot.
...haven't tried recovering anything yet (the drive's been sealed and in the freezer) .Going to try to fire it up tomorrow on a different port and if it works I'm going to copy off what I can (At least the main Daz3D folder that has the runtimes and scenefiles). If that doesn't work, there is a local shop (with good ratings) not far away that does recovery I can take it to after I get my next benefit cheque and have them attempt to recover just the Daz3D folder and Daz programme installer archive (I have all the installers from the 4.10 beta which I have been using [as it is extremely stable] all the way back to ver. 1.8). That will at least get the runtime library and scenes back.
Was able to copy off all the .jpg/.tif image folders off to C: before the crash as they were small enough to fit (that drive is only 256 GB and about 60% full). I did the backup immediately afterwards (still puzzled why it backed up C: and not the folders I selected on D:).
Also while searching for my media backups I not only found the DVDs but several small USB drives which have older scene files and subsets backed up on them (didn't realise I did that, chock it up to "old timers" I guess). Sadly after scanning them, nothing is newer than 2014 so I still lost all my Iray scenes, (some which are WIPs), and my most up to date character files. However some of those older files are still pretty "priceless" to me and I am relieved I still have them.
That's great news kk! Still keeping fingers crossed;)
..thank you. Most likely the "legacy" scenes will just stay on the USBs or I may transfer them to a larger USB stick so they are all in one location. (that will give me a double backup). need to sift through again because one stick has a couple files from 2015. Hopefully I I'll find I was able to save some of my Iray work like the bus stop and railway station scenes.
...update:
Spoke with a person at that recovery place in town, described what happened, and will be taking the drive in to see if we can get a "heartbeat" on Wednesday. If so then we'll be able to talk cost (the initial evaluation is free). They have fairly reasonable rates and I let him know I am on a fixed income. Either way, I can finally start the ball rolling again.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you
I hope it works out, my friend! Hugs!
..well got the diagnosis today and it isn't good. Apparently one of the heads scratched a platter causing the drive to be totally unreadble and unrecoverable. The one good part in this, wasn't charged for the analysis
At least this finally puts closure on the whole matter after nearly a month. Now begins the long process of rebuilding everything from scratch from runtimes, to scenes, to characters. Not looking forward to this in the least.
Lost some content for good that was not on the USB drives (a lot of very useful freebies, some which were only available for a limited time, as well as pretty much everything I had from Mr Sparky/Poser Direct).
Need some time to weigh this all out before making any kind of a move.
kk I cannot say how sorry I am to hear this!!! I just hope you find the strength to carry on and continue making art, because if you don't, you have truly lost everything:( And I also hope that after some time you find that passion again!
Really really sorry.
Sorry to hear kid. Think positive.
Sorry to hear Kyoto, but I believe in you. Take a few deep breaths, start slow and let the process of beginning anew both be a little grieving process as well as bringing you joy again after all this. I know you can do it!
Much Love bro!!!
I haven't known what to say, and my usual stupid commentary was not appropriate, but I've been off and on following this thread, and I gotta say I'm bummed out hearing that it's not salvageable.
Sorry man... Hang in there.
Bad outcome KK, sorry. In the other thread you mentioned that the problem was a disk head scratching the platter. Ouch.
But it's not a new problem.
Years ago, back in the early 70's I had a friend who worked in the computer center of a large corporation who related this story: An operator of the corporation's computer center arrived in the morning to find error messages on the console regarding disk problems. These disks were those old multi-platter removable disks that looked like a multilayer cake that one would set down into a disk drive the size of a clothes washing machine. They would hold a significant amount of data for the time. Disk errors were not unusual back in those days and much effort was spent to keep reliable backups. So, disk error? No problem, just get the backup disk cartridge from the shelf and replace the bad cartridge. Eerk! Nope, Another message "Disk Error". Sigh... pain in the butt, but all is not lost. Open the safe and get the second backup cartridge and load it. Eerk! Nope, "Disk Error". Now all digital copies of the corporation's financial data is gone.
Fortunately, back in those days paper records were still kept and the staff, after weeks of work, were able to reconstruct the information after it was discovered that the disk drive had had a mis-alligned disk head and it would scratch any disk cartridge inserted. [slap head] 
This is the difference between a computer jockey and a proper technician or engineer. Lack of curiosity & caution after misbehavior especially repeated misbehavior.
Bummer. Possibly the wayback machine could be used to recover some of the freebies?
I'm really sorry for your data loss and I know it will be a lot of work rebuilding. But as for the loss of your paid PoserDirect stuff (even the closure sale stuff), if you contact MrSparky he probably will help you. At least he said so an his store closure page. See "Repeat Downloads" here: https://web.archive.org/web/20180817043913/http://www.poserdirect.com/index.html
And for the PoserDirect freebies most, if not all of them, are now available at FantasiesAttic: http://freezone.thefantasiesattic.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=327
I don't know if this makes you feel any better, but I write fiction and I had a manscript die on me (I forgot to back it up). It actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I had to start over from the beginning and just rewrite it. It actually turned out better than the original. It was a lot of extra work and it set me back timewise, but it turned out to be worth it in the end.
So sorry you were unable to save your content. I know it is disheartening but you will get through this and I’m hopeful you will find your inspiration and come back stronger.
At the very least, if you do decide to dive back in, youll probably be better able to determine what you want to keep and what you no longer need. A leaner, meaner runtime perhaps?
Kyoto Kid, I'm very sorry to hear about your hard drive failure and loss of data. I hope you can find the strength to rebuild your digital art world and continue your artwork. Wishing you the best.
Sounds like an ol IBM 3330 - 100MB!! yeah, we had those.. We used to backup to tape (IBM 3420 - max of 170MB)..