File recovery if FAT file is gone! 1

[tedped]

Is there a utility, freeware preferred, that can recover files if the FAT file is gone?

I got the error message "unable to read harddrive" after rebooting a locked up screen. Tried recovery disk and it stated that the FAT file was gone. This could be virus related, because of possible I-worm? malware(the icons moved and changed frequently and also screen lock-ups); nothing was detected by latest McAfee AV prior to crash.

I know, I know, ALWAYS back it up frequently.

Running Win98 on Compaq Presario 7360, AMD 500MHz, 10GB, 64MB .

 

[walshy]

you can download a recovery program if the sophos (dont know how to spell it or if my memory serves me correctly) virus has wrecked your fat, or if you have fdisked it by mistake. I have used it when I fdisked a drive by mistake, I had a quick look throuh my download files and the file fix-ch.exe searched for it on the web found

http://grc.com/fix-cih.htm

good luck.

 

[Sapient2003]

First you will have to fix the partition table. You can do this by using the command "fdisk /mbr", this will reset the Master Boot Record, or you can use "fdisk" and fix the partition(s) manually. Once the partition table is working, if you have the Windows 95 CD or QBASIC, you can use the undel utility that comes with it. If you are without both of those CDs, there are plenty of disk recovery tools that you can find from

http://www.download.com

. If this problem occured because of a virus, after fixing the parition table, I suggest you use virus scanning software to make sure everything is clean. Good luck. --Sapient2003 - sapient@sapient2003.com
"The worst insecurity is beleiving you are too secure."

 

[Speccie]

Hmm The CIH virus is called chernobyl faq615-1866

 

[jmatt]

http://skyscraper.fortunecity.com/amd/887/rescue/e_index.html

Drive Rescue - the hard drive discovery and emergency tool - freeware

Drive Rescue is a data recovery tool for Windows(R) 95, 98, ME, NT and 2000 users. Additionally, it can be used as a disk editor.
What Drive Rescue can do for you:

Find any lost and deleted data on your hard disk even if the partition table is lost!
Discover important file system tables of your hard disk, including paritition table, boot record, FAT and file/directory records.

What Drive Rescue can NOT do for you:

Find any data on a physically damaged hard disk!