HARD DRIVE RECOVERY SOFTWARE

[moveit]

My hard drive has just crashed and I want to access it to recover as much of my data and emails as possible. As it is the operating system that is corrupted, the hard drive will not let me see the disk.

Can anyone suggest a good hard drive recovery software that allows the access of crashed hard drives?

 

[kestrel1]

If the drive is just corrupted, you could try booting from your Windows XP CD (I presume this was XP) & choose the repair option with the recovery console, by pressing 'R' at the first screen. Then choose the Windows version you want to repair (normally option 1) Enter the admin password (may be blank) Then from the command prompt type 'chkdsk /r'
If the hard drive has problems this may sort out the file system etc & allow you to boot normally.

 

[moveit]

Hi kestrel1

I use Windows 2000. When I booted up there was a message saying files were missing. I did put the hard drive into an external drive and used another computer to try and access it but although it recognised the drive, it would not let me see what was on it.

If there is a recovery software program out there then I need one that allows me to see the various files and folders on the hard drive.

 

[kestrel1]

So the drive is recognised in the BIOS. Do you get a drive letter in My Computer for that drive on the other machine? If so you may be able to recover the files. You could try this one:

http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm

I haven't tried it myself. There are others available, just do a google search for file recovery.

 

[moveit]

Thanks kestrel1 for the site. Tried it but it only finds certain files and does not let you see the hard drive as normal.

I did try a Google search but there are so many programs that I do not know which is best. I did notice that the cost also varies that is why I have asked for help finding the right one which will let me see the hard drive.

 

[vacunita]

do you know what thhe Filesystem was on this drive?? (NTFS, FAT) and What version of Windows was running in the machine you used to hook the external enclosure?

Win98 will not read NTFS whihc is the normal thing to have in Win2000.

In any case,
Try Getdataback from runtime.org. its a little pricey, but the evaluation version will tell you whats recoverable if anything.

----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[moveit]

Hi vacunita

It was FAT32 o/s Windows 2000. The machine I used to hook the external enclosure was also Windows 2000 on NTFS. The machine was able to read another hard drive with FAT32 so I know it should work. I will look at Getdataback and come to you.

 

[kestrel1]

Have you tried using the Windows check disk utility? If you can see a drive letter in My Comp, right click on the icon & select properties, tools & select the error checking option. Tick the boxes & click OK.

 

[moveit]

Hi kestrel1 I tried the utility but it asked for the drive to be formated.

I have tried Getdataback but I am still getting to understand what it does. Some files show as numbers and letters and when I look in them they do not make sense. I will try more and let you know what happens.

 

[kestrel1]

I have found that with data recovery. I think the files that are nonsense are partial files that you probably deleted a long time ago & part of the information has been over written, therefore making the file unreadable.
I have used Get Data Back & found it to be very good at recovering deleted files. If you are finding what you are looking for, then a purchase may be in order if you think it is worth it.

 

[moveit]

I have tried 7 different data evaluation recovery programs. Although they pick up some of the same files, each program seems to find files that the others do not. I still do not understand some of the files they find. For example one is called (225ADD). The brackets are shown.

Regarding the duplicate files I got for Carol. I contacted Getdataback and they told me to un-tick the duplicate box. I did this but still got the duplicate files.

As far as I can see none of the programs allows you to actually see the crashed hard drive. I will continue searching.

 

[vacunita]

You do realize, that if it really crashed, the recovery apps, are just going to show you what they can actually re-construct form the failed drive. They most likely wont show you the drive structure exactly as it was if they can't recreate all the info for it. GetDataback of the ones I've tried is the one that more closely recreates the folder tree, as it was. But if it can't find that information, it will only show you what it can. If there are folders with cryptic names, its because it can't find out what they were named before, the information was lost in the crash and its just naming them sequentially. You'll have to browse the folders and try to determine by their contents what folder it used to be.

This is real life not TV's CSI. where they click on a burnt drive, and up comes an email detailing the bad guys plan to blow up or kill some victim.


If none of the apps are coming up with satisfactory information, it might be because there really isn't that much to recover after the crash.

----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[moveit]

Hi vacunita

I understand what you are saying. I originally had a program called Roll Back. It is the same sort of software as GoBack. I un-installed this so I could put a newer version on but after I had un-installed it the computer would not boot saying certain files were missing in Windows 2000. I am assuming that the folders and files relating to saved work, such as family tree for Carol, should be intact. From what you are saying these files could be lost. One thing a couple of the programs say is the format is Fat16. I used Fat32.

As the evaluation Getdataback does not give me the opportunity to use all the facilities could buying the program make accessing easier? Certainly for the future.

 

[eyec]

before you give up try the program WinHex.
access the physical drive/partition not the virtual and it may be able to capture a lot of your files.

i had a HD die and WinHex was able to recover 99.9% of my files.

good luck

 

[eyec]

p.s. i did have to slave the dead HD to a good working OS & HD

 

[moveit]

Hi eyec Tried Wintex and it seemed to do a lot of work but I think I do not understand it as I cannot seem to find how to see what files it can find. Can you please give me some help as you said you had used it. I have the hard drive connect via a USB external drive bay.

 

[eyec]

when you load WinHex go to the Start Center, Open Drive, then Tools, File Recovery.

select the physical drive and click on the file to recover.

this is going from memory, as i do not have it currently loaded (i have it saved to a CD) and this system is only using one HD.

 

[moveit]

Hi eyec I have tried what you have said but it does not seem to do what the software sellers screen-shot says. I cannot get the left hand side breakdown of the files. I have the site address

http://www.x-ways.net/winhex/screenshot.html

It does not seem very expensive so would you advise me to buy the full program? At least I know I would get support from the manufacturers.

 

[wahnula]

This is real life not TV's CSI. where they click on a burnt drive, and up comes an email detailing the bad guys plan to blow up or kill some victim.

I would like to point out that a review I read of GetDataBack stated the free version did little or nothing, but when they loaded the pay-for app it was surprisingly good at recovering almost everything from a formatted drive. So don't write it off because the trial version did not work perfectly...if it did nobody would buy it.

I try to be as careful as possible with all my data re: backups of backups but judging from results read here & elsewhere if I needed to get data off a bad disk, I would pony up the coin to get the full GetDataBack program first.

Another good (but not free) option is Spinrite, it repairs the disk where possible and reassembles files. ZeroAssumptionRecovery has a free trial and is worth a shot:

http://www.zeroassumptionrecovery.com/

Best of luck.

Tony

 

[eyec]

if you are not experienced in data recovery then i would recommend you buy a supported data recovery software program.

there are quite a few available but those already recommended here would do the trick.