Data Recovery Software?

[PeteSmith]

Ok, following on from my 're-install XP issues' thread i posted earlier i have decided to take a different approach to getting my data back, can anyone recommend a good windows based data recovery application? free or trial version if possible, although i realise that finding free data recovery software will be tricky. I heard disk commander was good, any thoughts?

[Atomic]

http://www.runtime.org/gdb.htm

Was a free version last time I looked...


I know I have got the free version on a machine at work if you want it?

[nvening]

I was about to ask this.

Basicaly, on trying to reinstall a laptop (using some bloatware sony installer recovery cds) i had accidentally left my portable HDD (usb) plugged in. It then preceded to delete all data on it untill i realised that the light was flashing.

I think that i selected the option that just deletes the data, and does not format it, even if i did format it, i guess i would still be able to get it back?

Unfortunatelly, the laptops cd drive then preceded to break and so there is no more sisters laptop lol

Where can i get it repared, cause she (and the rest of the family) want to take it to pc world lmao

[Splash]

What's up with the CD Drive? Could you not just obtain a new one and fit it yourself? (Bearing in mind I've never taken a Sony to bits here - they could have some ridiculous proprietary interface or something...)

[nvening]

(Bearing in mind I've never taken a Sony to bits here - they could have some ridiculous proprietary interface or something...)

Thats what i was thinking, and my family dont trust me (they no absolutely nothing about PCs, but have got paranoid over it)

Also, i would need the same bezzel (i suppose i could change them over) But i have never even taken any laptop apart before.

[BEANFro Elite]

If you've defragmented your hard drive since the reinstall the its likely some data will not be recoverable as the "empty" space has been flagged as "empty" by the defragging application (or something like that) or undeleted data is moved onto the place where deleted data is and therefore some data may have been inadvertedly overwritten...making some data deleted beyond recovery, just thought you'd like to know this...

[PeteSmith]

http://www.runtime.org/gdb.htm

Was a free version last time I looked...


I know I have got the free version on a machine at work if you want it?

Success Finally!, thanks for suggesting this fantastic piece of software, it's taken me many hours and caused me a huge headache but i have finally recovered all of the important files using GetDataBack as you suggested. Thanks for your help. Next time i re-install windows the first thing i’m going to do is physically remove my other hard drives to prevent any interference during installation.

BTW it's amazing what this program picks up, files i deleted months ago, even before i last formatted the disk (i think anyway) were found. Just goes to show when data is deleted it's not really gone at all.

Thanks Again,

Pete

[nvening]

thats comforting to know