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Thread: Accidental Format

  1. #1
    lazy student nvening's Avatar
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    Accidental Format

    I was reinstalling my sisters laptop when i realised my removable hdd was still plugged in with the activity light flashing! I quickly unplugged it but it was too late, all the data on the main partition was gone.

    I would now like to try and recover this data. I dont think it was a low level format (actually, its not formatted, it just shows up as empty space on partition manager 2005) but i do not really know because it was done using the recovery CDs that came with the laptop, these have a wizard on them to install automatically.

    So can it be done and what (free?) software can i get to do it? I have downloaded search and recover3 which i was recomended by a previous post on hexus but it didnt find anything, its not looking too hope full but there wasnt any really important data on it luckly.

    Anyway, you help is much appreciated.

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    Seething Cauldron of Hatred TheAnimus's Avatar
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    Right sounds like its been de-partitioned this makes recovering the data even more non-trival.

    What format was the partition?
    throw new ArgumentException (String, String, Exception)

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    Grizzled old-timer! Deadlight's Avatar
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    http://www.quetek.com/prod02.htm

    It ain't free, but it's very good. Best recovery software I tried.
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    lazy student nvening's Avatar
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    Well this is a screen shot of my disk arangement, the two partitions show at the bottom are the partitions from the removable usb hard drive.



    As you can see the partitions appear coprrect but when it double click on H it says it is not formated, would you like to format now?

    What is wrong?
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    Seething Cauldron of Hatred TheAnimus's Avatar
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    its not formatted, in a manner windows can read.

    I don't know of any free tools for that level of recovery, how much is the data on it worth to you?
    throw new ArgumentException (String, String, Exception)

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    The late but legendary peterb - Onward and Upward peterb's Avatar
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    Whoops - your sister must be VERY long suffering!

    Yes, it is possible to retrieve the data, but as The Animus sys, it is not a trivial process. If the data was essential/critical (it should have been backed up!) it could be got back by a specialist company - but it will be expensive. Some of the utilities mentioned earlier MAY do the job - you could ry Partition Magic - but if you can recreate the data (for example if they are MP3 files) then that might be the easiest solution.

    Edit - just seen The Animus's post above. You could try one of the Linux Fdisk programs (from a Knoppix live disk) but I wouldn't hold out much hope from a free (or even a commonly available commercial) program.
    Last edited by peterb; 31-12-2005 at 02:06 PM.
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    lazy student nvening's Avatar
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    its not important, it was a backup of my system and some er software

    EDIT: i have an unbuntu linux pc downstairs, could i try this fdisk thing on there?
    Last edited by nvening; 31-12-2005 at 02:09 PM.
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    The late but legendary peterb - Onward and Upward peterb's Avatar
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    I don't know what Ubantu ships with - you could try...but I really don't hold out much hope...
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    Agent of the System ikonia's Avatar
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    let the data go -

    This is not a dig, but seeing as you linux abiities are super poor and you refuse to read the manuals or even understand what your trying to do on linux - I'd say this is not important data so let it go.
    It is Inevitable.....


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    Hi - have you tried Easy Recovery Professional v6?

    This has always been able to recover data from anything I've had problems with - from corrupt pen drives, to hard drives that refuse to recongise partitions. I'm almost certain that this software will be able to recover your data - but in what state depends on the situation. PM for more info.

    The software isn't free, but very very good.

  11. #11
    Seething Cauldron of Hatred TheAnimus's Avatar
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    http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee/cdrom.htm#cdiso

    Apparently their 60day version might do all you need. This isn't my sugestion thou, so i've no idea.

    this link might be of use.
    http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.c...id=1139&page=1

    ikonia, which part of fdisk are you intending to use to recovery a fat? which appears to off been damaged? whilst i've never tried, or really looked closely at fdisk, i can't recall ever seeing a version that offers reverse computation?
    throw new ArgumentException (String, String, Exception)

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    Agent of the System ikonia's Avatar
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    I didn't say anything about it being able to recover anything,

    I said because of lack of ability with linux, not to start messing with it to try to recover data as it would probably go wrong and make things worse
    It is Inevitable.....


  13. #13
    lazy student nvening's Avatar
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    (he has a point)
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