Recovering files after accidental format.

C

cosmicsynch

New Member
So, big screw up. Couple weeks ago, I try rebooting my computer, and when it boots, it gives me an error message that one of the boot files is screwed up. And in the process of trying to fix things, I use a tool that doesn't, in fact, recover the drive to a previous state, but formats and reimages the hard drive (it's an HP laptop, so it had a separate partition to allow you to reinstall windows without benefit of an actual Windows CD)

So, mea culpa, I didn't understand what the utility was going to do. The laptop, of course, is working fine again, except that I wiped out all my files. Obviously, there's no way I'm going to be able to recover things like programs and stuff, but I did want to recover at least things like certain text files and images. I downloaded a program called EASEUS Data Recovery, which said it could restore files after format...and after running it, it did, in fact, find files that had file names that I recognized.

However, when trying to recover these files, what I find instead is that most of the file names were in there more than once...and I realized that what it was actually finding was not whole files, but file fragments (which would obviously not open by themselves). I looked on the program website, but it didn't seem to acknowledge this as being a potential issue, or how to remerge the fragments into a working file.

Does anyone have any reccomendations re programs and/or techniques for recovering these old files? Thanks in advance.
 

My Computer

System One

Sounds as though you have tried to recover the files & only got fragments of them?

Do all the parts add up to the full file or not? If not, I would suggest you are "Stuffed". Sorry

Do you have a copy on a memory stick, back up CD or HDD etc?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP-Pavilion m9280.uk-a
    CPU
    2.30 gigahertz AMD Phenom 9600 Quad-Core
    Motherboard
    ASUSTek Computer INC. NARRA3 3.02
    Memory
    3582 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory (4 Gig)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS NVIDIA Geforce GTS450
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition 7.1 Audio (HP drivers)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2408 24.0" (Dual monitor)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1200, 1920 * 1200
    Hard Drives
    3*500 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    Plus 2x USB (160Gig each) external HDD
    BluRay & DVD Weiters
    HL-DT-ST BD-RE GGW-H20L SCSI CdRom (Bluray RW) Device
    AlViDrv BDDVDROM SCSI CdRom (Blueray) Device
    TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-H653N SCSI CdRom
    Internet Speed
    40 Meg
After a format and re-installation (and using the computer in the meantime as well), recovery of almost anything is doubtful at best - but the best tool I know is Recuva Piriform - Download. There are other tools, but if this one doesn't work, the others usually don't do very much better.

Only you can decide if the data is important enough to take the PC to a data recovery expert to recover the files (they will have better programs and equipment to do so than any of us do and than I provided above). Do NOT go to Geek Squad or any of those big store centers - they mostly don't know what they're doing - take it to a data recovery expert. It will cost quite a bit (I mean, a LOT) and they usually offer no guarantees – you typically pay the same price if they recover everything or if they recover nothing. In this case, I'm not sure even they can be of much help - but I'm not an expert so I don't know what they are capable of doing. The decision is yours.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. MP061 Inspiron E1705
    CPU
    2.00 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo 64 kilobyte primary memory
    Motherboard
    Board: Dell Inc. 0YD479 Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
    Memory
    2046 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Di
    Sound Card
    SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (17.2"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS541616J9SA00 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n SB2411SJGLLRMB, rev SB4OC74P, SMART Status: Healthy
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    Chassis Serial Number: 5YK95C1
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    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
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    Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    1958 Kbps download ; 754.8 Kbps upload
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD+-RW AD-5540A ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]

    Dell AIO Printer A940

    Conexant HDA D110 MDC V.92 Modem

    6TO4 Adapter
    Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
    Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter
    Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
    Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

    Router Linksys / WRT54G -01
cosmicsynch said:
So, big screw up. Couple weeks ago, I try rebooting my computer, and when it boots, it gives me an error message that one of the boot files is screwed up. And in the process of trying to fix things, I use a tool that doesn't, in fact, recover the drive to a previous state, but formats and reimages the hard drive (it's an HP laptop, so it had a separate partition to allow you to reinstall windows without benefit of an actual Windows CD)

So, mea culpa, I didn't understand what the utility was going to do. The laptop, of course, is working fine again, except that I wiped out all my files. Obviously, there's no way I'm going to be able to recover things like programs and stuff, but I did want to recover at least things like certain text files and images. I downloaded a program called EASEUS Data Recovery, which said it could restore files after format...and after running it, it did, in fact, find files that had file names that I recognized.

However, when trying to recover these files, what I find instead is that most of the file names were in there more than once...and I realized that what it was actually finding was not whole files, but file fragments (which would obviously not open by themselves). I looked on the program website, but it didn't seem to acknowledge this as being a potential issue, or how to remerge the fragments into a working file.

Does anyone have any reccomendations re programs and/or techniques for recovering these old files? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...



Okay so you formated your HDD and now you want to recover some data yet you are only getting fragments of files

This may be because Windows Vista has Written over some of the other Fragments meaning that the current ones you have found are gone forever :(

Okay I have a Suggestion which Most likely won't work but give it a try anyway

If your Find fragments of files then it may be an indication that your HDD Is Fragmented so try using a Defragmenter to build the files together

BE WARNED NOT ALL YOUR FILES WILL BE RECOVERABLE

I would recommend using Defraggler though you may have use a different Defragmenter

See Defraggler - File and Disk Defragmentation - Free Download For More Information


Hope This Helps,
Josh
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 2400 @ 3.10GHz
    Motherboard
    Foxconn H67MP-S/-V/H67MP
    Memory
    8.0GB DDR3 @ 665MHz (2GBx4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD HD Radeon 6870
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SMB1930NW (1440x900@60Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    977GB Seagate ST31000524AS ATA Device (SATA) + 250GB WD iSCSI attached Drive
    Case
    Novatech Night
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Dell HID-compliant mouse
There is a tool kit that law enforcement use to recover data from wiped disc's I have a link for it somewhere and could try to find it for you if the data is really important, like unreplaceable, not just a hassle to get again.I would not post the link on the forum though.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
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