Easy Data Recovery

The following describes methods for recovering data from the healthy carriers, which can take the minimum time, not having the expertise in this area.

Recovering data from faulty devices and methods for obtaining information from corrupted files, this article will not be considered.

So ...
Terrible happened:

Quite suddenly "disappeared" logical drive or partition with the file system was shown as unformatted, "lost" individual files or directories when trying to open the application was an error.

Or maybe you just accidentally deleted important files or reformat the partition with the necessary data and put it on the operating system. Error in choosing the hard drive when you create a partition table is also quite common cause of data loss.
Who's to blame?

In the first case, these troubles were due to bugs in the partition table or file system structures. This can happen, for example, after an unclean shutdown device malfunctions of hardware and software or as a result of viruses. Also one of the most common causes of such errors is a partial failure of the disk surface - the emergence of "bad-sectors." Unfortunately, this phenomenon is not uncommon even for new hard drives, operating in a few weeks or even days.

Who is to blame in case of loss of information due to user error, you may guess:)
What should I do?

If an entry in the sector containing the files have not been made, the data is physically still in their seats, but lost or distorted information about their location. Thus, the need to determine exactly where the sector containing the desired information, and consider them in the correct sequence.

When we recorded on the disc, such as formatting, with the subsequent installation of the operating system, the likelihood of physical destruction of the information you need can be quite large. In such situations, the possibility of successful data recovery depends on luck and the ratio of the volume lost and the recorded information. For instance, if you accidentally deleted a 1GB accounting bases and then recorded on the same logical partition 70Gb interesting films, the probability of recovery at least something close to zero.

It is also worth to note that the loss of data due to errors in the file system, running programs such as ScanDisk significantly reduces the probability of successful recovery. The main objective of these utilities - bringing order to the service structure of the file system that they do, not caring about the fate of user data. At the same time destroyed the "tracks" on which one could reconstruct the file system structure before the damage and save the data. The fact that you can do if skandisk yet been started, the article "Restoring data from chk-file".

In general, a data recovery program first scans the entire drive. According to scan results, based on the detected service records, mapping the location of the fragments recovered files and builds a directory tree. The card contains information about which cluster to which the file belongs, sizes, names and other attributes of the elements of the scanned file systems - all that was possible to learn based on the residues of official information. If the resulting scan data is not enough, then used certain methods of extrapolation. Then the files and folders that you want to restore, selected in accordance with the mapping and transferred to another carrier.

My experience is that most everything that is possible in principle to restore the healthy carrier of information, gets through the following programs. And only in a minority of cases, highly skilled, working at a lower level, is able to restore information to a greater extent.

Before you begin to self-recovery, should take into account the possibility of a physical malfunction. This is especially likely in cases where data were lost for no apparent reason, or when trying to open files error message. And although the program mentioned below are not themselves commit destructive actions (they generally do not write to the partition you are working with), further work with a faulty drive without special equipment can lead to aggravation of the situation, until the complete impossibility of restoring the data. Therefore, in case of loss of critical information, we strongly recommend to consult a specialist.
What to do?

Considerable experience with different programs to recover the data shows that none of them gives the best result in all cases, loss of information. They use different algorithms, which have their advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, depending on the nature of the damage on the same file system, better results can show the different utilities.

This fact is well known, and therefore in the process specialists use selection of programs from different manufacturers, and in every situation applies tool best suited for a particular case. Or use several different programs consistently.

UFS Explorer - the most versatile that I know of software packages for data recovery. Utility completely Russified, including documentation. UFS Explorer Standard Recovery is convenient for professionals who support the recovery of information from various types of drives, all popular at the moment the file systems. There are versions for Windows, Linux, BSD, Mac OS. Editorial Raise Data Recovery is a set of tools for users who want a one-time recovery "here and now." Functionality of each of them is limited support for one particular file system, only work under Windows.

Free data recovery software R.saver help save data from FAT or NTFS. It is designed for users who are not familiar with the device file system and the principles of recovery, so the interface is maximally simplified. Settings are made automatically to start the scan just click a button. This makes the program less useful for professionals, but also greatly simplifies its use by ordinary users. Interface and user manual in Russian. Installation is not required, it is enough to download and unzip. The license terms allow only non-commercial use on the territory of the former USSR.

If the algorithms above programs were not optimal for a particular case, I recommend to try the R-studio or GetDataBack. In addition, a selection of different tools can be found in the archive data recovery software.
How do I do?

Almost all manufacturers offer free trial versions of their products. As a rule, their functionality is limited to saving files found by scan. For example, a demo version of UFS Explorer allow you to store files up to 64 KB. Therefore, if to solve the problem is not suitable software for data recovery, which can be downloaded for free, try the demo versions of commercial tools, and get one that will give good results.

Many programs have excellent documentation in Russian and with colored pictures, so give here a detailed description of the use does not see the point. For example, an excellent guide for UFS Explorer, available through the button "Manual" in Control Panel. Step by step instructions for recovering data available on the support pages UFS Explorer and R.saver, there are references to sections of the forum where you can ask questions.

Therefore, below I will describe the overall sequence of actions and features of which are identical for almost all utilities.

1) Install or decompress the downloaded program. Before proceeding to this action, be sure to plan to execute them on a disk or partition other than the one where information is lost.

2) Start and pre-scan that runs automatically. Tools use different algorithms for this, which is why they have different start time and the list of found file systems. Some programs can immediately show the damaged sections, which are not seen by the operating system, and some will not show even a device that will restore the data. If all you need, display, proceed to the third point. If not, read on about the possible options:

The device is listed, but the partition on it can not be found:

1. If such a functional program is supported, you can use the advanced version of the initial scan. For example, in UFS Explorer for this purpose is the "Find the section".

2. Run a scan across the device at once. Some programs, such as R-studio, allow it to make a showing in the scan results possible the topics to the alleged file structure.

3. To use another program.

The device is not listed, but is determined by the operating system. In Windows, you can check that by looking a list of devices to Start-> Panel_upravleniya-> Administration-> Computer Management-> Disk Management. If the drive was connected after the start of the program, then restart it, or upgrade your phone. It did not help - try another program.

The device is not determined by the operating system. Check the connections and power supply. If everything is connected correctly, but the drive still in the system is not visible, then most likely you are faced with a physical malfunction. Consideration of such cases is beyond the scope of this article. Explore other materials or check with the experts.

3) Setting the scan is usually performed after selecting the drive or partition and pressed the start button, right before the start of the process. Some programs, including R.saver, perform pre-set automatically. The utility may request:

* Boundaries scan. If you know in what kind of memory should seek the necessary data, the adjustment of these parameters can save time. If you do not know - leave the defaults.

* Type of file system. Some programs offer a select one from the list, suggesting in this case the optimal choice, others may propose to exclude from the list of file systems, which are on the drive just can not be.

* For certain types of file systems, multilingual program may request the assumed encoding. For example, for Russian FAT32 should choose cp866.

* In addition to these settings, utilities often offer select one or more algorithms to be used in the scanning process. They can be divided into three types, depending on the purpose and features of work:

1. Recovering deleted files on file system intact. Full scan for most types of file systems in such cases is not required. Used exclusively for the recovery of deleted files. Some programs start it automatically, in the preliminary scan.

2. Reconstruction of the file system after injury or formatting. The aim - to create a virtual directory tree that reflects the contents of the scanned file system in its original state without damage. If successful there, you can save the required data to another partition.

3. Recovering data over the signatures, so-called "rough" restoration or «raw recovery». Signature - a characteristic sequence of characters that I can understand that found a piece of data relates to the specific file type. Used in cases where other methods have not helped. Result of the application will have files without titles, sorted into folders depending on the type of data contained in them.

Each type of storage media, file system and operating features, making their criteria in the selection of the optimal method of data recovery. For example, despite the fact that the restoration of the signatures is recommended as a last resort, in one of the most common causes of data loss, you can start right away and get excellent results. This case - accidental deletion, formatting, or damage to the structure of FAT flash camera. File names and folder structure in such cases is not important. In addition, pictures are usually written in sequence on a blank flash drive, so the data of each file are stored together in a single chain. This creates ideal conditions for the use of "rough" recovery.

4) Scanning can take from several minutes to several hours or more depending on the characteristics of the drive, the way it is connected to the computer and the algorithms used. After completion of the utility displays the contents of the virtual directory with the files found.

5) Study results of scanning, selecting files to be saved. Many programs for the assessment of found files, provides the function of previewing. The files mark or distinguish. If the verification process of the required data could not be found, it's time to take advantage of restoring the signatures, if you have not already done.

6) Saving files - in fact it is self-recovery, because the process of scanning program simply identifies the location of the fragments (see What to do?). Press the corresponding button on the toolbar or select the section in the dropdown menu. Then choose a location to save. Make sure the folder in which to store the result, is on the partition or media other than the one that was scanned. Next, click the confirmation and meditate, watching the revival of the precious data.

Before closing the program, make sure that the correct restore all that is required, or save the scan result. Otherwise, if you find that you need something else, need to scan again. This may worsen the outcome in those cases when the surface of the hard drive starts to fail.

7) Error reading "freeze" while scanning the hard disk or store the result may indicate the presence of unreadable sectors. It is probable data loss was caused by their appearance. The more, the slower the process will go. To test the hypothesis, you can use HDDScan.

In such cases it is advisable to remove sector-based copy on non-defective hard drive and recover data from it. Remember, the work of a similar drive c worsens his condition. If you are not sure what you are doing, and important information on the disk - it is better to consult a specialized organization. There are at recovering data from "showered" drives use hardware and software systems specifically designed for such work.

Article plan to update and complement, as new information about the software and recovery techniques. Arisen in the course of reading questions can be asked in the appropriate forum topic "

I wish you a successful recovery and good mood.