UNformat

Faceman · 04-04-2004, 02:28 PM

Hi guys,
good to be back after some stressful weeks.
And on top of that I've got a troubling question:
If one

had accidentally formatted a HD and wanted to "UN"format it and get the lost data back, what program should be used?
friend of mine killed his archive-disk and unlike me has no CD-backups. So help would be greatly appreciated.

philip · 04-04-2004, 03:05 PM

There are programs that can do it but I'm not sure which one is the best. I think most of them are quite expensive but it might be worth a shot trying to get some info back. Just remember that you can't get it all back and alot won't be usable anymore, I think you'd even have to be happy to get back anything at all. I hope he formatted it only once cause with more formats the less you get back.

Beaumanoir · 04-04-2004, 03:06 PM

I never knew you could recover data lost in formatting!! Wow tell me tell me [img]tongue.gif[/img] I'll be watchin this closely [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Vaskez · 04-04-2004, 03:43 PM

Yeah, when data is "deleted" it isn't physically erased off the magnetic disks since that would take time and effort, changing all the bits to zero. Instead it just marks blocks of bits as "overwritable". When reformatting I am not sure, but I think the file allocation table (in a FAT system) is simply reset and the whole disk is marked overwritable. However, until new data is placed over the old, some of it should still be recoverable by scanning the discs with special software that doesnt require the data to be formatted.

This is why there is a market for "secure erase" programs that take ages to delete something because they actually take time to physically overwrite every bit on the magnetic disk.

[ 04-04-2004, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: Vaskez ]

skywalker · 04-04-2004, 04:30 PM

Here is a link with some info:

http://www.oldstuff.myagora.net/powe...at32/fat11.htm

Mark

Faceman · 04-05-2004, 03:56 PM

I did it!!!
I used the trial version of "Restorer2000" and got back EVERYTHING.
The HD was only formatted once and nothing else was copied there afterwards, as we took precautions after we found out.
It was the unlucky byproduct of the frustrating try to install WinXP on my best friends system BTW. Still not done with that though, installation keeps hanging everytime before you can even select the drive to install on. Well, off to new deeds it is

philip · 04-05-2004, 04:00 PM

That's very good news [img]smile.gif[/img] Getting back everything isn't something you hear often

04-04-2004, 02:28 PM	#1
Faceman Hathor Join Date: February 18, 2002 Location: Vienna Age: 42 Posts: 2,248	Hi guys, good to be back after some stressful weeks. And on top of that I've got a troubling question: If one had accidentally formatted a HD and wanted to "UN"format it and get the lost data back, what program should be used? friend of mine killed his archive-disk and unlike me has no CD-backups. So help would be greatly appreciated. __________________ \"I am forever spellbound by the frailty of life\"<br /><br /> Faceman

04-04-2004, 03:43 PM	#4
Vaskez Takhisis Follower Join Date: April 30, 2001 Location: szép Magyarország (well not right now) Posts: 5,089	Yeah, when data is "deleted" it isn't physically erased off the magnetic disks since that would take time and effort, changing all the bits to zero. Instead it just marks blocks of bits as "overwritable". When reformatting I am not sure, but I think the file allocation table (in a FAT system) is simply reset and the whole disk is marked overwritable. However, until new data is placed over the old, some of it should still be recoverable by scanning the discs with special software that doesnt require the data to be formatted. This is why there is a market for "secure erase" programs that take ages to delete something because they actually take time to physically overwrite every bit on the magnetic disk. [ 04-04-2004, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: Vaskez ] __________________ Too set in his ways to ever relate If he could set that aside, there'd be heaven to pay But weathered and aged, time swept him to grave Love conquers all? Damn, I'd say that area's gray

04-05-2004, 03:56 PM	#6
Faceman Hathor Join Date: February 18, 2002 Location: Vienna Age: 42 Posts: 2,248	I did it!!! I used the trial version of "Restorer2000" and got back EVERYTHING. The HD was only formatted once and nothing else was copied there afterwards, as we took precautions after we found out. It was the unlucky byproduct of the frustrating try to install WinXP on my best friends system BTW. Still not done with that though, installation keeps hanging everytime before you can even select the drive to install on. Well, off to new deeds it is __________________ \"I am forever spellbound by the frailty of life\"<br /><br /> Faceman

04-04-2004, 03:05 PM	#2
philip Galvatron Join Date: June 24, 2002 Location: aa Posts: 2,101	There are programs that can do it but I'm not sure which one is the best. I think most of them are quite expensive but it might be worth a shot trying to get some info back. Just remember that you can't get it all back and alot won't be usable anymore, I think you'd even have to be happy to get back anything at all. I hope he formatted it only once cause with more formats the less you get back.

04-04-2004, 03:06 PM	#3
Beaumanoir Iron Throne Cult Join Date: June 3, 2001 Location: There is no IRL, Only AFK. Age: 35 Posts: 4,896	I never knew you could recover data lost in formatting!! Wow tell me tell me [img]tongue.gif[/img] I'll be watchin this closely [img]tongue.gif[/img]

04-04-2004, 04:30 PM	#5
skywalker Banned User Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: VT, USA Age: 63 Posts: 3,097	Here is a link with some info: http://www.oldstuff.myagora.net/powe...at32/fat11.htm Mark

04-05-2004, 04:00 PM	#7
philip Galvatron Join Date: June 24, 2002 Location: aa Posts: 2,101	That's very good news [img]smile.gif[/img] Getting back everything isn't something you hear often

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