Question

Need free undelete/recovery software for NTFS volume

Asked by: mburdick

I had a computer running Windows XP that crashed. The system completely died, and I believe the issue was the system board. Without having parts to fully troubleshoot, I bought a new computer.

I had planned to copy my data from the old drive, but it's basically gone. The Windows directory is missing, Program Files, Documents and Settings, all of it. Basically, everything that could be associated with a Windows installation is missing.

I'm looking for some free utilities that will allow me to search the disk looking for all data that could still be present and recover what I find.

I tried PC Inspector File Recovery, but it didn't find anything associated with Windows (other than a number of restore point files).

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Asked On
2008-08-25 at 05:30:44ID23675003
Tags

Microsoft

,

Windows

,

Vista / XP

,

Data recovery software / NTFS

Topics

System Diagnostic Software

,

Disk Partition Tools

,

Microsoft Windows Operating Systems

Participating Experts
4
Points
0
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: SheharyaarSaahilPosted on 2008-08-25 at 05:37:08ID: 22304918

how are you connecting the drive in the new system? slaving or using an external usb enclosure?
try to run your hard drive diagnostic utility to find out what's the problem with it?
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

may it was not your mobo but indeed the hard drive which died out!
as far as recovery software is concerned, i don't go with a freeware when the matter is getting my important data back
i usually go with GetDataBack or Ontrack Recovery Software
http://www.runtime.org/
http://www.ontrackdatarecovery.com/

 

by: willettmeisterPosted on 2008-08-25 at 05:55:43ID: 22305034

Are the multiple drives in your system?  Is it possible that you had a RAID set configured?

 

by: mburdickPosted on 2008-08-25 at 05:59:45ID: 22305060

The drive appears to be functioning properly as I can access it and there were no diagnostic errors on it. It was a single drive in a desktop system.

I'm actually very good with computers - I just need recommendations on *free* recovery utilities.

 

by: pgm554Posted on 2008-08-28 at 14:39:14ID: 22340180

Nothing free comes to mind,but you can download of copy of Getback NTFS from www.runtime.org and see if the files are recoverable.
It's cheap to license if want those files back.

 

by: mburdickPosted on 2008-08-28 at 17:20:51ID: 22341134

The product I originally had tried and mentioned in the question (PC Inspector File Recovery) produced results on par or better than commercial products I tried at work or from this post.

Since my request was for free product recommendations, I'm closing the question and accepting this answer as the solution.

 

by: r-kPosted on 2008-08-28 at 22:35:35ID: 22342734

Not sure if you tried Restoration, it is free:

 http://www.snapfiles.com/get/restoration.html

BTW, I would second the suggestion to give the free version of GetDataBack a try. I have seen it work where others have failed. Also, with the free version you can recover one file at a time, which may be adequate if you just need to recover some files.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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