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Recovered files are corrupted

I am trying to recover some files from a hard drive that was formatted. I didn't think I would ever need these files, but now I do need them (don't ask why). I am using a freeware program called "Undelete Plus". It is able to see my files when it does a scan, and it even will restore the files to another drive for me. I was pretty excited at that point, but then when I try to open the files, they are junk. I attached an example. I have a variety of xls, doc, jpg, bmp, and mpg files I want to rescue.

Do you think I would have any better luck with a different software, or will they all pretty much give me the same disappointing result?

Is there any way to repair these files from the condition that "Undelete Plus" returned them?
example.doc

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gurutc

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Tim86

ASKER

I tried the iRecover program at gurutc's suggestion. I'm sure it works great in some situations, but for my particular issue, it had the same result. Files were supposedly restored, but when I opened them, they were corrupted. However, I was able to save a bunch of pictures off of a memory card, which "Undelete Plus" was unable to do. So for that, I'll be sure to award some points to gurutc. However, for now, I'm waiting for another solution. Anyone???

gurutc

OK, I haven't given up. Hmm.

Do you get multiple copies of the files. Because some of the files you're restoring may actually be ones you deleted long before you formatted the drive. They would still have parts of them on the hard drive until they were over-written. irecover gets back everything that still exists on the drive, not just the files lost due to the format. Files that had been previously deleted would definitely come back as corrupted.

Just a thought, and thanks for the points.

- gurutc

Tim86

ASKER

The files weren't deleted before the format. A couple of the files did come through okay with both recovery programs I tried. But 90% or more of the files are messed up.

gurutc

Well shoot.

- gurutc

Tim86

ASKER

Thanks. I never found another solution for the hard drive files, but iRecover restored some photos from my memory card. My wife was elated. Thanks alot!