Difference between revisions of "data recovery software"
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| − | [[thing type::software | + | [[thing type::software]] |
[[category:software]] | [[category:software]] | ||
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==About== | ==About== | ||
| − | When drives and storage media become unreadable by the usual methods, it is often possible to recover data using specialized [[software]]. | + | When drives and storage media become unreadable by the usual methods, it is often possible to [[data recovery|recover data]] using specialized [[software]]. |
Damaged data generally falls into one of two categories, which we'll arbitrarily designate as "rescue" and "recovery": | Damaged data generally falls into one of two categories, which we'll arbitrarily designate as "rescue" and "recovery": | ||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
* '''recovery''': directory listings are unavailable or damaged | * '''recovery''': directory listings are unavailable or damaged | ||
| − | Different software is appropriate depending on which of the two situations is occurring. | + | Different software is appropriate depending on which of the two situations is occurring. (All software listed is [[free/open-source]] unless otherwise indicated.) |
==rescue== | ==rescue== | ||
| − | + | Where directory listings are ok, but data in files cannot be read: | |
===Linux=== | ===Linux=== | ||
* [[ddrescue]]: like [[dd]], but handles read errors better | * [[ddrescue]]: like [[dd]], but handles read errors better | ||
| + | * [[myrescue]]: similar to ddrescue, but tries to rescue readable stuff first | ||
| + | ===Self-booting=== | ||
| + | * [http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm SpinRite] is an excellent tool for recovering damaged data on drives where the disk surface may be damaged but the drive hardware is usable. (Proprietary; ~$90; copyable) | ||
===Windows=== | ===Windows=== | ||
| − | |||
* [http://www.stellarinfo.com/partition-recovery.htm Stellar Phoenix Partition Recovery] (Proprietary; ~$100) | * [http://www.stellarinfo.com/partition-recovery.htm Stellar Phoenix Partition Recovery] (Proprietary; ~$100) | ||
| + | |||
==recovery== | ==recovery== | ||
| − | + | Where directories bad, but raw data is readable: | |
===Linux=== | ===Linux=== | ||
| − | * [[dares | + | * [[software/dares|dares]]: for CDs/DVDs only; attempts to identify known file types; does not recover directory info |
* [[testdisk]]: looks for munged partitions, lets you adjust partition table | * [[testdisk]]: looks for munged partitions, lets you adjust partition table | ||
| + | ** [[PhotoRec]] is part of the testdisk package, and can extract files from raw data by looking for known headers. [http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec home page] | ||
===Windows=== | ===Windows=== | ||
* [http://www.runtime.org/gdb.htm GetDataBack] | * [http://www.runtime.org/gdb.htm GetDataBack] | ||
* [http://pcinspector.de PC Inspector File Recovery] ([http://pcinspector.de/file_recovery/uk/welcome.htm English]) | * [http://pcinspector.de PC Inspector File Recovery] ([http://pcinspector.de/file_recovery/uk/welcome.htm English]) | ||
* [http://www.smartpctools.com/recovery/ Smart PC Solutions]: versions for FAT and [[NTFS]]; "freeware"/"free download" | * [http://www.smartpctools.com/recovery/ Smart PC Solutions]: versions for FAT and [[NTFS]]; "freeware"/"free download" | ||
Latest revision as of 16:39, 11 June 2014
About
When drives and storage media become unreadable by the usual methods, it is often possible to recover data using specialized software.
Damaged data generally falls into one of two categories, which we'll arbitrarily designate as "rescue" and "recovery":
- rescue: the directory listing can be read, and filesystem-checking utilities (such as scandisk in Microsoft Windows and fsck in Linux) report no errors, but attempting to read files results in error messages, time-outs, or bad data
- recovery: directory listings are unavailable or damaged
Different software is appropriate depending on which of the two situations is occurring. (All software listed is free/open-source unless otherwise indicated.)
rescue
Where directory listings are ok, but data in files cannot be read:
Linux
- ddrescue: like dd, but handles read errors better
- myrescue: similar to ddrescue, but tries to rescue readable stuff first
Self-booting
- SpinRite is an excellent tool for recovering damaged data on drives where the disk surface may be damaged but the drive hardware is usable. (Proprietary; ~$90; copyable)
Windows
- Stellar Phoenix Partition Recovery (Proprietary; ~$100)
recovery
Where directories bad, but raw data is readable:
Linux
- dares: for CDs/DVDs only; attempts to identify known file types; does not recover directory info
- testdisk: looks for munged partitions, lets you adjust partition table
Windows
- GetDataBack
- PC Inspector File Recovery (English)
- Smart PC Solutions: versions for FAT and NTFS; "freeware"/"free download"