File Recovery Software

[E_OGRADY]

I did have a 2TB drive connected to the USB port on a Netgear WNDR4500 router, some (not all) files when copied to this drive have gone into cyberspace, my opinion is that it could be the HDD, the router, the network or other. however I have lost many files.

I decided to run Recuva, it took about 20 hours and did recover about 180 files, all very general, i.e. mp3, doc, jpg, pdf, tif etc. It did not recover files from, say Surething Labeller where the extension is std.

My question is "Is the software (Recuva) only capable of recovering the more general files? Does it have a limitation?

If so is there more powerful recovery tools that will recover all files?

The drive is still in the state it was when the problem was noticed, there may have been overwritten files during the period prior to identifying the problem.

[Rudi]

According to Recuva web pages, it runs a standard scan which mentions it looks for all file types if you search with Other.
If you use Deep Scan Mode, it only recovers specific file types.

Regarding other more powerful recovery apps?
I've only ever used Recuva myself as I've always believed it to be the best of the free recovery tools. This web page lists 17 recovery apps were Recuva is said to be the better of the lot. At TechSupport they also list Recuva a a very good product though I see they have an app called MiniTool Power Data Recovery which they rate as best (though it has a limit on 1GB in the free edition). You may want to give this app a try....maybe it can pull out additional files even though it might only be on the first 1GB of data.

[stuck]

...there may have been overwritten files during the period prior to identifying the problem.

That is the most likely reason as to why you can't find stuff.

I too am not aware of Recuva being limited to scanning for only certain file types, i.e. as far as I know it will find anything that's been deleted but it can only find what it can read and it can't read stuff that has been overwritten.

Ken

[E_OGRADY]

Thank you Guys,
I have been away at a funeral, hence the delay.

I am running a deep scan again in the hope it may recover more.

I cannot find within the interface where the "other" check box is, I am confused but have decided to again run a deep scan.

Will let you know

[Rudi]

I cannot find within the interface where the "other" check box is, I am confused but have decided to again run a deep scan.

Hi,

This is a screenshot of the wizard with the "Other" option.

recuvawizardfiletype.png

[E_OGRADY]

Again halfway throught a deep scan and "Live Update" restarted the computer. Should have switched it Off.

When the scan is completed I will look for that dialogue box.

I am not taking the risk, I purchased a new Toshiba drive yesterday and will monitor that a lot more carefully to see whether the files are being written or simply not getting there due to the wireless network.

Thanks for holding my hand.

Ted

[Rudi]

Well...it's more like I'm holding thumbs.
Good luck with this recovery endeavour.

[E_OGRADY]

Second scan no different to the first, it took over 18 hours and recovered the same 287 files.

Thank you for guiding me through this task, I think I will do a full format of the drive, I think this is probably the best way to identify the problem.

[Rudi]

TX for the feedback and sorry for your loss (in data terms that is!)

[E_OGRADY]

Gee I feel a little bit relieved tonight, I have just got around to checking the location of "Other" it appears as thought the Recuva wizard has changed.

[Rudi]

Lol...nothing like a rename to confuse things.

Reminds me of the old PC jokes...
Technician to user: Please press any key
User: Where's the ANY key?

[E_OGRADY]

MY sense of humour

Where is it?