Can I use Linux to recover files from corrupted hard drive?
 

So I have a simpledrive 1tb and it's not being recognized by neither PC or MAC.. both computers ask me to initialize/format it!!

On a different forum I was told that I could use Linux to retrieve the files.. I tried UBUNTU? but it didnt even show the drive when I plugged it it.

I would like to know if I using Linux will help me recover my files?
and if so where could I get the ISO?

hope you can help, thanks.

Use testdisk / photorec :

http://www.cgsecurity.org/

what does 'dmesg' show when you connect the disk ? In case the drive is detected, you can consider 'debugfs' to recover lost data. This can work in most cases.

Here---and everywhere......
First you have to chose a distribution---I would start with anything in the top ten on the "hit list" at http://distrowatch.com

You might try searching Google for a distro that includes testdisk and photorec and comes in a LiveCD

Use my new one
it'll be a good test
http://linux.softpedia.com/get/Syste...86-54010.shtml

post here
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...0/#post3839136

Hi,

'TestDisk' will meet your needs. 'PhotoRec' is another recovery tool.

'TestDisk' is on 'SystemRescueCD', 'UBCD' and 'RIP'

:hattip:
The above links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

ok so When i go to disk management it tells me the drive is unnallocated.

-------

Im using "testdisk" from the link that @Linux.tar.gz gave me and i chose Intel? [i dont remeber what it asked me] then i chose to analize it, but it couldn't find a partiotion so i chose "deeper search" [it took HOURS]

now it tells me:
structure: Ok.
Use left/Right arrow keys to CHANGE partition characteristics:
*=primary bootable P=Primary L=Logical E=extended D=deleted
KEYS A:add partition, L= Load Backup, T= Change Type, P:List files
ENTER to continue
NTFS found using backup sector!, 1000GB/931GiB

I do not what to do to start I dont know what's the difference between the characteristics...
I want to choose 'list files' but i don't know if I should..

help =S

Good point that the ntfs was found.

You will need another disk in order to recover files with photorec.
Filenames will be lost.

Then you can try to recover the partition with testdisk, pushing enter.

so far everything's gone smooth =]
I recovered the most important files but i still got some left in the drive but can't copy them because my computer doesn't have enough space..

hopefully i'll find a way to get to another hard drive and copy them.

but for now this case is closed.




















..or is it?

so parasiempresk
whic Linux distro did you use?

Hi,

If solved then please mark it as [Solved] via the 'Thread Tools'.

EDIT:
Sorry, removed wrong reply

@linus72 i used testdisk http://www.cgsecurity.org/ that's it.

but today I woke up, turned on my computer.. and the pc recognized my drive again! just like before.. unbelieveble almost a month after the last time I was able to open it.

thanks everyone, you all should work fixing computers lol..

I had a similar problem. Upgraded a fine working Mandriva 2007 system to 2010 version and it decided to clear the data from /home despite not being asked to format it. I used testdisk from a Gparted live CD (actually a multi-mini-distro cover DVD from Linux Magazine, December 2009) very successfully last evening. It wasn't a completely intuitive experience but I soon worked out how to tell the photorec program to find what it could and save the results on an external HD. I now have several directories full of files to sift through for the few I actually wanted to recover (sigh!). If I can make time, will repeat the exercise and write a quick "how to" for the benefit of others. Btw, from the testdisk readme (I think it was), I obtained a list of live distros that include it - Knoppix is also a carrier.