Need Ideas on Recovering Data

[Captainkidd]

Alright so here's the deal. My desktop got a virus, nasty one at that, it "deleted" my partition and dismounted the hard drive. I downloaded a Windows XP LiveCD and remounted the hard drive but, the LiveCD lacks the program necessary to retrieve data off the now 120GB of unallocated space. I've tried to put a program called 'Recover my files' (http://www.recovermyfiles.com/) in the .iso image and burn it to my disc but when I put it in my computer it doesn't boot from the CD. Not only that, but even if I was to put that program on my LiveCD and recover my data I have no place to save it because the LiveCD doesn't recognize my Laptop (running Windows 7) through a USB or Ethernet connection.

 

Any ideas? I was thinking about trying to find another LiveCD or program that would let my laptop 'see' the hard drive or maybe see about trying to partition the first few GB of HD space and installing Windows XP so I could then install the Recover my files program, but then I'd still need to figure a way to connect my laptop to my desktop...

 

Oh and I do know that the data is still on the computer because the LiveCD had a program that would allow to find 'lost' pictures (but not files, go figure), which I ran and it came up with pictures that were on the computer, also I ran a few checks and the hard drive is still in good condition.

 

 

 

~ Captainkidd

[Mil]

This has happened to me, I thought an Ubuntu LiveCD would work, but it did not help.

What would be easiest is to get another hard drive by buying/borrowing it, install an OS, move all the files over to it. Then wipe your main HD, re-install your OS of choice, and move the files back, and return the hard drive, or keep it as a backup.

[Captainkidd]

Well I doubt I'd be able to barrow a hard drive plus I don't know how to hook it up to my computer to have two, so I'm defiantly not buying one.

 

Is there anyway I could get my laptop to recognize the hard drive on the other computer? Also I've read that you can take the hard drive out and buy an adapter that allows for it to be plugged in via USB, but I don't know if that would work seeing as the hard drive is all unallocated space.

 

 

 

~ Captainkidd

[Captainkidd]

Well I took my hard drive outta my tower and found out a couple of things. There's a huge heat sink in the CPU, and none on the GPU, it's VERY dusty, and I have a eSATA port on my Laptop, but my hard drive is a SATA. Looks like I need to buy an adapter.

 

 

 

~ Captainkidd

[Sbrideau]

Or a hard drive case, And they're not that exepensive either, my eSata hard drive case didn't cost that much. But then again, will it cure your problem?

 

You could simply put another hard drive in your computer and transfer the files using a live cd.

 

That or you could format that partition (using quick format) and use something like recuva te recover your files.

[Captainkidd]

Just bought one of these. Hope it works. :S

 

http://www.amazon.com/eSATA-SATA-Serial-Bridge-Adapter/dp/B0037AN6H4

 

I was just going to use the power cable that's attached to the power supply on the computer to power the drive, and use the SATA cord that was in the computer. I just hope that my laptop will recognize the drive.

 

 

 

 

~ Captainkidd

[Solartide]

Get this baby:

 

http://www.amazon.com/USB-2-0-SATA-Cable-Adapter/dp/B001OORN06/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1274770372&sr=1-2

 

What you bought might work, but this thing is so much more malleable.

[Captainkidd]

Well hopefully I should only need to use this once for an hour or two so I wasn't trying to spend any money on it, and hopefully it comes tomorrow so it gives me something to do when its extremely hot.

 

 

 

~ Captainkidd

[Captainkidd]

I got the adapter and it recognized the drive with no problems.

 

I used the program "GetDataBack" and it opened up my C:\ drive with all the files and folders still intact, and although I wasn't able to recover my data, because I'd need to buy it I was wondering if there would be a way to just recover that partition that it found, and "re-intstall" it back onto my hard drive so it would return the computer to what it was before this whole ordeal.

 

I'm also going to create an .iso image of the complete hard drive just to keep as a backup or possibly to work from until I get this all 100% worked out.

 

 

 

~ Captainkidd

[Sbrideau]

Get Recuva, completely free: http://www.piriform.com/recuva/download

[Captainkidd]

I did download and try Recurva, but it stopped within seconds of starting because it couldn't find the boot sector or something along those lines. But with GetDataBack it didn't search for any of the files, it just found the partition and all the files. I just don't know how I'd go about restoring my computer.

 

I was thinking, because I made that .iso image of my hard drive to wipe it, then somehow install the .iso image onto the hard drive? I really don't know. :S

 

 

 

~ Captainkidd

[Sbrideau]

If you do a quick format on that unallocated space, recuva will probably be able to get your files back.

[Captainkidd]

I have no trouble getting my files back with GetDataBack as it shows me my C:\ just like it was before this mess, right now I'm trying to see if there is someway to recover the entire partition and put it back onto the hard drive so my computer was like it was before.

 

 

 

~ Captainkidd