It was formatted in Linux during a failed install, so I have no idea whether it was a full format or not. I also have no idea of how fragmented the disk was, but most of the files were complex .gba, .sav, .zip, .sgm, .z64, and .exe files.
It was formatted in Linux during a failed install, so I have no idea whether it was a full format or not. I also have no idea of how fragmented the disk was, but most of the files were complex .gba, .sav, .zip, .sgm, .z64, and .exe files.
No, maybe,, HDD recovery works because the magnetic domains arent completely overwritten. Flash drives dont erase teh data, they just amrk the sectors as empoty, they will only overwrite the oldest empty sector, so as logn as you dont write anythign to the flash drive, teh data is still there.Originally Posted by DarkAlex
Uhhh...ok. Also, the install tried to write stuff to the drive but failed, would this make a difference? And, would reformatting the drive back to FAT make any difference?
Last edited by DarkAlex; 03-11-2008 at 06:20 PM.
Ummm, hello? Anyone here?
The answer is definately maybe. There is no guarantee the dat is there or erased unless you fill the drive with new data. The only way to tell for sure is to get or write a utility that will read the raw chip info.
Reformating to a new file system won't make a difference. Formating erases the information about files on the disk, so it doesn't "know" any files are there.
Use a recovery program as soon as possible and stop writing any data to the partition.
I haven't written anything to the partition yet, although the Linux installer tried to but failed. Would a failed attempt to write to a disk make a difference?
Any write done to the disk will lessen your chances to recover any data, so write as little to the disk as possible.
Actually, I just looked at the drive and it turns out that the install was sucsessful, therefore data was written to the drive. Any hope for me now?
Last edited by DarkAlex; 03-12-2008 at 07:57 PM.
Sure. Data written lessens the chance of recovery. It does not eliminate it.
Chances are much data is still intact (especially if it's a big partition).
But the only real way to know is to try. Run a recovery program and see if it can get your data back.
Just don't write anymore stuff there.
The programs mentioned in this thread only work on Windows-based drives, although I haven't used them after installing a program that enables Windows to read Linux-based formats. The partition was 1GB.
I don't know of any software that can recover EXT3 drives, though there are to be some.
I'm trying it again, and there seems to be some progress, thogh that might be because I deleted the Linux files.
SpinRite?
"The Internet treats censorship as damage and routes around it." - John Gilmore
Oh, I meant the first programs mentioned. I forgot that one.
