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Give TestDisk a try. Years ago I have been able to use it to recover almost all files from a unreadable disk coming fom a RAID1 mirror gone bonkers due to a fau

Give TestDisk a try. Years ago I have been able to use it to recover almost all files from a unreadable disk coming fom a RAID1 mirror gone bonkers due to a faulty controller. https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk edit: oh, I just read that you mentioned TestDisk. Yes, it can recover the directory structure, at least it did in my case. After using it you will likely see that some files have been duplicated with a suffix added, like document.doc and document.doc.xyz (can't recall the exact suffix) in the same directory. In that case you need to check which file has been fully recovered, and rename it if needed.

jqbdwst 4y ago
TestDisk is a miraculous tool !
- raffraffraff 4y ago
  TestDisk is cli-only. I decided to have a look at PhotoRec (created by the same folks as TestDisk). It has a handy QT gui. Unfortunately, the only option is to scan the disk for selected file types and dump them all into a chosen location. This loses folder structure, so years of files will all get blended. I'd prefer an undelete option that can target "C:\Users\TEMP\Documents" etc, but this might be asking too much. Gonna try TestDisk next..
  - axiolite 4y ago
    Testdisk is great when you need to recover a whole partition, but not nearly as capable and advanced when it comes to recovering deleted files. You'll do much better with purpose-build Windows undelete utilities. I've had good luck with freeundelete: https://www.officerecovery.com/freeundelete/ https://www.officerecovery.com/freeundelete/
  - sorenjan 4y ago
    Recuva has worked well for me in the past, it has a "Restore folder structure" option in the settings. https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva
    - stjohnswarts 4y ago
      I would suggest to new people that you should make a backup raw disk image before you do any of these recovery methods if the death of your drive is imminent :) . If you're just trying. If you just accidently deleted a file then you'll probably be okay :) . ddrescue is pretty good at making backup images where dd will give up.
  - jaclaz 4y ago
    Testdisk is essentially about partitions/volumes. Photorec is about files only. They are both vey good at what they are supposed to do, but in your case Testdisk is not suited and Photorec represents a last attempt as recovered files are carved, basically you will lose not only directory structures, but also filenames and metadata. A good GUI tool (not of the "one click" type, it needs some learning to use it) is DMDE: https://dmde.com/ https://dmde.com/
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jqbdwst 4y ago

TestDisk is a miraculous tool !

raffraffraff 4y ago
TestDisk is cli-only. I decided to have a look at PhotoRec (created by the same folks as TestDisk). It has a handy QT gui. Unfortunately, the only option is to scan the disk for selected file types and dump them all into a chosen location. This loses folder structure, so years of files will all get blended. I'd prefer an undelete option that can target "C:\Users\TEMP\Documents" etc, but this might be asking too much. Gonna try TestDisk next..
- axiolite 4y ago
  Testdisk is great when you need to recover a whole partition, but not nearly as capable and advanced when it comes to recovering deleted files. You'll do much better with purpose-build Windows undelete utilities. I've had good luck with freeundelete: https://www.officerecovery.com/freeundelete/ https://www.officerecovery.com/freeundelete/
- sorenjan 4y ago
  Recuva has worked well for me in the past, it has a "Restore folder structure" option in the settings. https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva
  - stjohnswarts 4y ago
    I would suggest to new people that you should make a backup raw disk image before you do any of these recovery methods if the death of your drive is imminent :) . If you're just trying. If you just accidently deleted a file then you'll probably be okay :) . ddrescue is pretty good at making backup images where dd will give up.
- jaclaz 4y ago
  Testdisk is essentially about partitions/volumes. Photorec is about files only. They are both vey good at what they are supposed to do, but in your case Testdisk is not suited and Photorec represents a last attempt as recovered files are carved, basically you will lose not only directory structures, but also filenames and metadata. A good GUI tool (not of the "one click" type, it needs some learning to use it) is DMDE: https://dmde.com/ https://dmde.com/

deleted 4y ago

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