What's the Best Hard Disk File Recovery Software

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by pratzert, Aug 31, 2016.

  1. pratzert

    pratzert Registered Member

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    Hi All.

    I would like some input/opinions on what the "best" hard disk recovery software may be ?

    I tried to upgrade to Win 10 from 7 and then downgrade again. The upgrade went OK, but something went very wrong trying to revert back to Win 7.

    The drive couldn't find the operating system. The one mage I had failed too.

    I am most concerned about finding and salvaging my PST files to get my old emails and address book.

    Any suggestions ?

    Thanks !
     
  2. kC_

    kC_ Registered Member

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    I personally love runtime
    https://www.runtime.org/data-recovery-software.htm

    but you dont really need recovery software as doubtful your user folders will have been deleted.. maybe you just need to fix the uefi or mbr for it too boot...if not then you just need to copy the data, or manually extract the files from your existing backup image
     
  3. pratzert

    pratzert Registered Member

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    kC_,

    thanks for the info. My drive won't even boot and I'm pretty sure that when I tried to use the image I had, it trashed some sections of the disk. I'm stuck......
     
  4. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    Easy. In situation like this, your files are still fine, you just got a wrecked boot loader, which is not so important at all.
    If you have a second computer, make a Macrium Reflect boot USB. Boot from there, and use the "fix boot problems" feature in the recovery media. Normally it can fix any boot problems. Try it.
     
  5. WildByDesign

    WildByDesign Registered Member

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  6. pratzert

    pratzert Registered Member

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    Thanks ! I'll give it a try....

    Regards
     
  7. pratzert

    pratzert Registered Member

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    I had a copy of the OnTrack recovery software many years ago.... I have to see if I can find it and get an update/upgrade to the latest verison.

    Thanks.
     
  8. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    Perhaps if it's an old computer it needs storage drivers loaded before it can see the hard drive.
     
  9. ArchiveX

    ArchiveX Registered Member

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  10. NormanF

    NormanF Registered Member

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    Best file recovery?

    Back up ALL your important data to the cloud.

    If your hard drive fails or Windows fails to boot, the data is safe and can be easily recovered.

    Much easier than trying to extract files from your HD.
     
  11. pratzert

    pratzert Registered Member

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    NOW You Tell Me ! :.)
     
  12. Kirk Reynolds

    Kirk Reynolds Registered Member

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    If you can't repair the MBR, or whatever the problem is, and boot into Windows, then perhaps booting into Linux live and seeing what you can recover that way may help.
     
  13. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Which app created the image?
     
  14. Infected

    Infected Registered Member

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    ERD Commander will work also.
     
  15. pratzert

    pratzert Registered Member

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    Thanks for the help... I'll be trying that if I don't have any success trying to boot.
     
  16. pratzert

    pratzert Registered Member

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    Win 7
     
  17. pratzert

    pratzert Registered Member

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    Thanks... I've heard of it, but never looked into it. I'll check it out.

    Regards.
     
  18. NormanF

    NormanF Registered Member

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    Moral of the tale is get into the habit of backing up your data.

    Its time-consuming to recover it. First thing people should do when they set up Windows.
     
  19. pratzert

    pratzert Registered Member

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    I agree. I actually back up most of my file son an external HD, but overlooked, specifically, the PST files to save my address book and emails.

    Unfortunately, I usually backed up the Documents/Libraries which do not contain the PST files.

    Those are what I really want to recover.

    I now plan to be sure to do regular images of the drive(s).
     
  20. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    And don't rely on WIn 7 imaging, use something like Macrium Reflect
     
  21. pratzert

    pratzert Registered Member

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    Yep! I learned that lesson too! That's why I just purchased the MR 4 license pack a couple of weeks ago.

    Besides using MR for doing images, what is your suggestions for the best "Back-Up" software package.

    Something that will encompass all I should back-up, including the PST/Outlook files?

    Something that will be able to determine the difference between what files have been altered since the last back-up copy just those?

    I believe the simpler the software is to use, the more inclined I will be to use it.

    Thanks.....
     
  22. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Hi Prazert

    I use a program Outback Plus by Ajsystems. It backs up every thing Outlook needs and you can also back up other files. Also what I do on my business system is run an hourly back with Macrium. You can also retrieve files from images.

    Pete
     
  23. pratzert

    pratzert Registered Member

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    Thank you Peter!

    I appreciate the info an I'll check out Outback Plus.

    Regards.
     
  24. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    Regarding Outlook pst files: isn't this kind of files always stored on MS Exchange server? Why the need to back it up? All you need to do is to set up your Outlook account one more time after you restore a disk image, which probably only takes 2 minutes of your time.
     
  25. pratzert

    pratzert Registered Member

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    I do not know...

    But actually I was using Outlook Express, not Outlook. So the file folders/extensions should be .dbx and .wab (address book), not the PST folders I mistakenly mentioned.
     
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