pontiac1940
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Post by pontiac1940 on Mar 24, 2020 23:48:26 GMT
Hi folks. I really messed up. REALLY messed up. I was formatting three SD cards this afternoon by popping a card reader in and out of the USB ports. While doing so, my main everyday external backup hard drive was also connected. It is WD 5-TB drive with about 2.5 TB of data on it. There were several years of photo and document backups on it. ALL of the files on it are also backed up elsewhere on numerous external hard drives. So I should not lose anything but a lot of time to put all the files back to the one 5-TB drive. (The beauty of the one 5-TB drive is that almost all files I need to access are on it.) Naturally, by now, you know what I did. ( RED face!) I accidentally "quick formatted" the 5-TB drive!! Not smart and not happy over my error. I should note, that when I format an SD card it takes a 2 or 3 seconds. When I formatted the 5-TB drive (with about 2.5 TB of data) it also took just two seconds. So I an certain the data are still there....just blocked. I understand a quick formatted drive still has the data all should be intact and it is a matter of recovering it or revealing it. The local Best Buy shop is working on reduced hours and I am sure they could recover the drive in a few minutes. I might drive to the city tomorrow. Shall see. I've read about software that does this and reluctant to try any software for the moment. RecoverIt gets good reviews, but it is an annual subscription. I just want it for a one-time use. I'd gladly pay for software but hesitant of getting locked into an annual contract. Your suggestions are most welcome. Thank you! Clive PS: I feel like an idiot!  |
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Post by Peterj on Mar 25, 2020 0:19:34 GMT
Clive, The reason there's almost no time delta is a quick format doesn't erase any of the data but just overwrites the master file table (an index of where all the data is located on the drive). All the data is intact and the software used will sequentially read the data and rebuild a master for you.
There are free options available; the ones with which I'm familiar use Linux
I don't know of these 2 are actually free
Until you're ready to attack this I strongly suggest that you disconnect the drive from your system. You don't want ANYTHING to be written to it until the data is recovered.
I also suggest that you use an old drive or an SD card for a test scenario. Put some data on the test drive, then format it and run which ever software you've chosen. The reason for this is you don't want ANY writes to the 2TB drive until your ready to recover the data. It's probably not going to be fast!
If you decide on a Linux tool PM me and I'll gladly help.
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Post by Sepiana on Mar 25, 2020 0:32:18 GMT
I understand a quick formatted drive still has the data all should be intact and it is a matter of recovering it or revealing it. . I've read about software that does this and reluctant to try any software for the moment. RecoverIt gets good reviews, but it is an annual subscription. I just want it for a one-time use. I'd gladly pay for software but hesitant of getting locked into an annual contract. Your suggestions are most welcome. Clive, I use Recuva (which was highly recommended on the now-closed EV forum). www.ccleaner.com/recuvawww.ccleaner.com/recuva/features |
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,362
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on Mar 25, 2020 1:10:18 GMT
Peterj and SepianaMuch appreciate your suggestions. Thanks. I just got off the phone with a small private computer tech company that has been in business in the nearby city for 20 years. I've met the owner a few times as he is also a photographer. They said they can almost certainly reveal the folders and contents for me. Tomorrow, I am going to sanitize the small drive with isopropyl alcohol and deliver it in a new envelop. I appreciate your suggestions, but feel more comfortable having an actual technician look it. I was prepared to get some software if need be. If it does not work, then I either follow you leads or will simply start rebuilding the folders in the drive. It will take several hours. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again! Clive PS: I still feel like an idiot! Big ooops. 
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Post by blackmutt on Mar 25, 2020 1:21:38 GMT
Oh Clive, I feel for you. I would do the same, trust an expert or at least someone more knowledgeable. Good luck
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Post by Lillias on Mar 25, 2020 12:39:46 GMT
I know what you are saying Clive but please don’t feel like an idiot. This sort of thing could happen to any one of us at some point (and probably has).
I also would do what you are doing in going to a tech company rather than try to fix things myself when I wasn’t sure about the process of doing so.
I hope it all works out for you - good luck.
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Post by cats4jan on Mar 25, 2020 13:00:28 GMT
Glad to hear all the data is saved to other sources. Seems all you’ve lost is time. Hope the tech can recover your data - which I’m betting he can. After he restores it, would it be worth it to you to spend the money to get another EHD and make a copy of the master.? That is what I would do.
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Post by Andy on Mar 25, 2020 23:18:51 GMT
I fried two hard drives rebuilding my computer this winter. I was stupid to hook both up at the same time instead of doing it one at a time. It was late, I was rushing, etc. etc. So don't feel bad!
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,362
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Post by pontiac1940 on Mar 26, 2020 2:09:35 GMT
Thanks for you supportive comments. Much appreciated.
Andy .. ouch!
I wetted and wiped dry the drive with isopropyl alcohol and sealed it in a new Ziploc bag. Then delivered the drive to the tech this afternoon and she going look at it soon. She would not guarantee success. If it does not work, I'll simply rebuild the drive from the other drives. It was so handy having the past few years on one drive.
Will let you know.
Thanks,
Clive
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Post by hmca on Mar 26, 2020 2:18:17 GMT
Was waiting for this update......fingers crossed!
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,362
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on Mar 31, 2020 18:08:25 GMT
Update ...
Just talked to the tech who tried to recover the drive and he claims the drive was empty and he tried several software tools.
I am not happy, but there is nothing I can do but rebuild that drive which I can and will do ... I did it in November when I bought the new laptop. It will just take a lot of hours.
I have no recourse, but suspect he screwed up ... possibly a miscommunication between him and his techy daughter. As you recall, all I did was to a "quick format" and Peter and Sepiana said the data should be there, but hidden. The tech called the day after I dropped off the hard drive. He said he was checking it with some software and was getting positive feedback. Then he said something like, "You know when a drive crashes blah blah ...." I interrupted him and said, "The drive did not crash, I accidentally did a quick format." He muttered, "Oh." That alerted me to the possibility that he used an inappropriate technique. Maybe. Maybe not.
Oh well, I'll pick up the drive tomorrow and have to decide if I try to use that drive again or buy a new one. I will rebuild that 2.5 TB collection of documents and photo files going back a few years.
I am most displeased, but in perspective, my problem is minor compared to what's going in in the world.
Sigh!
Clive
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Post by Lillias on Mar 31, 2020 20:57:05 GMT
I'm so sorry Clive. I really feel for you but at least you do still have your photos all be it you have to rebuild your folders again. What a pest eh!
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,362
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on Apr 1, 2020 4:01:43 GMT
Thank you Lillias. I am not happy, but it is solvable and nowhere the worst of my worries. If I get a new drive soon (or I might try the old one again..not a drive fail...Clive fail  ) we are in for more bad weather so I will get it rebuilt. Clive |
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Post by cats4jan on Apr 1, 2020 6:16:27 GMT
I would be hesitant to use the old one even if I thought it was my error that caused the problem. My hours of work would be more important to me than the cost of a new drive. You could still use the old drive again, but for something less important.
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,362
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on Apr 2, 2020 4:15:16 GMT
Thanks all. cats4jan Janice, I am leaning that way. Best Buy is closed (apparently can order online and pick up) and Amazon has 4-wk deliveries now. Life goes on and we are well. All good. (Well I am a titch cranky about this...nothing I can do about it, eh?) Clive |
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) we are in for more bad weather so I will get it rebuilt.