Recover files- Recovering Lost / Deleted Files
July 6, 2009
Filed under file recovery
Tags: data recovery software, file recovery, file recovery software, hard drive recovery, recover deleted files, recover files, recover lost files
When does one need to recover files? Generally there are many reasons that create a need to recover files. The first is a physical breakdown of a hard drive. The second and more common reason we need to recover files is that we accidentally deleted them. Sometimes this occurs through no fault of our own due to a simple system error. In either case when you need to recover files begin by locatinga data recovery program targeted for your computer and its operating system.
After the brief overview of Windows supported file systems, I will come back to my main topic i.e. File Recovery.
What is File Recovery?
The process of recovering lost, deleted files is termed as File Recovery, which is irrespective of file system.
What to do when files are lost or deleted?
Find appropriate file recovery software that can recover lost files from hard drive, USB drive or memory cards.
Remember: Once you know that the file is lost / deleted you should not copy any data on that partition / drive.
Download and install the file recovery software on other partition or drive and follow the software guide or onscreen instruction.
Windows NT File System (NTFS)
December 19, 2008
Filed under Windows File system
Tags: file recover, new technology file system, ntfs, ntfs file system, recover files, windows file sytem
NTFS (New Technology File System) is an advanced file system supported by Windows NT, including Windows 2000, XP, 2003 Server, 2008 Server, and Windows Vista. NTFS contains several files which defines and organizes the file system. It supports large volume and powerful storage solutions such as RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disk).
The most important features of NTFS File System is its ability to encrypt files and folders to save your important data. NTFS supports almost all sizes of clusters – 512 bytes to 64 KBytes.
In NTFS, all file data such as file name, creation date, access permissions, and content are stored in the form of Meta data in Master File Table (MFT). Master File Table contains Meta data information about every file; directory and Meta file on NTFS volume. It includes file name, location, size and permission.
The Meta files define files, backup critical file system data, and buffer file system changes, manage free allocation space, track bad allocation units, satisfy BIOS expectations and store security and disk space usage information. All content will be in unnamed data stream unless and otherwise indicated.
The Microsoft designed the Microsoft Windows NTFS, specifically for the Windows NT operating system, to support and include features required from an enterprise-class file system. When NTFS was created, Microsoft already supported two file systems: FAT and High Performance File System (HPFS). NTFS was designed as a more robust replacement for HPFS (High Performance File System).
Most PC’s are configured with fixed hard drives. These PC’s are used for a variety of purposes, including file share servers, mail servers, database servers, and home or information worker desktops. There are many requirements for a file system that arise from these different usage scenarios, such as recoverability, availability, security, and performance. NTFS meets all of these requirements, which makes NTFS an ideal file system for use with fixed hard drives.
FAT File system
December 19, 2008
Filed under Windows File system
Tags: fat file system, file corrupt, file recovery, file repair, recover deleted files, recover files, windows, windows operating system
FAT (File Allocation Table) file system is supported by all versions of Microsoft Windows and almost all other operating systems such as MAC OSX, Linux to name a few. It was originally developed as a simple file system suitable for floppy disk drives less than 500 KB in size. Over the time it has been enhanced to support larger storage capacity media. FAT uses three variants with respect to the size of the storage media: FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32. The basic difference in these FAT sub types, and the reason for the names, is the size (in bits) of the FAT entries in the actual FAT structure on the disk.
| FAT Type | BITS in FAT entry | Uses |
| FAT12 | 12 | Current versions of Windows use FAT12 for floppy disk media and removable media. |
| FAT16 | 16 | Windows supports FAT16 for hard disk volumes and removable media. |
| FAT32 | 32 | Windows supports FAT32 for hard disk volumes and removable media. |
The following table shows the number of bits used in the FAT entry for each FAT file system type and what each type is used for in Windows.
FAT file system on Hard Drive
For some usage scenarios depending upon the capacity of the storage media, FAT16 or FAT32 may be suitable for a hard disk drive partition.
Windows 98 does not provide any support for NTFS, so the native file system is either FAT16 or FAT32. Another scenario is when the user wants to boot the PC by using a floppy disk to access data (typically some system recovery tools) on a hard drive volume. Because a FAT volume does not provide the benefits of NTFS, careful consideration should be taken to determine whether the disadvantages of using the FAT file system outweigh the need to use FAT on a hard drive partition.
Understanding of Windows File System
December 19, 2008
Filed under Windows File system
Tags: fat, fat12, fat16, fat32, file recovery, file system, ntfs, recover deleted files, recover files, Windows File system
File Systems uses a data storage device such as a hard-disk or CD-ROM, and involves in maintaining the physical location or the allocation information of the files and folders.
File System is an algorithm which works along with the operating system to manage files and folders on a data storage device, most commonly on disk drive, which is connected to the computer, the most common example of disk file system includes: FAT (FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32), NTFS, which is primarily used mostly on Windows operating system.
The two local file systems currently supported on Windows 98, 2000, XP, 2003 Server, Vista and 2008 Server platforms are:
- File Allocation Table (FAT)
- New Technology File System (NTFS)
