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Save that Data. Computer File and Drive Protection and Recovery Resources. Terence Sullivan, Shiloh/Chrisman Schools.
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Save that Data Computer File and Drive Protection and Recovery Resources
Terence Sullivan, Shiloh/Chrisman Schools “Save That Data.” Everyone has had that experience of losing critical documents. Almost always the data is recoverable for no cost. A simple USB memory stick can carry all the free tools needed for recovery of a single deleted file to a completely trashed hard drive. A tool-kit with how-to instructions will be available. (Appropriate for all grade levels.) tsulliva@comwares.net
Nice Tool - Bonus • Internet Explorer History Viewer – “IEVH” • http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/iehv.html • Will display Internet History in a complete and organized format for every user on a computer • Session Philosophy – using all free software or utilities included with OS
Backup and Archive • Best defense is a good offense • Recycle Bin – ONLY local drives • CD/DVD burners • Onetouch Backup – external drive • Ntbackup (Windows) • Syncback • Cobian Backup
Windows Archiving Tools • System Restore – ONLY system files • Volume Shadow Copy (VSC) • NTBackup • Windows Resource Kit Tools • Robocopy
How Drives Work • Files are stored magnetically or optically on the drive. • Drive is organized in logical parts • Sectors, Tracks, Cylinders, Partitions • File is “written” onto the drive and the LOCATION(s) is recorded in the file tables • These apply to • Hard Drive, Floppy Drive, CD, CDV, Flash Memory, SD Cards, even digital tape drives
How Drives Work • Examples • Hard Drive • Floppy Drive • CD Rom
Signs that your drive is damaged or failing • Strange noises or grinding sound • SLOW to open/save a file or boot • Unresponsiveness • Freezes and locks up. • Blue screen of death • TIP – check the event logs!
What happens when a file is “lost” • Erased • Really just delete the file table so the reference to what and WHERE is lost • Overwritten • Remagnetize the same parts of the drive or redo the reflective ink on the CD/DVD • Drive Partition is Lost • Boot record is corrupted and the beginning/ending points for the logical drive are lost • Physical Damage • Head crash, disk scratched, drive motor issues, drive controller issues
Recover from Minor Drive Damage • CD-DVD • Clean the drive with water and lint free cloth • Scratches with polisher or toothpaste (fine abrasive) • Crack – run it in a SLOW drive (older drive) • Disk Drive minor corruption • Included OS Tools • Chkdsk (Win), FSCK (Linux), Disk Utility Mac • SFC (system file checker) in Windows
Windows Tools • If system boots it may be possible to run and fix from inside Windows • System Restore to revert and recover system files if it is corruption damage and not hard drive failure • CHKDSK gui or command line • Chkdsk /R • SFC command line • Scf /scannow • Reference Site - http://ss64.com/
Simple (?) Undelete • **Convar – PC Inspector 4 • http://www.pcinspector.de/Sites/file_recovery/download.htm?language=1 • Softperfect File Recovery - fast scanner • http://www.softperfect.com/products/filerecovery/ (NTFS-FAT, HD, FD, Flash, SD) • Undelete Plus • http://www.undelete-plus.com/ (NTFS-FAT, HD, FD, Flash, SD,…) • Hiren’s Boot Disk run inside Windows
Portable Apps • Stand Alone programs which do NOT require installation to run. • Small footprint and clean up after themselves • Can carry and run from Flash drive (or other media) • Search for Portable App Project or Portable Freeware • http://portableapps.com/ • http://www.portablefreeware.com/
Live CD Tools • Bart’s PE –WinXP http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ • Dell Linux with Open Management Server tools (OMSA) • http://linux.dell.com/files/openmanage-contributions/omsa-51-live • Knoppix - http://www.knoppix.org/ • Disk First Aide with Knoppix • http://www.shockfamily.net/cedric/knoppix/ • Helix – custom Knoppix - for forensics and recovery • http://www.e-fense.com/helix/ • Ultimate Boot CD - http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ • SystemRescueCD - http://www.sysresccd.org/ • Hiran’s Boot CD • Ubuntu (Live CD – use aptget) - http://www.ubuntu.com/ • Ubuntu Rescue Remix - http://ubuntu-rescue-remix.org/
Tricks of the Trade • Floppy Drive – try in another machine or best option is to try in a MAC or mounting in a *nix machine • Hard Drive – try the “freezer” trick • SD or flash card readers for direct USB connection • USB to ATA/SATA drive universal adapter • Allows connecting basically any computer or laptop hard drive to a computer via the USB port • Preferred Recovery Approach is to IMAGE the drive with some type of BIT Copier and then work on the image not the original
Corrupted Files • Microsoft Word • File – Open and choose • “Recover Text from any File”
in this case, I would try Testdisk or Parted to restore your partition table. I hope her note wasn't longer than 512 characters. • Source - http://xkcd.com/340/
Serious Corruption • TEST Disk – recover partitions in most OS & File Systems (free) • http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download • Found on many Live CDs • Often Bundled with PhotoRec • Restoration (free) • http://www.snapfiles.com/get/restoration.html
Sluth Kit • For those so inclinded • Forensic Tool • the Sluth Kit and Autopsy graphical interface • http://www.sleuthkit.org/index.phpS
Commercial • Gibson Research (Steve Gibson) • SPINRITE • http://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm • Recovery Services
Dead Disk Readers • Hard Drives, CD, DVD, Floppy, Flash • http://www.s2services.com/diskreaderfreeware.htm • Tools for all OS systems
dd variants • Linux, Debian, OSX • Linux/Unix history • File or Drive/Partition recovery tool • dd – command line • ddresue – easier user interface • gddrescue – gnu project ddrescue
Ubuntu Example • In terminal • Install gddrescue $ sudo apt-get install gddrescue • Run this command and BE PATIENT $ sudo ddrescue –v /dev/hdc cdr-backup2.iso /ddrescue.log Or $ sudo ddrescue –v /dev/hdd1 /dev/hdc1 /ddrescue.log $ sudo fsck -C /dev/hdc1
dcfldd • Linux Tool • dcfldd best on DEBIAN! • http://dcfldd.sourceforge.net/#download
Terence Sullivan, Shiloh/Chrisman Schools Questions ? Presentation www.il-edtech.org www.shiloh.k12.il.us/presentations tsulliva@comwares.net