Originally posted by geniusIf you used the quick format option, then utilities exist that can extract information from untouched sectors.
is it possible to retrive information from a formatted disk?
However, if you performed a complete format, then you are out of luck.
-Ray.
[Edit: I read diskette instead of disk. My information was for a formatted diskette. Carry on.]
yes and no
There is software available to 'unformat' a drive, but not if it's been overwritten
the first thing he should do is not install anything on that drive, and certainly not try to reinstall windows to it. then google for unformat.
failing which there are data recovery companies but they are bleedin expensive.
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got this from a buddy
Originally posted by geniusactuallly, yes. There are companioes that will do this but at a very big expense. Formatting does not entirely remove the imprint of what used to be there. The reclaimation is often not compete however.
is it possible to retrive information from a formatted disk?
Even over written files can be retrieved through the process that Toe explained. That is why some "shredder" software writes over files you do want to get rid of multiple times to make sure that the magnetic imprint of the old stuff is diminished as much as possible.
You cannot recover over written files using software through your PC though, they require specialised hardware and techniques to do this. Forensic experts use these techniques a lot when retriving evidence from PCs.
Originally posted by geniusDepends on how many overwrites. Data can generally be retrieved up to 7x overwrite and theoretically up to around 12x, but you'd need to send it to a data recovery firm to do it. If just a basic format, there are utilities you can download to help you recover, since all that does is put a slash in the first byte of each file to indicate it doesn't exist, without actually overwriting the data.
is it possible to retrive information from a formatted disk?
If your're trying to sell a hard drive, my recommendation would be to over 12x-20x before you do. Or just don't, and take a good hammer to it instead.
-f
Originally posted by ToeIf it was a low level format there is no chance of recovering anything. If it was a windows or a dos format it's not worth the expense.
actuallly, yes. There are companioes that will do this but at a very big expense. Formatting does not entirely remove the imprint of what used to be there. The reclaimation is often not compete however.