I am reformatting my hard disk on my Dell Windows 98 desktop computer. It's a pretty old computer. It's already formatting, and I just realized that my files are getting erased, and I would like to get those files back. Is there any way to backup those files now, or is it too late? I tried aborting it, since I know all of the MS DOS prompts. Is it possible to do it now?
2007-08-05 14:46:56 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
It depends on how you're reformatting your HD.
If you're using FORMAT from the command prompt (or the equivalent from the Win98 UI), then it's unlikely you'll be able to recover your files, as I suspect the FATs (File Allocation Tables) will have been trashed already. That's why it gives you those warning messages along the lines of "If you do this, all data on the disk will be lost. Are you sure you want to continue?" If you're not just formatting but repartitioning (FDISK), the prospects are probably even worse.
If you're using something like Partition Magic, you should be able to repartition your disk without losing files. Similarly, if you're running the FAT32 converter supplied with Win98, you shouldn't lose any files (I did this years ago after upgrading from Win95 to Win98, with no problems) - though aborting the process part way through would be a bad thing.
Basically, if the formatting process has already overwritten the FATs then you're screwed, because even the best disk-recovery utilities won't know which sectors belong to which files. If it hasn't, you should still see some files on the disk, and a good disk utility may be able to help you recover some of the deleted ones. But I'd be quite surprised if that was the case. It's much more likely gone forever.
2007-08-05 14:58:22 · answer #1 · answered by Scarlet Manuka 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, usually you should backup files BEFORE you format...
Did you manage to abort? If so, some files may still be accessible... but it's unlikely you won't be able to boot up that Windows installation anymore.
Helix is a Live Linux cd, designed for "forensics". It would be your best bet, it's designed to get back "lost" files. However, it's also designed for people computer savvy. If you don't know how to mount a partition, you won't get far. Anyways, here's a link:
http://www.e-fense.com/helix/
Otherwise, live and learn.
2007-08-05 14:58:54 · answer #2 · answered by Tim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Best answer- Maybe. Try attaching the hard drive to another computer via usb and browse the files on it. Some may still be there. You can also try some undelete programs, but it all depends on how far along the format went.
2007-08-05 14:51:47 · answer #3 · answered by NumberSix6 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are programs that can recover data after a format. Just don't use the disk for anything else until you have recovered what you want. Look around online. I have heard that "unformat" works well but I have never used it myself.
2007-08-05 14:51:04 · answer #4 · answered by Ness Wiggin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Siempre he comprado en los sitios web hard disks de buena calidad, y siempre acabo llenándolas así que al final me he decidido compra un hard disk con una gran cantidad de almacenamiento, de una marca que ya conozco muy bien he encontrado un hard disk bastante grande a un precio sin rival, la compra ha valido la pena porque aunque es grande tiene una excelente velocidad de respuesta, una excelente compra.
2014-12-14 01:46:49 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am not sure if you can still recover it but try to make that hard disk a slave to your other computer and try to access the files.
2007-08-05 14:53:49 · answer #6 · answered by jmslouie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Switch off the power supply
2007-08-05 14:51:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.diskinternals.com/
2007-08-05 15:18:06 · answer #8 · answered by Snoopy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so.
2007-08-05 17:22:20 · answer #9 · answered by Stan The Man 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋