HDD backup questions - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

-Ever- · 05-15-2007, 10:23 AM

Hey guys. I recently had a "dead" drive's information retrieved by a local company. The drive wasn't working anymore so I brought it and another external HDD to the store and had them go in and magically save it. I've got a few questions now that I'm home and looking at what they saved:

1) They got all of the info back (mainly pictures, documents, etc) but everything is renamed with random, numerical names. I get why this may of happened, but is there any way at all to get the old names back?

2) I keep seeing some files and folders that have odd file-types and that I can't open. I figure these are random system file-type docs, but some are over a gigabyte in size. Would this be normal or is there a chance they're my documents as well? I had over 200gigs restored so I have no way of recalling if everything was backed up or not!

Thanks for any info!

Dilbert1234567 · 05-15-2007, 11:47 AM

no, you can't get the names back. Except for MP3’s, the id3 tags are stored in the file them selves, so you could use a program to reorganize them and rename them (‘the godfather’ is great at it)

The odd file types are caused when the software they use does not properly detect the file type. for example, jpg files, have certain headers built into the file them selves that is easily identified, special files, such as files proprietary to a certain non standard program (saved games files) will not be recognized. Most likely, you will have lost some stuff. A lot of the random files are either just old temp file. Some of the large ones might be the page file, they hibernation file, and possible large tempt files (caches before burning a CD or DVD)

-Ever- · 05-15-2007, 11:51 AM

Thanks for the explanation Dilbert!

So is there anything further I can do to rescue anything that might have been lost (IE re-retrieve), or can I consider the files that weren't restored "properly" to just be casualties of war?

Thanks again.

Frosstbyte · 05-15-2007, 06:57 PM

There are different forms of recovery software and processes, and I suppose you could shop around and pay a few other people to restore the drive and see if you have better luck with putting them together, but I don't really think it'd be worth your time and money.

I'd hope that you didn't end up losing anything too major, consider them casualties of war and be glad that you were able to retrieve most of what you lost. I had the same thing happen to me when my HD bonked and definitely lost some things that I really wish I hadn't, but that's the downside of not backing literally everything up on CD or DVD or something. I back up kind of obsessively now. Heh.

Martel · 05-15-2007, 08:37 PM

The software we use at my shop is able to detect file types even if the partition info is lost... The way a HD stores its info, the files are all scattered around and there is a master table that explains to the computer what the files are and where. If this is lost, then even though the files are intact the computer has no way to know what is what or where to find it and your drive looks empty or full of gibberish. The data recovery programs can then sift through everything and say "oh hey, this is a .jpg", even though they have no way of knowing what file it was. Sounds like thats what you have.

A side effect of this process is that lots of times some info is improperly interpreted which produces big (or small) garbage files that the program thought was supposed to be a particular file type but really wasn't.

-Ever- · 05-16-2007, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martel

A side effect of this process is that lots of times some info is improperly interpreted which produces big (or small) garbage files that the program thought was supposed to be a particular file type but really wasn't.

And I assume the only way to sucessfully retrieve these files would be to do another complete restore and *hope* they get interpreted correctly?

Thanks again for the explanations guys, it's much appreciated.

Dilbert1234567 · 05-16-2007, 08:49 AM

not really, only if you used a program that knew them, using the same program would not help a second time.

-Ever- · 05-16-2007, 11:03 AM

Ok I understand. Thanks again.

05-15-2007, 10:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	HDD backup questions Hey guys. I recently had a "dead" drive's information retrieved by a local company. The drive wasn't working anymore so I brought it and another external HDD to the store and had them go in and magically save it. I've got a few questions now that I'm home and looking at what they saved: 1) They got all of the info back (mainly pictures, documents, etc) but everything is renamed with random, numerical names. I get why this may of happened, but is there any way at all to get the old names back? 2) I keep seeing some files and folders that have odd file-types and that I can't open. I figure these are random system file-type docs, but some are over a gigabyte in size. Would this be normal or is there a chance they're my documents as well? I had over 200gigs restored so I have no way of recalling if everything was backed up or not! Thanks for any info! __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--

05-15-2007, 11:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Location: Central Coast CA	no, you can't get the names back. Except for MP3’s, the id3 tags are stored in the file them selves, so you could use a program to reorganize them and rename them (‘the godfather’ is great at it) The odd file types are caused when the software they use does not properly detect the file type. for example, jpg files, have certain headers built into the file them selves that is easily identified, special files, such as files proprietary to a certain non standard program (saved games files) will not be recognized. Most likely, you will have lost some stuff. A lot of the random files are either just old temp file. Some of the large ones might be the page file, they hibernation file, and possible large tempt files (caches before burning a CD or DVD) __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

05-15-2007, 11:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Thanks for the explanation Dilbert! So is there anything further I can do to rescue anything that might have been lost (IE re-retrieve), or can I consider the files that weren't restored "properly" to just be casualties of war? Thanks again. __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--

05-15-2007, 08:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
Martel Insane Location: Sage's bed	The software we use at my shop is able to detect file types even if the partition info is lost... The way a HD stores its info, the files are all scattered around and there is a master table that explains to the computer what the files are and where. If this is lost, then even though the files are intact the computer has no way to know what is what or where to find it and your drive looks empty or full of gibberish. The data recovery programs can then sift through everything and say "oh hey, this is a .jpg", even though they have no way of knowing what file it was. Sounds like thats what you have. A side effect of this process is that lots of times some info is improperly interpreted which produces big (or small) garbage files that the program thought was supposed to be a particular file type but really wasn't. __________________ Anamnesis

05-16-2007, 08:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Location: Central Coast CA	not really, only if you used a program that knew them, using the same program would not help a second time. __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

05-15-2007, 06:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Frosstbyte Winter is Coming Location: The North	There are different forms of recovery software and processes, and I suppose you could shop around and pay a few other people to restore the drive and see if you have better luck with putting them together, but I don't really think it'd be worth your time and money. I'd hope that you didn't end up losing anything too major, consider them casualties of war and be glad that you were able to retrieve most of what you lost. I had the same thing happen to me when my HD bonked and definitely lost some things that I really wish I hadn't, but that's the downside of not backing literally everything up on CD or DVD or something. I back up kind of obsessively now. Heh.

05-16-2007, 11:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Ok I understand. Thanks again. __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--