Need help, messed up external harddrive

iandrew95 · iandrew95 #1 (**permalink**)

03-29-2012, 09:09 PM

Ok, I have a WD 500gb External drive that I had over 100gb of info stored from my windows computer. My Imac asked me if I wanted to back up, and now it is reformatted to OSX. I have lost all of my information and pictures...and it won't work on my windows 7 laptop. Is there anything I can do?

Bob_Stan · Bob_Stan #2 (**permalink**)

03-29-2012, 09:26 PM

Unfortunately if it is reformatted to OSX, I believe all the information is gone

iandrew95 · iandrew95 #3 (**permalink**)

03-29-2012, 09:29 PM

There is not a way I can retrieve the files off the computer? Oh well. That's life. Stuff happens...but I still love this thing. Thanks.

bboggess · bboggess #4 (**permalink**)

03-29-2012, 11:06 PM

You may want to give Photorec a try. I have recovered drives in similar situations using this. You can find it here:

PhotoRec - CGSecurity

Bill

Mini_mi · Mini_mi #5 (**permalink**)

03-30-2012, 12:56 AM

Hey iandrew95,

I just read an article about Data Rescue 3 from Mac Data Recovery, Hard Disk Data Recovery Software, Windows Data Recovery - Prosofteng.com that claimed it could recover data in a situation like yours. I personally haven't used it but you might want to check it out.

chscag · chscag #6 (**permalink**)

03-30-2012, 01:50 AM

If you've already copied a backup on to the external drive after it was reformatted, you're not going to be able to recover with Data Rescue 3 or Photorec. If you haven't written anything to the drive yet, give Data Rescue 3 a try. Download their trial version to test before spending $99 on a license.

chscag · chscag #7 (**permalink**)

04-11-2012, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MariaPeter

Data Rescue or Stellar Phoenix Mac would be able to recover your lost data because while scanning these data recovery programs scan the drive deeply and pull out the recoverable data as much as possible. I hope these programs will help you.

As stated above, once the data has been overwritten neither Data Rescue 3 or Stellar Phoenix Mac are going to be able to recover the lost data. Only an expensive data recovery service has any chance of getting the data back and even that can be iffy.

MariaPeter · MariaPeter #8 (**permalink**)

04-12-2012, 04:45 AM

Yeah you are absolutely right chscag the overwritten data can't be recovered by any data recovery programs.

chscag #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,376 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	03-30-2012, 01:50 AM If you've already copied a backup on to the external drive after it was reformatted, you're not going to be able to recover with Data Rescue 3 or Photorec. If you haven't written anything to the drive yet, give Data Rescue 3 a try. Download their trial version to test before spending $99 on a license. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

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Need help, messed up external harddrive

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iandrew95 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 03, 2012 Posts: 23	03-29-2012, 09:09 PM Ok, I have a WD 500gb External drive that I had over 100gb of info stored from my windows computer. My Imac asked me if I wanted to back up, and now it is reformatted to OSX. I have lost all of my information and pictures...and it won't work on my windows 7 laptop. Is there anything I can do?
	QUOTE Thanks

Bob_Stan #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 17, 2011 Posts: 219 Mac Specs: iMac 27" 3.4 Ghz Quad Core,SSD,1TB,12GB memory. MBPro Quad Core 2.2Ghz 128GB SSD, 500GB HD, 8GB	03-29-2012, 09:26 PM Unfortunately if it is reformatted to OSX, I believe all the information is gone
	QUOTE Thanks

bboggess #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 02, 2011 Location: Western NY Posts: 124 Mac Specs: late 2011 mac Mini, 2.3 GHz core i5, 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3, Mountain Lion 10.8.3	03-29-2012, 11:06 PM You may want to give Photorec a try. I have recovered drives in similar situations using this. You can find it here: PhotoRec - CGSecurity Bill
	QUOTE Thanks

Mini_mi #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 13, 2011 Posts: 224 Mac Specs: 2011 MacBook Air, i5 27" IMac, 2010 21.5" IMac, 2010 Mini, 2011 13" MBP, IPhone 4, Airport Extreme	03-30-2012, 12:56 AM Hey iandrew95, I just read an article about Data Rescue 3 from Mac Data Recovery, Hard Disk Data Recovery Software, Windows Data Recovery - Prosofteng.com that claimed it could recover data in a situation like yours. I personally haven't used it but you might want to check it out.
	QUOTE Thanks

MariaPeter #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 05, 2012 Posts: 20	04-12-2012, 04:45 AM Yeah you are absolutely right chscag the overwritten data can't be recovered by any data recovery programs.
	QUOTE Thanks

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