Data Recovery and Data Protection!

Most of us have, at some point or other, accidentally deleted a file which we've later regret! Most of the time this isn't that big a deal because the deleted file can be easily recreated or is still in the Windows Recycle Bin.

But what if you've deleted important files which are not in the Recycle Bin (if they are too large or deleted on a network drive, etc.)?

Last weekend I sat down to write a new article for one of our clients. It was about re-installing Windows XP and how to prepare for this, without losing data.

Normally I do a new install of the operating system on a new hard drive, just to be 100% sure that I don't loose any of my data and copy all the required files to the new drive afterwards. Not this time, as I wanted to take the risk in a real life scenario (I assume most users don't use a new hard disk for what I was about to do).

I took one of our desktops used for daily work and not for testing purposes. I copied all the needed files on to the server for backup and inserted the Windows installation CD, installed XP Pro and all the Updates, which I downloaded from the Microsoft website. In total I did this 4 times and formatted the hard disk twice during this process.

Finally I found myself in a position which I shouldn't be in, as the whole purpose of this job was to write down exactly what to do to prevent loss of data. I had a list of files, which I needed to back up, I saved the folder with all the drivers for the machine and thought that there was nothing missing. I ticked each one of the items on my checklist to make sure that I hadn't forgotten anything.

I wish!

When I came to copy the Outlook PST file back to the new installation, it had disappeared. For some reason, this PST file "was not any longer" in my backup folder. There was a file with the same icon, but it was too small to be the PST file. I had been tricked. I'd copied the wrong file and the actual PST file was gone. I couldn't believe it! With all the care I had taken to make sure that nothing went wrong - I could have kicked myself in the butt.

Frustrated with such a situation on a Sunday evening I had one last hope - my GetDataBack CD. I loaded the programme and started scanning my disk.

The chances seemed to be very small as I defragment my machines regularly, and had formatted the disk twice, but it was a last resort! I had very little hope of finding the lost PST file again, at least unharmed. GetDataBack showed 1 1/2 hours needed for the scan and we decided to get out of the house to and left it running!

Back from a walk the scan was finished and a lot of deleted files had been found. An almost unbelievable amount of files actually. Hope was restored when I saw that the PST file was under the deleted files with a chance of recovery.

I was just a few mouse clicks away from a happy ending, if the file was not corrupt!

And what do you know - it worked!

After installing Windows XP Pro 4 times, and all the Windows Updates downloaded and installed 4 time, and then formatting the hard disk TWICE and 1 installation of Office 2003 Professional, the Outlook PST file was back where it belonged. Unharmed and fully functional, my Sunday evening was saved!

Summary:

You may have a good chance to recover lost files. 'Deleted' does not mean gone from the disk.

My "experiment" shows that deleted files remain on the hard disk and can be recovered, even after plenty of read/write activities. This might not be of concern, if you just use your computer for gaming, but for a business machine it should concern you, as your PC, sold as a second hand machine for some cash, can deliver your data, even if it has been deleted. The only safe solution to deleting data forever from you disk is by using software such as 'Secure Wipe' just one of the utilities found in Microscope.

Product Links:

For more information about Microscope click here
For more information about GetDataBack in English
For more information about GetDataBack in German

Karlheinz Schneider
The Virtual Workforce Company Ltd.
http://www.thevirtualworkforce.co.uk

Data Theft - Have YOU Got it Covered?

How are you going to solve the problem of 'data theft' when you're maintaining a PC network?

The system administrator is the ultimately responsible for ensuring that all the data is secure and cannot be accessed by unauthorised users, or worse still, taken off the systems and out of the company! The buck stops with you!

Get yourself covered!

Remotescope is a network management tool that SENDS YOU AN ALERT when anything is taken off (OR put on) any PC on the network!

DOWNLOAD YOUR UNRESTRICTED 30 DAY TRIAL VERSION OF REMOTESCOPE OUR NETWORK MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE  

Disclaimer - The Micro 2000 Tech Tip is a free service providing information only.  While we use reasonable care to see that this information is correct, we do not guarantee it for accuracy, completeness or fitness for a particular purpose.  Micro 2000, Inc. shall not be liable for damages of any kind in connection with the use or misuse of this information.