How to recover deleted file on a FAT32 volume?
Problem:
I have Windows 98 and drive is formatted as FAT32. I have
accidentally deleted an important file and emptied "Recycle Bin". Also
I deleted another file by using [Shift]+[Del] (that is by bypassing
"Recycle Bin"). How can I recover my files?
Solution:
- Boot in DOS mode. You can do it in the following ways:
1. Boot from bootable floppy (usually it goes together with
operating system package)
2. Press F8 while Windows 98 boots, and then select "Command prompt
only"
3. Click Start->Shutdown, then select ''Restart in
MS-DOS mode'' and
click Ok
- Run Active@ UNERASER
- Select the drive containing deleted files and scan it by pressing
[ENTER]
- (Optionally) You can switch to long filenames view by pressing
[TAB] key (screenshot)
- Find and position on your deleted file. Deleted files are
marked at the left side (screenshot)
- (Optionally) Check file’s recoverability by previewing deleted
file contents -press [ENTER] (screenshot).
If file is not recoverable – error message will appear
- Try to recover deleted file by pressing the [Ctrl]+[U]
keys - unerase command
- If file is recoverable, a dialog box appears where you can choose
the output drive and path (screenshot).Pressing
the OK button starts recovery process
Note:
File are not recoverable if overwritten with other data, or its header in the root folder is
overwritten or damaged. Usually it happens when you write something
onto the drive where deleted file is located.
Recovery tips:
DO NOT SAVE THE RECOVERED FILES ONTO THE SAME DRIVE FROM WHERE YOU RECOVERED
THE FILE!
While saving recovered file(s) or folder(s) onto the same drive where
they are located, you can intrude in process of recovering by
overwriting table records for this and other deleted entries. It's
better to save data onto another logical, removable, network or
floppy drive.
DO NOT SAVE/WRITE/INSTALL ANYTHING ONTO THE DRIVE CONTAINING YOUR IMPORTANT
DELETED DATA THAT YOU WANT TO RECOVER!
Even installing data recovery software to the same drive could make
your sensitive data irrecoverable. Download and save Active@
UNERASER for DOS onto the bootable floppy and boot your system
using the disk!
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