Data recovery from HDD

**Metallo** · 04-30-2007, 04:42 PM

Rusty,

What do you exactly mean by not mounted?
Knoppix refused to mount it because it could not recognize its file system, so it should not be mounted if this is what you mean??

Thank you
Alex

**Metallo** · 04-30-2007, 04:49 PM

That's what I get if run

fsck 1.40-WIP (14-Nov-2006)
[/sbin/fsck.ext2 (1) -- /media/hdb] fsck.ext2 /dev/hdb

Nothing else

Alex

**Harry Kuhman** · 04-30-2007, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by Metallo

At least, can anybody tell me how to save the partition before writing the guessed one_

You can back up a MBR (of which the partition table is a part) with

Code:

$dd if=/dev/hdx of=MBR-backup bs=512 count=1

and restore it with

Code:

$dd if=MBR-backup of=/dev/hdx bs=512 count=1

whexe x is replaced by rhe proper number and hd is for regular parallel ide drives. Clearly with Knoppix you have to be sure that you write the backup file to a partition that is writeable, and having a backup on ram disk is of minimal use.

**Metallo** · 04-30-2007, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Harry Kuhman

Originally Posted by Metallo

At least, can anybody tell me how to save the partition before writing the guessed one_

Yoy can back up a MBR (of which the partition table is a part) with

Code:

$dd if=/dev/hdx of=MBR-backup bs=512 count=1

and restore it with

Code:

$dd if=MBR-backup of=/dev/hdx bs=512 count=1

whexe x is replaced by rhe proper number and hd is for regular parallel ide drives. Clearly with Knoppix you have to be sure that you write the backup file to a partition that is writeable, and having a backup on ram disk is of minimal use.

Harry,

A question, the disk is for me the hdb and there is only one partition, should I then write $dd if=/dev/hdb of=MBR-backup bs=512 count=1?
I tried and the mbr has been saved into HOME Personal Filesr of knoppix, is this OK?

Thank you
Alex

**Harry Kuhman** · 04-30-2007, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by Metallo

I tried and the mbr has been saved into HOME Personal Filesr of knoppix, is this OK?

OK for making the backup file, but I would copy it to a flash drive or even a floppy to be sure it would still be around when needed.

**rusty** · 04-30-2007, 05:34 PM

try fsck -N /dev/hdb1

**Metallo** · 04-30-2007, 09:06 PM

Hi guys,

Just wanted to let you know that gpart did a perfect guess of what the partition table of my HDD should be, in fact, after rebooting I could open the drive and save 100% of all my data

A big thank to you who took the time and patience to answer my "beginner's" questions.

Cheers
Alex

**alek6cu** · 05-04-2007, 02:02 PM

Hi Metallo:
I know this is a Linux forum and all, but i had a similar problem once (i had overwritten the partition table) and solved it with a software called "Active Partition recovery" thats for Windows (DOS Actually) the program creates a boot floppy with tools which guess the partition table and even allow you to see the files on the disk as if the guessed partition was used (that way you can be sure to write it to the disk).

Luck.

**Metallo** · 05-04-2007, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by alek6cu

Hi Metallo:
I know this is a Linux forum and all, but i had a similar problem once (i had overwritten the partition table) and solved it with a software called "Active Partition recovery" thats for Windows (DOS Actually) the program creates a boot floppy with tools which guess the partition table and even allow you to see the files on the disk as if the guessed partition was used (that way you can be sure to write it to the disk).

Luck.

Thank you for your advice, it is always useful to have alternatives

Regards
Alex