Guide: iRecover simple volume recovery step-by-step

[Joep]

iRecover simple volume recovery step-by-step

Note: In many other data recovery products this procedure is referred to as 'formatted disk recovery' or 'unformat'.

In iRecover use 'Data Recovery for Windows and Linux' in scenarios such as, but not limited to:

• a drive has been formatted
• a drive has been formatted and Windows has been reinstalled
• a drive has become RAW (Windows does not recognize a file system)
• a drive has been become unformatted (extensive damage to the file system)
• mass file undeleting
• a partition was lost/deleted and then recreated

You will need an additional drive to which you will be restoring the recovered data. If you are recovering from a drive that was originally formatted as NTFS it is advised the drive that will receive recovered data is also formatted as NTFS. The operation can be performed with all iRecover licenses.

Download iRecover here: http://www.diydatarecovery.nl/download.htm

1. Start iRecover
Usually it's not necessary to change options, but if the situation calls for it you can do so in the 'advanced configuration' menu.
Select 'Data Recovery for Windows and Linux' to get started.




2. Select the device or the volume for analysis
Select a volume to analyze, or, if no volume is listed, select a disk.



If more volumes are listed, use the volume sizes to determine the correct volume.


3. Volume analysis
This step is completely automated and requires no user input. Time required to complete the analysis depends on multiple factors, such as the volume size and the way the hard disk is connected to the system (for example, if the disk is in a USB enclosure the process will be slower). Time required may range from 15 minutes up to several hours. Analysis goes through several stages. There is no need for alarm if it takes iRecover quite a while to display the correct file system (rather than 'not known yet').




4. Folder tree
By turning checkboxes on/off, you select files to be included/excluded for recovery. Use the pane on the right to find and/or select files in the file tree. Once you have selected all files/folders you wish to recover, click 'Next'.



Note: As soon as the directory tree is displayed, validation runs. There is no need to wait for validation to finish, you can start selecting files immediately. Once you click 'Next' validation will automatically stop. Validation is designed to give you an overall estimation of the recovery quality. Files that weren't validated (yet) can still be selected and recovered.


5. Start the copying process
Select a drive to copy files to and click 'Start...'.