When I changed computers last year I thought I had copied all the files across, however I am now finding the folders but they are empty! Went to the old machine and got the hard drive then connected up to my machine but it is showing as unallocated. Searched a bit online and got some software recommended which chugged away all night and now seems to have found files but wants me to pay $70ish for the full version to be ale to do anything else.

Is there any decent freeware available which can do this task?

Recuva, from Piriform. Alternatively I have an old copy (which I'm not sure how I acquired) of GetDataBack by Runtime Software.

Recuva is pretty good to be honest.

http://www.piriform.com/recuva

I've got East Recovery Pro at work but that cost money.

Edited 15 January, 201313 yr by Aspman

The brother in law had similar problems. Not being a techie, and certainly not prepared to pay, I installed puppy linux (a how to on the telegraph site somewhere). This allowed me to move any relevant folders to an external hard disk. When plugged into his new machine there they were.

How important is your data?

If it's important then send it to a data recovery service without trying anything first.

If it's just a nice to have give it a go.

If you wanta data recovery service, drop me a PM as I've a relationship with a few so might be able to get you a good price.

How important is your data?

If it's important then send it to a data recovery service without trying anything first.

If it's just a nice to have give it a go.

If you wanta data recovery service, drop me a PM as I've a relationship with a few so might be able to get you a good price.

Take a seat before you read the quote though :peek:

god yeah, dependant on the complexity and amount of data it can cost from £50 or so to well over a grand....

Tried recuva but as the drive is not recognised (no letter associated as it is unallocated, only visible in disc manager) it won't let me select it.

The files I am after are some pictures from 2011 which I can't find on my other backups, not life or death but would be nice to get them back, however I am not willing to pay through the nose for it.

Many thanks for the responses so far. Will look into this 'puppy linux'.

Don't install anything on the drive btw, you have to use another one. You could try something like Backtrack which makes a ramdive but if you're not that familiar with Linux it'd be a steep learning curve.

http://www.linuxforu.com/2011/04/digital-forensic-analysis-using-backtrack-part-2/

Partition and format the drive - THEN let Recuva loose on it, it should find everything you are missing.

I used it on a drive that was accidentally repartitioned TWICE, and it recovered everything (dammed XP changed the drive letter when I wasnt paying attention - and I partitioned my "Data" drive instead of a new back-up drive).

Moist, and another thing you can do if all the above fails is to try a Ubuntu Linux live cd. You just create the Linux cd and run it from your computer cd by restarting and letting it boot from cd. It won't load anything onto your hd but you can use a program called disk utility to check the drive and partitions. Using the 'Home folder' you can then just drag and copy files across to where you want them. I bet it works! As long as the hard disc in question is connected to your computer Linux will see it and usually let you put your files on to another medium of any kind. Linux Ubuntu can read just about anything including NTFS or FAT if that's what you have been using. I had a mild emergency just like this at work on one of our Windows based networks and Linux saved the day when all the other software failed to do the job.

Get it here, it's free as you may know and just follow the instructions for burning to disc with Windows. Good luck!

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Edited 16 January, 201313 yr by Estate Man

Hi Gentle Giant! How you doin man?

Sorry Moist...off topic.

Take a seat before you read the quote though :peek:

It can be bad, it depends on the situation.

As always if you're not sure, Archive the data if you're not using it often or if it's changing lots have a backup.

Partition and format the drive - THEN let Recuva loose on it, it should find everything you are missing.

I used it on a drive that was accidentally repartitioned TWICE, and it recovered everything (dammed XP changed the drive letter when I wasnt paying attention - and I partitioned my "Data" drive instead of a new back-up drive).

I would generally advise against doing that.

Edited 17 January, 201313 yr by cheezemonkhai