DATA RECOVERY: A study on types of software responsible for permanently deleting the file and recovering the file.

By: Saroj Agrawal IMB2009041 MBA-IT 2009

Data loss is a catastrophic event for any business or individual. Despite all the technological advances in digital storage over the past 10 years, data loss continues to rise. 25% of all computer users experience data loss in some form or another. The reasons why data loss occurs, range from hardware failure, to software file corruption, to virus attack or the accidental deletion or formatting of media.

What is Data Recovery?

Data Recovery basically means the process of acquiring back usable data from the damaged, corrupt media or storage device. It is the process of salvaging data from damaged, failed, corrupted, or inaccessible secondary storage media when it cannot be accessed normally. Often the data are being salvaged from storage media such as hard disk drives, storage tapes, CDs, DVDs, RAID, and other electronics. Recovery may be required due to physical damage to the storage device or logical damage to the file system that prevents it from being mounted by the host operating system.

Different Types of recoverable media types

The different types of media that can be recovered are:

1. Hard drives ATA/IDE/ATAPI, SCSI, SATA, USB, Personal Computers, Notebooks, Internal and External Drives 2. Servers RAID arrays, NAS, SAN, DAS, etc. 3. Tape Backup DLT/DLTape, LTO Ultrium, DAT/DDS, Travan, QIC, Ditto 4. Database and Application Recovery SQL Server, Oracle, Access, dbase, FoxPro, MySQL, MS Office, Exchange, Outlook, Eudora 5. Removable Media Compact Flash / Smart Media, USB keychain drives, flash media, CDs/DVDs, floppy discs, ZIP, Jaz, Orb, etc. 6. Electronic Devices MP3 players, DVR/PVR, PDAs, cell phones, game consoles, home media servers, handheld portables, and video recorders.

Types of Recovery
Data recovery is a highly technical, highly labor-intensive process use to restore lost files from a variety of digital storage media and devices. Storage systems can fail in many different ways, however the data stored on them is not always completely lost. The specific technique used to recover the information depends on the type of failure (file corruption, virus attack, mechanical or electrical problem, and human error). Sometimes these problems occur in combination.

What are some of the Recovery Techniques?

The term data recovery herein refers to accessing logically and/or physically damaged storage media, for which no functioning backup exists.

LOGICAL RECOVERY PHYSICAL RECOVERY

Recovery of lost files using any recovery software.

Recovery of lost data from any physically damaged storage devices.

Techniques for recovery from logical damage can be done through data recovery software downloaded from the web; these data damage are more closely related to operating system and the software programs used to create the data, and not the hard disk itself.

Techniques for recovering data from physically damaged hard disk can be described as part replacement whereby printed circuit boards (PCBs) are swapped; heads are transplanted; motors and base castings are replaced by remounting the disks onto the spindle of a donor drive; and firmware or system information is replaced or refreshed by rewriting it. Placing the disks in a donor drive swaps everything except for the on-disk system information. Data stored on portions of the magnetic layer of the disk that have been physically removed; such as due to a slider (head) scraping away the surface, cannot be recovered. Industry best-practices include never writing anything to the damaged drive. This is probably the most common mistake of do-it-yourself recovery attempts. Instead the malfunctioning drive is cloned as soon as possible. The cloned image on a new drive is then used for all data recovery procedures. As newer drives are being introduced, data recovery gets more difficult. The hyper-tuning that simultaneously enables higher data density and higher yields causes the data recovery industrys traditional hardware repair method of part replacement to fail in more drive models. While some drive models currently have recovery success rates above 90%, and others are above 60%, an increasing number have practically no chance of recovery for most part replacements.

Types of recovery software available:

Recovery Software can be categorized broadly into: Word processors Spreadsheets Databases Browsers Desktop Publishers Accountancy packages Stock Control packages Payroll packages Graphics packages Video applications

However we can distinguish and subdivide the recovery software into: USB Drive / Pen Drive Data Recovery Software (Data Doctor Recovery-Pen Drive) Pen drive data recovery software is safe, easy, Non-Destructive and Read-only Data retrieval software utility. It is used to restore lost, deleted, formatted or corrupted files and folders from damaged, logically crashed memory stick safely and easily. Software also includes support for compact flash memory card multimedia card SD (secure digital) card removable smart drive media flash card memory etc. Software recovers files and folders, music, pictures, video, digital image, photo, images data, file, directory and other crucial data from your removable storage media lost due to accidental deletion, format, corruption, Virus attack, damaged file system etc.

Features:

Data recovery from accidentally formatted removable media and deleted files/ folders. Recovers Data even if DRIVE NOT FORMATTED message is displayed by your Computer while accessing USB pen drive in My Computer.

Data recovery even if USB device Volume is not recognized by the system because file system is not detected.

Support all type of usb drives and memory sticks (in all capacities e.g. 64MB 128MB 256MB 512MB 1GB 2GB 4GB 8GB and even higher capacity drives).

Data recovery support to all major brands including Transcend, Kingston, Jet flash, Sony, Apacer, Sandisk, Lexar, Ritek Ridata, Supermedia etc.

Data Retrieval Support for both type of formatting and deletion either by Microsoft Windows or Apple Macintosh OSX.

Retrieve and Restore corrupted files and folders damaged due to human error or any Virus Generated Data Loss.

Easiest Data retrieval software to restore lost data, recover formatted or damaged files even before you fix and repair your corrupted storage device.

Digital Camera Data Recovery Software (Data Doctor Recovery - Digital Camera) Digital Camera Files retrieval software is easy and Non-Destructive Data recovery software utility to recover your lost, erased, formatted or deleted pictures, images, photos, audio, video, files and folders from digital camera storage media. Digital photo recovery software is helpful in restoring recovering retrieving accidentally deleted damaged formatted erased picture image photo audio video files even if the media is corrupted and you cannot access it or the memory card being pulled out while the camera is on. Data recovery support to all types of camera including professional camera, digital video camera, specialty camera, novelty camera and other similar devices.

Features:

Data recovery even from accidentally formatted or restored digital camera memory or accidental digital camera reset operation performed.

Easiest and quick software utility tool for restoration of any type of digital files folders including JPG JPEG TIF GIF RiFF TIFF AVI PNG BMP 3gp MPEG MOV WAV MIDI QuickTime or any other file type stored in your digital media.

Support all type of Digital Camera storage media including Canon, Epson, Fuji Film, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Kodak, Konica-Minolta, Nikon, Toshiba, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, Samsung Acer, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Yashica, Casio, Pentax, Leica, Sanyo, Ricoh, HP, IBM, Fujitsu, Digital Dream, Yakumo etc.

Data Retrieval Support for USB storage media including Compact Flash Memory card, Mobile Pocket PC, PDA, Handheld Computers, Mobile Cell Phone Communicator, Pen Drive, Memory Stick, Smart Media, Multimedia card, SD card, Micro drive etc.

Recovers Data even if DRIVE NOT FORMATTED message is displayed. Easy to use utility can be operated even by non-technical people.

Memory Card Data Recovery Software (Data Doctor Recovery - Memory Card) Memory Card data recovery software is easy and Non-Destructive Data restoration software utility. Software recovers your lost, erased, formatted or deleted pictures, images, photos, audio, video, files and folders from MMC multimedia memory card, compact flash, secure digital card, smart media, XD picture card and flash memory of your Digital camera, mobile phone, pocket pc, mp3 player, mobile communicator, PDA, handheld computer and other memory card chip storage media. The software is compatible with all major manufacturers including Sandisk, Olympus, Sony and other brands in all capacity 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB and even higher capacity drives.

Features:

Recovers Data even if DRIVE NOT FORMATTED message is displayed by windows VISTA XP NT 98 ME 2000 or 2003 or by apple Mac OSX or any Macintosh or any other operating system e.g. Linux Novell.

Easiest and quick software utility tool for restoration of any type of digital files folders including JPG JPEG TIF GIF RiFF TIFF AVI PNG BMP 3gp MPEG MOV WAV MIDI QuickTime or any other file type stored in your digital media.

Support all type of USB port memory card readers. Support all type of Digital storage media including Olympus, Kingston, Jet Flash, Acer, Aiptek, BenQ, Canon, Casio, Digital Dream, Fujifilm, HP, Jenoptik, Kodak, Konica, Lumicron, Mustek, Nikon, Panasonic, Pentax, Philips, Praktica, Relisys, Ricoh, Samsung, Sanyo, Sony, Umax, Vivitar, Yakumo etc.

Data Retrieval Support for USB storage media including Compact Flash Memory card Mobile Pocket PC PDA Handheld Computers Mobile Cell Phone Communicator Pen Drive Memory Stick Smart Media Multimedia card SD card Micro drive Canon CRW Kodak DCR Minolta MRW Nikon NEF Fuji RAF and many more.

Recovers data even after format accidental deletion any type of logical corruption.

Digital pictures recovery software (Data Doctor Recovery - Digital Pictures) Have you accidentally deleted pictures or have a damaged media card? Data Doctor Digital Pictures recovery software can help you to recover all your lost or deleted digital photos. Software can recover images from hard disk drive partition, removable media like pen drive, USB drive, thumb drive, zip drive, memory stick, iPod, memory cards of mobile phone or digital camera or multimedia memory card, secure digital card sD, extreme digital card xD, compact flash card, smart media etc. Data Doctor Pictures Recovery Software undelete lost, deleted and formatted digital photograph after accidental deletion, media formatting or corruption This rescue tool support all Windows operating systems. Software recovers picture files even if the factory setting of

your digital media has been reset. Utility provides thumbnail preview of recovered images and restore your precious memories back at safe location on your hard drive. Software features:

Provides photo recovery after corruption due to the card being pulled out while the camera (or other device) is on.

Can recover all types of image files including JPG, JPEG, GIF from Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Kodak, Minolta, Konica, Casio Sony etc.

Recovers photo lost due to any virus attack, factory setting reset or hardware-software malfunction.

Software retrieves picture files from digital storage media or disk partitions even after the loss of root directory, MBR (Master Boot Record or Partition Table sector), DBR (DOS Boot Record or Boot sector), MFT (Master File Table), or FAT (File Allocation Table).

User friendly GUI (graphical user interface) provides facility to easily navigate the software.

NTFS Data Recovery Software (Data Doctor Recovery - NTFS) Data Doctor Recovery for NTFS file system is easy safe Read-only and Non-Destructive Data recovery software tool. Data Recovery Doctor for Windows NTFS recovers data files and folders lost due to overwritten, deleted, formatted, damaged, corrupted partitions from NTFS based operating systems such as Windows Vista NT 2000 XP (Home Pro Media center editions) 2003 from the hard disk or other storage media. Features:

Support for NTFS NTFS5 file system. Recovers data lost due to over written, deleted, formatted, damaged or corrupted partitions in all logical crashes.

In-built step-by-step data recovery help. Recovers Data from previously Existing Partitions.

Best Graphical user interface (GUI) for easy and quick data recovery. Recovers data even from Bad sectors affected storage media. Helpful in computer Forensics. Long File Name files and Folders recovery support. Recovers deleted files and folders even after use of (Shift+Del) key and emptied recycle bin.

Support lost, missing, deleted partition formatted logical drives, lost files and folders. Multi storage support (up to 128 storage media at a time) for hard disks and/or other storage media including all IDE, SATA, EIDE and SCSI disk devices.

FAT Data Recovery Software (Data Doctor Recovery - FAT) Data Doctor Recovery for FAT file system is easy safe Read-only and Non-Destructive Data recovery software service tool. Data Recovery Doctor for Windows FAT recovers data files and folders lost due to overwritten, deleted, formatted, damaged, corrupted partitions from FAT based operating systems such as Windows 95, 98, ME and FAT formatted Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista 7 from all major hard disk (including Seagate, Samsung, Maxtor etc). Features:

Support for FAT VFAT FAT12 FAT16 FAT32 file system. Recovers data lost due to deleted, formatted, damaged or corrupted partitions in all logical crashes.

In-built step-by-step data recovery help. Recovers Data from previously Existing Partitions. Best Graphical user interface (GUI) for easy and quick data recovery. Recovers data even from Bad sectors affected storage media. Helpful in computer Forensics. Long File Name files and Folders recovery support.

Recovers deleted files and folders even after use of (Shift+Del) key and emptied recycle bin, lost, missing, deleted partition formatted logical drives, missing or lost files and folders.

Multi storage support (up to 128 storage media at a time) for hard disks and/or other storage media including all IDE, SATA, EIDE and SCSI disk devices.

Removable Media Data Recovery Software (Data Doctor Recovery - Removable Media) Removable media data recovery software repair rescue restore recover and retrieve lost missing deleted formatted corrupted files folders Mp3 Photo songs images music pictures video digital photo from thumb drive, pen drive, external hard disk drive (USB based), removable drive, compact flash memory card, multimedia card, SD card, micro drive, smart drive media, removable flash card memory, Smart Media, Compact Multimedia card, memory card, USB and other Equivalent Devices. Features:

Easiest and quick software utility tool for restoration of any type of media files folders including JPG JPEG TIF GIF RiFF TIFF AVI PNG BMP 3gp MPEG MOV WAV MIDI QuickTime or any other file type stored in your removable media.

Supports all type of Removable media including compact flash memory card, multimedia card, SD card, microdrive, smart drive media, removable flash card memory, Smart Media, Compact Multimedia card, memory card, USB and other equivalent devices.

Recovers Data even if DRIVE NOT FORMATTED message is displayed while accessing your media on PC.

Easiest Data retrieval software to restore lost music, photos and video (including wmv), undeleting deleted songs, recover corrupted deleted formatted or damaged thumb drive, pen drive, external hard disk Drive, removable drive, compact flash memory card, multimedia card, SD card, smart drive media, removable flash card memory, Smart Media, Compact Multimedia card, memory card, USB and other Equivalent Devices.

Retrieve and Restore corrupted files and folders damaged due to human error or any Virus Generated Data Loss.

Easiest Data retrieval software to restore lost data, recover formatted or damaged files before you fix and repair your corrupted storage device.

iPod Data Recovery Software (Data Doctor Recovery - iPod) Now your iPod deleted data is recoverable. Easy and safe to use Read-only and Non-Destructive iPod data recovery software is fully capable to recover lost or deleted music, pictures, video files and folders from iPod (e.g. iPod Mini, iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, iPod Classic, in all first to next generation series and other similar Sony, Toshiba, Samsung MP3 music etc) lost due to accidental deletion, format, corruption, improper restoration, damaged file system etc. iPod Data Recovery software is helpful to recover and retrieve your lost Mp3 Music, Photo, video, pictures, songs, images, File, Folders and all previously existing Data on your iPod portable device. Features:

Recovers Data even if DRIVE NOT FORMATTED message is displayed by your Computer while accessing iPod Drive in My Computer and your iPod Data Partition Volume is not recognized by the System.

Data recovery even from accidentally formatted or restored iPod memory or accidental iPod data Reset operation performed.

Support all type of Apple iPods including iPod Mini, iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, iPod first generation, iPod generation next series, Sony Toshiba Samsung MP3 music etc and other equivalent devices.

iPod Data Retrieval Support for both type of formatting and Deletion either by Apple Macintosh or by Microsoft Windows operating system.

Retrieve and Restore corrupted, damaged or frozen iPod files and folders from the iPod hard disk damaged due to human error or any Virus Generated Data Loss.

Easiest Data retrieval software to restore lost music, photos and video (including wmv), undeleting deleted songs, recover formatted or damaged iPod files, iPod memory recovery before you Fix corrupted iPod.

DDR Professional Speedy and Mighty Data Recovery Software Quick recovery of lost or deleted files from Hard disk, USB drive, Memory card, MP3 players, Digital Cameras, External HDD, Mobile Phones and similar digital media. DDR Professional Recovery with specialized data recovery software easily recovers lost, misplaced and accidently deleted data from your Laptop or Computer hard disk and all types of USB digital media drives. Powerful utility easily salvage deleted files from data storage devices, including Hard disks, USB media drives, Memory cards, Music players, Mobile Phones, Digital cameras and other similar devices. Designed for both Home and Office users, software performs speedy and safe recovery of important documents, valued photos, memorable pictures, song collections and other crucial data saved in commonly used media drives in your daily life. Free to try recovery program easily restores files from corrupted, formatted and inaccessible storage devices. Common reasons that causes loss of data are

Human Errors (Emptied Recycle bin or file deleted using Shift+Delete keys) Formatted or Re-formatted drives Hard disk crashes Virus corrupted partitions Power failure System sabotage and more

With advance functionally software even undelete data from such memory cards, pen drives and USB media that have been caused to deletion or any data loss by Linux and Apple Macintosh or Mac OS X operating systems. Just connect the storage media to Windows OS

compatible system having DDR Professional Recovery Software installed and run the simple recovery procedure to retrieve lost files. Software can be easily installed on any Microsoft Windows OS supported machines having Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2010, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003 and higher versions. Sim card data recovery software (Data Doctor Recovery - Sim Card) SIM card data recovery software has been developed to securely recover all deleted text messages (SMS) and contacts number from the Sim card of your cell phone which is most commonly used in mobile phones today. The software reads and scientifically examines the SIM Card with the help of USB sim Card reader (any PC/SC Standards or Phoenix Standards based Reader) and recover deleted information quickly and effectively. The valuable tool is now available to download for the users worldwide. If you have accidentally deleted all your important contact numbers, and favorite SMS from yours GSM/3G SIM card you must be wondering how to recover it. Our SIM card data recovery software will recover all yours deleted text messages with in less then a minute on yours windows operating system. The software allows you to view information including deleted contacts numbers and text messages. The advance feature facilitates generating the report which allows viewing date and sending time of text message. The software is available exclusively for Microsoft windows operating system. Some Key features:

The software retrieves all deleted text messages. The software recovers the lost numbers along with contact name. Lost data is recovered within minute time. The data recovered only on windows operating system.

Support service of any SIM provider. Read GSM/3G SIM of any country any network. Software recovers 20 digit ICC Identification number printed on the SIM card service provider name.

Works with USB Sim Card Reader. The software is easy to install and use.

Deleting Files Permanently

The hard drive stores every file that is ever deleted. Anybody can easily see what we have done on our systems. Anyone can easily restore the deleted files. However there are softwares available that permanently deletes file from the system and wipe free space without any chance of recovery. Most people believe once they deleted files and emptied Recycle Bin, their deleted files are completely removed from PC. It's not true. Maintaining your privacy is not as simple as it may seem at first. It is not enough to press 'Delete' button to permanently delete files from your hard drive - your hard drive stores every file you've ever deleted. Everything from your private documents to your Internet history files, from movies and music you downloaded to your emails - all information can be easily recovered. When you delete files from a disk on your computer, Windows does not erase the contents of these files from the disk - it only deletes 'references' to these files from files system tables. The contents of all deleted files remain on the disk and can be easily restored using any recovery utility. Furthermore deleted files are easily recoverable even if you formatted your hard drive and as a result your confidential information might be at risk. There is a software available known as Delete Files Permanently. Main Features Delete Files Permanently is permanent delete files software that securely and permanently delete all unwanted files forever.

Delete Files Permanently is fast, flexible and very easy to use file shredder software. You can delete files and folders with one simple click! Just select files or folders you want to delete and press 'Delete permanently' button. Delete Files Permanently you can easily delete files and folders by right-clicking on them in Windows Explorer and selecting 'Delete Permanently' command in the popup context menu. Delete Files Permanently enables you easily, quickly and permanently delete all personal, confidential and critical data by overwriting it using advanced wiping schemes - so you can feel confident that sensitive information is completely eliminated. Delete Files Permanently uses 14 built-in delete files algorithms for overwriting files content to leave no chances to recover them. References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_recovery http://www.datadoctor.biz/ http://www.recoveryfix.com/ http://www.deletefilespermanently.com/ http://www.recoverybull.com/ http://www.stellarinfo.co.in/ http://www.datarecovery.org.in/