[REM]

I did not see any tools that are specifically written to recover entire partitions. I found this open source tool (downloading now) that might be handy to have on the CD:

Test Disk:

http://www.cgsecurit...l?testdisk.html

Quote

TestDisk is a powerful data recovery utility! It was primarily designed to help recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again when these symptoms are caused by faulty software, certain types of viruses or human error (such as accidentally erasing your Partition Table).

TestDisk can run under DOS (either real or in a Windows 9x DOS-box), Windows 32-bit (NT4, 2000, XP, 2003), Linux OSs, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD and SunOS; precompiled binary executables are available for DOS, Win32 and Linux. But TestDisk will find lost partitions for all of these file systems:

    * BeFS ( BeOS )
    * BSD disklabel ( FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD )
    * CramFS (Compressed File System)
    * DOS/Windows FAT12, FAT16 and FAT32
    * HFS and HFS+, Hierarchical File System
    * JFS, IBM's Journaled File System
    * Linux Ext2 and Ext3
    *

      Linux Raid
          o RAID 1: mirroring
          o RAID 4: striped array with parity device
          o RAID 5: striped array with distributed parity information
          o RAID 6: striped array with distributed dual redundancy information
    * Linux Swap (versions 1 and 2)
    * LVM and LVM2, Linux Logical Volume Manager
    * Netware NSS
    * NTFS ( Windows NT/2K/XP/2003 )
    * ReiserFS 3.5 and 3.6
    * Sun Solaris i386 disklabel
    * UFS and UFS2 (Sun/BSD/...)
    * XFS, SGI's Journaled File System

TestDisk queries the BIOS (DOS/Win9x) or the OS (Linux, FreeBSD, Windows) in order to find the Hard Disks and their characteristics ( LBA size and CHS geometry). TestDisk does a quick check of your disk's structure and compares it with your Partition Table for entry errors. If the Partition Table has entry errors, TestDisk can repair them. If you have missing partitions or a completely empty Partition Table, TestDisk can search for partitions and create a new Table or even a new MBR if necessary.

However, it's up to the user to look over the list of possible partitions found by TestDisk and to select the one(s) which were being used just before the drive failed to boot or the partition(s) were lost. In some cases, especially after initiating a detailed search for lost partitions, TestDisk may show partition data which is simply from the remnants of a partition that had been deleted and overwritten long ago.

TestDisk has features for both novices and experts. For those who know little or nothing about data recovery techniques, the command line parameters /log and /debug can be used to collect detailed information about a non-booting drive which can then be sent to a tech for further analysis. Those more familiar with such procedures should find TestDisk a handy tool in performing onsite recovery.

I've used Restoration and Disk Investigator before and they are fine for files, but not so for partitions.



Another small utility that might be useful is this one that will delete files and directories that are illegally named. I've had a disk wipe program screw up and leave gigs of illegally named temp files and directories. Sometimes DOS commands will delete using the short file name; but many times this will not work.

If not for the CD some of you might find it useful to use on your PC:


DelinvFile:

http://www.purgeie.com/delinv.htm


And one more great little program is Crap Cleaner. This deletes a boat load of old and unnecessary files. It's very easy to clean up a system with this:

Crap Cleaner:

http://www.ccleaner.com/

[stidyup]

Testdisk is already on the CD

Contents
-Partition
MbrFix 1.0.0.4 Fix or create Master boot record
MBRWiz 1.52 Master Boot Record Wizard
TestDisk Update 5.8 Tool to check and undelete partitions

[REM]

stidyup, on Jun 27 2005, 03:20 AM, said:

Testdisk is already on the CD

Contents
      -Partition
MbrFix  1.0.0.4  Fix or create Master boot record
MBRWiz  1.52  Master Boot Record Wizard
TestDisk Update  5.8  Tool to check and undelete partitions

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Right. I saw it in an older thread after posting. I missed the "Partition" category in the list of tools completely. I was only looking at the "Recovery" category...

I should have known... it looks like pretty much every angle has already been covered in this project!

[SteelTrepid]

I don't know if every angle has been covered, but we try really hard to. I didn't just name it "ultimate" to sound cool!

[lukeles]

I suggest a good partition recovey software!

Partition Table Doctor 3.0

Partition Table Doctor is the only real partition recovery software
used to recover partition for hard disk when you experience a drive error
(other than hardware failure) this versatile tool automatically
checks and repairs the Master Boot Record, partition table, and
the boot sector of the partition with an error, to recover the
FAT16/FAT32/NTFS/NTFS5/EXT2/EXT3/SWAP partitions on
IDE/ATA/SATA/SCSI hard disk drives. It can create an emergency
floppy disk or a bootable CD for partition recovery even if your
operating system fails to boot. Partition Table Doctor manager
for MS-DOS, Freedos, Windows 95/98/Me, Windows NT 4.0,
Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows 2003.

http://www.ptdd.com
http://www.ptdd.com/...on-recovery.htm
http://www.ptdd.com/...stpartition.htm

[stidyup]

Hi lukeles

Unfortunately Partition Table Doctor couldn't be included as it isn't freeware, the ubcd4win only includes freeware products. The only way paid for software could be included is if the product vendor donated a license to the project.

Plus reading the info PTD works from it's own bootdisk so I don't think it would work in the ubcd4win environment.

[lukeles]

stidyup, on Jul 5 2005, 05:12 AM, said:

Hi lukeles

Unfortunately Partition Table Doctor couldn't be included as it isn't freeware, the ubcd4win only includes freeware products.  The only way paid for software could be included is if the product vendor donated a license to the project.

Plus reading the info PTD works from it's own bootdisk so I don't think it would work in the ubcd4win environment.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OK, thanks, I just suggest a good partition recovery sofware to you.
I will find freeware to you next time.

[kmzpub]

Hello,

As for me, in case I loose partition I use Active@ partition recovery tool. It is imho one of the best, because it really never failed me before. You can check it out yourself.
http://www.partition-recovery.com/

[stidyup]

I've used Active Partition Recovery before and it's a nice little tool. However I've been unable to test whether it is better than testdisk or not. Certainly on the price front testdisk beats it as it's free.

[lukeles]

EASEUS DataRecoveryWizard is a complete range of data recovery software
for all Windows operating system platforms and supports various file
systems including FAT, FAT16, VFAT, FAT32, NTFS, NTFS5 on
various storage media. EASEUS DataRecoveryWizard ensures safe and precise
file recovery against numerous threats like accidental file deletion and
disk formatting and so on.

For more detail: http://www.easeus.com/