Software and tips to help you restore a hard drive and recover data from fixed and removable disks.
Restore/Recover
Hard Drive
Hard Drive
Restore or Recover a Hard Disk Drive
What exactly is the difference between Restore and Recover? Sometimes the words
are used interchangeably, as in Restore Disks or Recovery Disks. Usually, though,
there are subtle differences in meaning between the two.
Restore (make like new)
Let's say your Windows installation is really messed up from malware, viruses or one of countless other reasons and you want to put the system back to a previous working state. There are two ways to accomplish this.
Windows has a built-in system restore function that will return your computer to an earlier date in time. You can find System Restore by going to the Start Menu, Accessories, System Tools. It's best to run this while in Safe-Mode, but that's not a requirement. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee this will fix your problem, especially if the PC is infested with a virus or malware.
If you don't have any data files (documents, pictures, etc.) that you feel are necessary to keep, or they're already backed up onto another media, then a complete system restore is the best choice. This can be accomplished by using the Windows Installation CD or the Restore Disks that came with your computer. There may even be a special recovery or restore partition on the hard drive where the re-installation files are kept. This is usually accessible at boot-up by pressing a specific key.
If you have a Windows CD/DVD or Restore Disks, use them to boot the computer and follow the instructions. The Windows CD will put a fresh new installation of the operating system on your PC, but you'll need to re-install any hardware drivers and application programs, plus re-configure your settings for Internet, e-mail, etc.
The OEM restore disks or recovery partition that come with many brands of PCs will re-install not only Windows, but also the drivers and all the extra applications that came with the computer. You'll still have to install any other software you might want as well as configure your Internet, e-mail and network settings, and so on.
New computers that don't come with installation disks or recovery partitions contain a program installed on the computer so you can create your own restore disks by burning the necessary files to CDs or DVDs. If you fail to make those disks you may have nothing to use to restore your computer unless there is actually a recovery partition (undamaged) on the hard drive.
Recover (repair or retrieve)
If something bad happens to your hard drive or filesystem you may find yourself unable to boot the disk or load Windows. You're stuck, you can't use your computer. But, by booting from the Windows CD (if you have one), you can attempt to fix the problem using the command prompt or other means. Good third party disk repair utilities have the ability to fix these problems also, usually in a more intuitive manner.
If the above doesn't work, you can install the hard drive in another computer as a secondary or slave drive and attempt to access it. If successful, copy your data to a removable disk of some sort.
Lastly, if you've mistakenly formatted a needed hard drive partition or deleted some important data, you can recover the partition or files by using quality unformat and undelete software.
are used interchangeably, as in Restore Disks or Recovery Disks. Usually, though,
there are subtle differences in meaning between the two.
Restore (make like new)
Let's say your Windows installation is really messed up from malware, viruses or one of countless other reasons and you want to put the system back to a previous working state. There are two ways to accomplish this.
Windows has a built-in system restore function that will return your computer to an earlier date in time. You can find System Restore by going to the Start Menu, Accessories, System Tools. It's best to run this while in Safe-Mode, but that's not a requirement. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee this will fix your problem, especially if the PC is infested with a virus or malware.
If you don't have any data files (documents, pictures, etc.) that you feel are necessary to keep, or they're already backed up onto another media, then a complete system restore is the best choice. This can be accomplished by using the Windows Installation CD or the Restore Disks that came with your computer. There may even be a special recovery or restore partition on the hard drive where the re-installation files are kept. This is usually accessible at boot-up by pressing a specific key.
If you have a Windows CD/DVD or Restore Disks, use them to boot the computer and follow the instructions. The Windows CD will put a fresh new installation of the operating system on your PC, but you'll need to re-install any hardware drivers and application programs, plus re-configure your settings for Internet, e-mail, etc.
The OEM restore disks or recovery partition that come with many brands of PCs will re-install not only Windows, but also the drivers and all the extra applications that came with the computer. You'll still have to install any other software you might want as well as configure your Internet, e-mail and network settings, and so on.
New computers that don't come with installation disks or recovery partitions contain a program installed on the computer so you can create your own restore disks by burning the necessary files to CDs or DVDs. If you fail to make those disks you may have nothing to use to restore your computer unless there is actually a recovery partition (undamaged) on the hard drive.
Recover (repair or retrieve)
If something bad happens to your hard drive or filesystem you may find yourself unable to boot the disk or load Windows. You're stuck, you can't use your computer. But, by booting from the Windows CD (if you have one), you can attempt to fix the problem using the command prompt or other means. Good third party disk repair utilities have the ability to fix these problems also, usually in a more intuitive manner.
If the above doesn't work, you can install the hard drive in another computer as a secondary or slave drive and attempt to access it. If successful, copy your data to a removable disk of some sort.
Lastly, if you've mistakenly formatted a needed hard drive partition or deleted some important data, you can recover the partition or files by using quality unformat and undelete software.
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