Specifying File Types

[captainzog]

I have an unregistered copy of "recover my files". I have an external 500 Gbyte USB drive on which I inadvertently deleted the partition. I have restored the partition done a "quick format", and have not written to the disk since.

I have run the demo copy of "recover my files" and I see that all my stuff is still there and ready to recover. But I also have some open office writer (.odt)and open office calc (.ods) stuff on the drive, but there is no option to search for these file types.

I am really impressed by the program, but without the ability to retrieve unlisted file types its not going to do all I want. Is there a way of adding to the default list please?

Thanks in anticipation.

Pete

[GDH]

Hi Pete,

We are often asked about file types not in the Recover My Files list!

The list is actually a bit misleading, because Recover My Files can recover any type of file and has 'specific support' for the ones in the list.

When you recover from a format, you should try the "Fast Format Recover" or the "Complete Format Recover" options. Both these searches look to rebuild the old Master File Table (MFT) on the drive.

When running the "Complete Format Recover", you need to search only for the default selected file types, which are optimized to help Recover My Files locate the MFT.

Once the MFT is located, ALL files will be recovered - including the ones not in the list.

So why does Recover My Files have a file list?

If the MFT is destroyed and cannot be recovered, it is still possible to locate files by searching for their unique structure. Each type of file, e.g. a JPEG, starts with a specific header and follows certain rules as to it structure. The file list contains those file which have been reverse engineered to identify their stucture so that they can be recognized on the disk.

In your situation, .ODT and .ODS file types have the same structure as ZIP files. In Recover My Files 3.98, if you search for ZIP files you will locate them and you will be able to identify them by their preview in the preview window.

What is Planned in RMF Version 4

Recover My Files Version 4 will be released later in the year. It will improve the way in which users are asked to specify file types so that it is more logical and intuitive. It will also have added file type processing to determine the difference between ZIP, ODT, ODS and DOCX.

I hope this helps.

[captainzog]

Thank you Graham. I will give that a try and let you know how I get on.

Cheers

Pete

[captainzog]

Just an update Graham.

I did what you said and all seems to be going well. The drive I "broke" is a 500Gbyte Maxtor and I'm restoring it ti a 1 Tbyte Maxtor. Its still got about an hour to go, but all of the stuff I've clicked on works.

I will give you a final report when I have had time to check out all the folders etc,

Cheers

Pete

[captainzog]

I seem to have had success in recovering my stuff off the 500 Gbyte drive. All my jpg's mp3's avi's vob's etc are alll there and working.

If I understand you correctly, any file structure that is not recognised is recovered as a zip file. If this is so, any "zip" file which will not open should be one of the non specific files. In this case I assume I should change the extension to .odt or .ods for open office writer or spread sheet type files and see if they open.

Cheers

Pete

Update: I changed an open office file extension to .zip. Double clicked the file which allowed me to see its structure. I then double clicked the recovered zip files of about the right size. The ones which had the right structure were edited to .ods extensions and have now all been successfully recovered.

[GDH]

Hi,

When you have run one of the "Format Recover" search options, you should find your files in Folder View of the results screen in their original folder structure with their original file names, so there will be no need to rename them.

In "File Type View", files with names like "Recovered_Zip_1" have been located by identifying the Zip File Header. Files types that have the Zip File Header are ZIP, DOCX and ODT.

The preview of an ODT and DOCX file looks very different to a normal ZIP file, so you will be able to tell them apart in the RMF preview window.

If you download Explorer View for Windows Explorer from File Viewer: Powerpoint viewer, plus Visio, DWG, Excel, AutoCad, PDF and more. you will be able to view the structure of ZIP, DOCX and ODT (change to HEX view to see the header information).

[captainzog]

Thanks again Graham.

Just goes to show that with Windows, there is more than one way to get the results you want. Although, your way is easier.