Recovered files were OK but ...

[PierreDa]

Hi,

I lost an 500 Gb external drive (Maxtor). Switch Off (working) ... switch On (Do you want to format drive :-( ).
On it, Musics, photo's.

First I try to recover the drive like you suggest ... but nothing was found (in fact 2 directories with nothing !!).

I was nearly to format the drive but I give a try to the "search for files" ... and it began to find something.

1. Was is the right way to use the recover?

First I try to recover everything but after some time where the sector change quickly it become soooooo sssloooooow (525.890 sector out of 996.768.456 after 6 hour !!!!).
I finally "stop" and try to save files .... but it become also verry slow (I suppose due to the problem on my drive?).

Just to explain the situation.

At that time I saw some recovered files (audio and pictures).

2. I don't have any filename or directories. Just ******* "recover name". Any way to have the directories structure and/or filename back? Option to change?
3. All the audio files have the right properties but same as 1.
In that case, it's likely impossible to use again as everything is in the same folder without filename.

I begin a new search and check only "pictures" as I can't (right now?) do anything with the audio.

It run quicker !
After some files recovered, I click on one to see it (just to check) and I CAN preview. So I was happy and begin to thought I'll recover my picts.

This morning I decide to stop searching (go to work with the laptop) and save all already recovered files.
Important think, the files HAVE different size (from some kb to some Mb).
But it was strange that after 7 hours (arrived near sector 90.000.000) I was still at the same number of files (364 out of more than 30.000). So no change after 5 hours !
And last ... all the files I want to see are "black" (nothing is displayed)

3. Have I done something wrong trying to preview during the search?

4. Why was I able to view and save files (first try so slow) and now all recovered files are not viewable?

5. What's the best config to recover drive (photo and music) and do it (quickly)? Is it right to do it in different "phases" (search/stop/save ... new search/prompt for sector ...)

Thanks a lots for your help and I hope you understand my English

Pierre

[GDH]

Hi,

From what you describe it sounds like the drive has powered down and gone to sleep mid way through the search. i.e. you could preview the files whilst it was working, and the preview stopped once it had gone to sleep.

Go into control panel and make sure that the power option is set to "Never" let hard drives go to sleep. You can also check your USB setting if it is an external.

You should be able to quickly get your files back by following these instructions: Recover a Formatted Drive with Recover My Files v4 (especially note the part in green which talks about speeding up the search).

[PierreDa]

Originally Posted by GDH

Hi,

From what you describe it sounds like the drive has powered down and gone to sleep mid way through the search. i.e. you could preview the files whilst it was working, and the preview stopped once it had gone to sleep.

Mmmmhhhh yes it looks like !
See my other post !!

I check the power plan and it's put to "never" for the hard drive.

As it's an external, I try to find info regarding USB or hardrives (management). I don't see any places to say to not put the external usb drive "power off" to "never".
Any Idea? I'm using Windows 7 ultimate UK.

Thanks

Pierre