Q: iPad 3rd Generation - data recovery (without a backup)
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Jan 24, 2016 12:33 PMby Michael Black,If it's in DFU mode, ALL you can do now is restore it. There is no alternate solution and no, actually, forensics labs cannot get data off an iOS device as the data is encrypted. Federal law enforcement has complained about that publicly.
DId yo use automatic iCloud backups for anything?
Your data was effectively lost back at your step 1). You should have been backing up regularly to iCloud, iTunes or both before that error ever occurred. Afterwards, you were already simply out of options.
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Jan 24, 2016 12:47 PMby Saxparilla,Michael,
Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately, no I wasn't backing up to iCloud... because until all this happened, I simply did not know you could do that. And, no, I wasn't backing up to iTunes, because... as I said none of my numerous APPLE computers would run an iTunes that was compatible with the iPad (multiple G3s, G4 computers and others...)
So, if I "recover" -- which is such a misnomer! Because to me, recover means I can RECOVER my data... when, in fact, what you are doing is wiping out the memory and installing a new OS...
... there is no way to find those files (photos and notes, I don't care about hundreds of documents that I had in iAnnotate...)
...there is no software that can see those files still on the "memory" of the iPad... ???
I'm not clear about the iPad "storage." It is not a hard drive, per se? But a "flash memory"? So, once the new OS is installed, that data isn't still there SOMEWHERE???
'Cause, at this point, I'm willing to just let the iPad sit for .... however long it takes... months, a year, 2... till someone figures out how to get that data.
Am I really that SOL?
Thanks, again.
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Jan 24, 2016 12:58 PMby ChrisJ4203,Unfortunately, as Michael has stated, once you are stuck in DFU mode, you can only restore. Actually, the only time Recovery is used is when you are locked with iTunes and lightning plug on the screen. That is Recovery Mode, but it isn't about data recovery, just recovering use of the device. Next, Dr. Fone is not the best stuff in the world, and the advertisements about data recovery on the iOS devices is generally not going to work.
I'm sorry to hear of your plight, but given the error codes that you state, something seems to have happened to the hardware. Unfortunately, as you have learned, having no backup or syncing data to another source and keeping it on just the iPhone is not the optimal thing to be doing. I'm afraid your data is gone, and your only alternative at this time is restore. And, the iOS devices do not have a hard drive, it is flash storage.
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Jan 24, 2016 1:06 PMby Michael Black,Your iPad's storage is flash RAM, but the data on it is encrypted. When you restore iOS to it as a new device (your only option at this time) and set it up as new, you also generate a new encryption key. With the old encryption key gone, anything still written to the flash RAM is pure gibberish even if the raw bit-level data was recovered. You can wait all you want, but the whole security model of iOS is designed to prevent data recovery from the storage chips.
I'm sorry, and it is a harsh reality in your situation, but your data is gone and no amount of wishful thinking is going to change that.
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Jan 24, 2016 1:18 PMby Saxparilla,Thank you, Michael and Chris, for your responses.
And, I understand... basically, I have lost everything. Lesson learned! BACK UP! I have back up systems in place for every other computer I own, but had never worked it out with the iPad.
A couple of questions.
When I was stuck with the iTunes Lightening plug screen... was there still a chance of ... restore...?
Honestly, my brain can't compute the terminology... restore / recover.... which one is when you get the iOS updated but keep all your data, and which one is you are forced to go back to a "new" device status...?
If I had never started the Dr. Fone free trial... which put me in DFU mode -- no iTunes logo, only black screen now -- is that when I shot myself in the foot, or was all lost at at the iTunes logo?
What is error 3004?
Thanks.
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Jan 24, 2016 1:25 PMby ChrisJ4203,Here is the info on the 3004 error. If you see Error 3194, Error 17, or 'This device isn't eligible for the requested build' in iTunes - Apple Support
As far as the iTunes and lightning screen, that is what I said was called recovery mode. At that point, your data is no longer accessible. That's when it all started.
A restore to backup is when you keep the data. A restore to factory, takes it back to new device status, as you identified it. I can see thinking that the terminology of restore can be confusing.
Not knowing enough about Dr. Fone, except what I have read, it seems that starting that is what caused you to lock into DFU mode, so it just made a bad situation that you had, recovery mode, and make it worse.
A terrible thing to learn the hard way, but I'm guessing you understand now. Here is a link about creating an iCloud backup. iCloud: iCloud storage and backup overview and about determining which to use. About backups in iCloud and iTunes - Apple Support
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Jan 24, 2016 4:25 PMby ChrisJ4203,You're welcome. I'm sorry you learned such a difficult lesson, but maybe it will prompt you to take the time to ask any question you might have with a problem when they occur. As you said with not being able to backup with your current computers, someone would have suggested iCloud for you, and you would have been backing up.
The forum is a great source of information. Good luck.
