recover data from erased external drive

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Level 5

7,435 points

recover data from erased external drive

I have an external USB HDD that was originally formatted as Mac OS Extended (journaled), it was accidentally erased (using Disk utility) and re-formatted to FAT32. the HDD has not been used since (other than to try and recover the data using various tools), so no new data was been written to it.

can anyone suggest any methods that could be used to recover the data from the drive?
i've tried DiskWarrior but that can't do anything with the drive as it's not a "macintosh disk".

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3), 2.3Ghz Core i5

Posted on Dec 6, 2014 10:33 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Dec 6, 2014 10:35 AM in response to Chenks

General File Recovery

If you stop using the drive it's possible to recover deleted files that have not been overwritten by using recovery software such as MAC Data Recovery, Data Rescue II, File Salvage or TechTool Pro. Each of the preceding come on bootable CDs to enable usage without risk of writing more data to the hard drive. Two free alternatives are Disk Drill and TestDisk. Look for them and demos at MacUpdate or CNET Downloads. Recovery software usually provide trial versions that enable you to determine if the software would help before actually paying for it. Beyond this or if the drive has completely failed, then you would need to send the drive to a recovery service which is very expensive.

The longer the hard drive remains in use and data are written to it, the greater the risk your deleted files will be overwritten.

Also visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on Data Recovery.

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Answer 2

Chenks Author

Level 5

7,435 points

Dec 6, 2014 10:46 AM in response to Kappy

the drive has not failed, it is still operating as it should (albeit now FAT32 with no accessible data).

i'll give the two free methods a try first.

edit - testdisk doesn't appear to support mac file formats.

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Dec 6, 2014 10:57 AM in response to Chenks

You may need to find Windows software for the task. But then I'm not sure if it will find Mac files. You should have done this before you erased the drive. Recovery software still works on functioning drives. As of now you do not have a Mac filesystem nor directory.

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Answer 4

Chenks Author

Level 5

7,435 points

Dec 6, 2014 11:01 AM in response to Kappy

i should have done what before i erased the drive?
before i erased the drive i still have all the files, so wouldn't be needing to restore anything... .confused by what you are trying to say!

the drive is functioning fine, so again not sure what the comment "recovery software still works on functioning drives" is meant to be saying.

i'm currently running thru Disk Drill, it's compiling reconstructed files (currently at 13GB), so it appears to be doing something, whether it lets me actually recover them is a different matter (kept prompting me to upgrade to pro version).

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Dec 6, 2014 11:19 AM in response to Chenks

I must have misunderstood. I thought first you erased the drive from the Mac before changing the filesystem.

You stated the drive was still functioning as if to suggest recovery software did not work on functioning drives. That was the implication of your remark otherwise it was redundant. You already stated the drives were functioning.

I hope you have success.

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Answer 6

Chenks Author

Level 5

7,435 points

Dec 6, 2014 11:22 AM in response to Kappy

to clarify... the drive was full of data with a file format of Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

the disk was erased and re-formatted to FAT32 using Disk Utility (when i say erased i mean using the "erase" option in disk utility).

since then the disk has not been used (as to minimise any new date being written to it).

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Answer 7

Chenks Author

Level 5

7,435 points

Dec 7, 2014 9:33 AM in response to Chenks

Disk Drill worked, but i had to use the Pro version to actually restore the files.

The free version only let me see that the files were still there.

The Pro version was able to mount the partition and give me access to everything (including folders and file names).

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