[satnamcat]

Is it possible to retrieve data from a hard drive with which a destructive recovery was performed?

[FascistNation]

satnamcat, on 18 August 2012 - 12:16 PM, said:

Is it possible to retrieve data from a hard drive with which a destructive recovery was performed?

What do you mean by "destructive recovery." Get specific as to what was done and by what?

[LincolnSpector]

satnamcat, on 18 August 2012 - 12:16 PM, said:

Is it possible to retrieve data from a hard drive with which a destructive recovery was performed?

Hi, Satnamcat.

First, don't use that computer for anything other than diagnostics. Every time you write to the hard drive, you lower the chances of successfully retrieving data.

Now that you're on another computer (or a phone or tablet), please give us more information:

1) What operating system are you using?

2) What exactly did you do? I'm guessing you installed a fresh copy of Windows, but I need verification?

3) Is there a folder in your root directory called Windows.old?

Lincoln

[satnamcat]

1) What operating system are you using?

Windows XP (Pavillion m7300e)

2) What exactly did you do? I'm guessing you installed a fresh copy of Windows, but I need verification?

No. Followed instructions via F8/10 to conduct what was termed a "destructive recovery" whereby anything on the hard drive may be wiped. Unable to access windows post recovery. Used Backup MyPC 2006 software to create a complete system backup. I've been informed that unless I have that software installed on the new hard drive all my data is unretrievable, thus my question.

3) Is there a folder in your root directory called Windows.old?

Information on said hard drive is inaccessable.

I've scoured the Internet, would you or any of your contacts know where I might obtain a copy of Backup MyPC 2006?

[LincolnSpector]

From what I can tell, this type of "recovery" reformats the hard drive, and reinstalls Windows and the programs that can bundled with the PC. And yes, in formatting the hard drive it destroys your data files.

But you said that your "Unable to access windows post recovery." What happens when you turn on your PC?


Lincoln

[satnamcat]

That hard drive is no longer in use.

I've scoured the Internet, you or any of your contacts know where I might obtain a copy of Backup MyPC 2006?

[LiveBrianD]

EBay? Bittorrent? (Be careful with that last one though.)

[LincolnSpector]

satnamcat, on 24 August 2012 - 01:33 PM, said:

That hard drive is no longer in use.

When you turn on your computer, you get a plain-text error message telling you that there's no bootable drive?

Lincoln