Post #34 as above referenced per ED P: "You appear to have less than a dozen .doc files and most of your .doc files are simply Word templates. Three are probably text files which can be opened with Notepad. (RegSeekers's Order.doc and Backup Star's 2 .doc files) So I recommend you concentrate on recovering just the few .doc files that are important to you."

Very interested in "RegSeekers's Order.doc and Backup Star's 2 .doc" files, especially "Backup Star's 2 .doc file given such a file had o exist to enable it to be copied to the new xp home os. simple as that.

Your subject post reads thus:


post Dec 25 2010, 03:03 PM
Post #34

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You appear to have less than a dozen .doc files and most of your .doc files are simply Word templates. Three are probably text files which can be opened with Notepad. (RegSeekers's Order.doc and Backup Star's 2 .doc files) So I recommend you concentrate on recovering just the few .doc files that are important to you.



where did you get this info from, and how do I get it to deal with it (,meaning to recover this infoe for my use!)

Diligent, (Jim).

This is a new thread, there is no post #34 above it.

I know you're writing to Ed, but what exactly do you want to accomplish? Lets me see if I understand, after briefly skimming the topic you started here, it seems that a backup program over-wrote your data stored in a usb external hd that had Win98 installed, and you're trying to recover some .doc files. Is that right? If so, try using some data recovery tool,such as recuva (I've made a plugin for it). Recuva detects .doc files. Also, if I'm not mistaken a default BartPE build does have Wordpad included, so you can try opening the files after you have recovered them.

I hope this help you, If I have misunderstood your situation, please correct me.

Yes, GladiatorWarrior, your cited thread is correct. I could not get in touch with ed>>see the last post on page 3. http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...40&start=40

I am particularly interested in getting ahold of the Backup Star's 2 .doc file as Ed found somewhere in info I must have provided.

Ed, yes I know this is a new thread. I tried posting for you in the thread I have now referenced just above. See last post on page 3. We can go back to that thread if you like but I was not getting ahold of you before, so I had to try something. I did wait since JUNE 17, 2011 for a response. Did not think a PM was proper. Sorry for the confusion. The above thread at Post 34 is what I meant to reference.

Thanks, Diligent

So you just want to recover .doc files? Why don't you try doing a search for "Backup Star's 2 .doc" file to see if it is still present the your external hd, and just copy it to a pen drive or something. If it is not present, then use a data recovery program to see if it can find the .doc file and recover it. Of course always recover files to a location different than the source location.

Best regards,

GW

GladiatorWarrior: That's a good thought worth a try. If I can Just see the "Backup Star's 2 .doc" file, things would be much simpler. Thks for the idea, Diligent

Edit: Once I have (hopefully) this .doc file saved on my other pen or second (not slave) HD, how would I access the ,doc data for use. I happen to use open office right now that uses .odt.

If you do not know, its ok.

BTW, as to your first post in this thread, thanks for paying attention to what I was asking about originally, and etc. Appreciated! Smiles, Jim

As I mentioned in my first post, you can use Wordpad to open the .doc files. But to recover some files from an external usb-hd you don't need BartPE, you can do it from regular Windows. BartPE is intended to be used when the [internal] hd is unbootable either because the OS is corrupted or the hd itself is malfunctioning, and we need to have access to its contents, without having to take it out and slave it to another computer. So in your case, I think BartPE in not needed. Unless of course, I have missed a detail of your whole situation.

Amazing, after the other earlier quite elongated thread, I am talking to you who grasps the situation quite readily, My faults likely included! Just to clarify, I solely have the HD that originally had the .doc files I seek to obtain>>no current connection to an external device now exists (though it think it could be made to happen, if necessary). That external Drive HD is now the subject slave drive in my newer machine, when I simply plug it in. The bootable question emanated from the fact that this original subject slave drive disk, which is the HD containing the the desired file(s) [if they exist], no longer has an operable Win98 OS and I have not obtained a legitimate Win98 hd CD OS to download to install to this separate, second HD which is now installed on my puter.

OK I can use wordpad to open the .doc files, if these .doc files exist (oh! oh! I sure hope they do!!)

Thank you Very Much for the careful attention that you have endeavored to to apply, so as to understand this problem!! Diligent, Jim :smiling9

You mentioned that the hard drive that originally contained the .doc files is now the slave hard drive in your computer, then you must have a master hard drive, don't you? If so,what OS do you have in the Master Hard Drive? It doesnt really matter that the hard drive no longer has Win98 since your using it as a Slave. You can try to boot from the Master hard drive, search for the files you want in the Slave hard drive and copy them or run a data recovery program to recover them in case they were deleted. But if you really want to use BartPE, then just do the same thing from BartPE

OK GW, clarification>>here goes: The HD's I use are (1). first my two general use "master" HD's , >> then (2). second the one subject win98 HD that hopefully contains the subject .doc files available on it. Both "master" HD's run winxphome..fully operable. Use 2nd winxphome "master" HD for quick backup use (Just Physically Plug in, then fastest renewed OS access via clckity-click, Ya know!!)

But on the win98 HD, there is NO operable win 98 OS. It does contain general data hat I can tell is there because of the data amounts displayed on "my computer" in my master drive reading display when the win98 HD is attached (with the proper jumper settings) as solely a slave drive.

Please let me know if we have communicated on what the "hd" facts you need are at this point. I still may have a question for Ya on the latter parts of your most recent post.

Thank you so much for taking time to complete your initial Help GW. I DO appreciate it a lot.

First of all, did you search for the .docs to see if they were still present in the Win98 hard drive?

You can try this. Enslave the Win98 hard drive to your computer, boot from your Master Windows XP Home Hard drive, and install a data recovery program. Once the program is installed run it and have it look in the "Slave" hard drive for the .docs in case they were deleted, and recover them to your master hard drive. This shouldn't be too complicated.

OK, this discourse is getting to the realistic ordinary methods of recovery I was first seeking. Thks much again.
Do you approve use of the everything search engine to find the .doc file(s) I seek?

what data recovery program do you suggest?

Thanks for asking for my approval , but yeah use any software you feel comfortable with to locate the fies you want or you can simply use Windows search.




As I suggested, you can use Recuva and/or Restoration. These two little apps work great. Now, I know I told you that you did not needed to use BartPE to recover the files since you were able to enslave the hd and boot from the Master hd, but you can add recuva and restoration to BartPE and recover the files, you know just for the heck of it, to keep it consistent with this forum, since it deals with BartPE.

GW: Ok, have now plugged in the old win98 hd into my a1010n tower in addition to the one winxxp home HD also still installed. On startup, I solely get a black screen with a curser-like line blinking in upper left corner.

Looks like maybe? My Bios is trying to engage a start up on my old win 98 HD.

GW Do ya know how to setup a priority master then slave HD in he Bios? If you do Plse let me know.

Thanks, Diligent (Jim).

Are both HDs SATAs or IDEs?

If they are IDEs, then make the HDs are connected in their right position on the IDE ribbon cable, and make sure you have the correct jumper settings.

WindowsXP (Master)
Win98 (Slave)

With SATAs there is no Master/Slave so you have to enter your BIOS User Interface and go to "BOOT" devices or something similar, and arrange the boot order and select the hd you want to boot from.

GW. It was my ribbon cable setup and the jumber setting on the quantum fireball win98 hd. Both HD's are ide. I had put in an extra jumper cable from my MB which became connected to the win98 hd and somehow had added a jumper to my win98 HD where it take the absence of a jumper to operate as a slave drive

You were on the right track though, thanks Jim.


I have got the list that ED P seems to have referred to by using everything search engine but when I try to open no go. Now tying to find the doc files on this slave drive.

What list?

If the "everything search engine" is not working, then try using Windows search.

You ask "What list? The list of files I have with the files discussed by ED P in the other thread @ post number 34. http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...20&start=20

Pretty sure that the everything search program is working but I cannot seem to get the full path expanded to open some files it in wordpad.

Edit: Got clipboard working. Now can copy path to clipboard to read.

Well copy the files to your WinXp hd, and open them with wordpad.

That worked fine. Wordpad now opens the files directly from the everything search engine. Some glitch I guess.

There were not too many files but I only searched ".doc". A "word" search opened up a lot more files. Any suggestions on what que to search for?

Thanks, Jim

Try *.*doc

OK, "*.* .doc" it is.

Edit: BTW, the old win98 HD (Drive E) Total Size is 9.55 GB which contins 5.87 GB free space.

Jim

NO it should be just as I wrote it *.*doc




So I guess you finally recovered the files you wanted?

What are you gonna do with it? Are you going to re-install Win98 on it , or use it for extra storage?

I did search just as you wrote it. The *.*doc search on the everything search had what looks like the same results as before but got quite a bunch of results with XSearch.

I gave you that info for just that I obtained from "my computer" to know that there is plenty of free space on that drive. My understanding is that new data writes first to fully free space then to occupied free space (e.g. deleted data occupied space). Is that correct?

I still do not have the word files that I seek.

Trying recuva now. I read restore wipes restored data, so am avoiding that scenario.

Jim

OK now try doing a search with Windows Search.

running the windows search: At about 55 files the search stops, and the puter high heat fan turns on, the program stops responding. Probably High cpu's????

Proceeding to clean out useless files, and cache entries, etc, the defrag. Be back to ya, thks, Jim
Jim

Do the files you're looking for appear?

try doing a search for the files' specific name.

Well New data will attempt to write it self to whatever free space is available. In your case, the backup that was done should have been first written on the free space that was available in the hard drive, it should not had over-written your files. Unless the backup program formatted your drive first and then proceeded to write the backup on top of the formatted space, which contained the files you're now seeking to recover.




Both Recuva & Restoration have worked really well for me, although Restoration is way faster. Anyways, use Recuva for peace of mind.

How about trying the dmdd program at http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...24214&st=20 @ post 39. It came up with "some sort of" results.
Thanks again, Jim

So Recuva didn't find anything?

Well, use any program you can think of, but be reasonable if you're gonna be on the 9th or 10th recovery program and their is no luck then you're gonna have to accept defeat

You know what, are there any contents in the slave hd to begin with, or is it just empty?

Post a screenshot of the contents of the slave hd.

As you wish GW, Thanks truly for the help GW.

Is that the slave hd that originally contained the files you want to recover, the one that had win98 on it?

The "Restoration" folder that appears is there where Restoration Data Recovery program is installed?

Yes, and I do not recall what this RESTORATION file is but this is what the "read me" file inside the restoration files says:


=======================================================================
Restoration Version 2.5.14 5/14/2002
=======================================================================

[Description]
Restore files which are deleted from the recycle bin or deleted while
holding down the Shift key by mistake.
Conversely, this program has another function that makes it almost
impossible to restore all deleted files.
You can use it after deletion of confidential documents, embarrassing
files and so on.

You don't have to install it, so it doesn't leave any garbage in the
PC.
(You can also run it from a floppy disk.)
Even if a file seems to be restored, there is no guarantee that the
contents are correct.
After you run the program, please check the files.
You can probably restore it correctly if the drive has enough free
space
and if it's just after deletion.
If you restore a folder, there is no guarantee that all files or
folders which used to belong to the folder will be in it.
If you can't find them in it, please search and restore them one by
one.
If you still can't find them, it's impossible to restore them.
It will be almost impossible to restore any deleted files if you run
the complete deletion function.
To be exact, fragments of deleted files can be in last clusters of
existing files or allocated and unwritten files.
(Note that this function is not suitable for TOP SECRET information.)
Even if you find the information of completely deleted files, their
contents must be erased.
If you want to erase the information too, please run the function
again.

When you use the restoration function, I don't think you will
encounter any damage due to bugs, since the function doesn't write
anything to physical sectors.
However, the complete deletion function replaces physical sectors.
Therefore, I confirmed that it worked without any problems by testing
many times.
As there is a rare possibility of damage or loss, please run the
function at your own risk.

[Update History]
Version 1.7.3
Added Windows NT/2000 support.
Added vacant clusters scan and all clusters scan function.
Version 1.8.12
Fixed two bugs concerned with reading specific extended dos partition
or hidden partition.
Version 2.2.12
Added folder restoration function.
Added NTFS partition support.
Fixed a bug concerned with reading specific removable disk.
Version 2.5.6
Added comlete deletion function.
Added support of disks with non 512 bytes sector size such as FAT32
DVD-RAM.
Fixed a bug concerned with non-residet attribute list attribute of
NTFS.
Fixed a bug concerned with reading specific FAT32 partition.
Version 2.5.14
Fixed a bug concerned with folder restoration of FAT partition.
(The error occurd from Version 2.5.6.)

[Escape Clause]
I'm not responsible for any damage or loss caused by the use of this
software in any case.
In addition, even if this software is defective, I'm not under
obligation to correct or support it.

[Supported Platform]
IBM-PC/AT Compatible PC

[Supported Devices]
Hard disk
Floppy disk
ZIP drive (I tested by parallel port ZIP drive. I don't know the
reason but if the OS is Windows 95/98/Me, it doesn't recognize the
disk unless the disk is inside the drive when the PC boots up.
However, you can change the disk after boot.)
PD (A user reported that it worked correctly.)
DVD-RAM (A user reported that it worked correctly.)
Smart media (A user reported that it worked correctly.)
Memory stick drive (A user reported that it worked correctly.)

No other devices are tested.

[Supported OS]
Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP

[Supported File System]
FAT12/FAT16/FAT32/NTFS
Compressed files of NTFS are supported.
However, encrypted files of NTFS are not supported so far.

=======================================================================

[How to Run]
Double click "Restoration.exe" file, which is extracted form the
self-extracting file or the zip file.
If the OS is Windows 95/98/Me, both the "DLL32.dll" file and the
"DLL16.dll" file have to be in the same folder as the
"Restoration.exe" file.
(These two files are not required for Windows NT/2000/xp.)
(If "Do not show hidden or System files" option is selected in
"Folder Options" of "Explorer", these two files are invisible.)
If you create the shortcut and run the program from it, you have to
specify the path of the same folder as these two files
(e.g. "C:\REST2514") for "Start in" by right clicking on the shortcut
icon and opening properties.
I think it can run on most PCs because a static library is used.
However, if you get an error message when you start it, please install
a specific MS product such as "Internet Explorer" or try to obtain and
install the required DLL files.

[Instructions]
1. Select a drive.
If the first byte of the file is unknown, character "$" is used as a
substitute. (FAT partition)
If you specify all or part of the file name, all first byte unknown
files which are possibly contain the text are displayed.
You can't use wild card "*". Therefore, if you want to search by
extension, please enter something like ". TXT".
If you check "Include used clusters by other files" box and search,
you can find more files, but the file has little possibility of being
restored correctly if the pointed cluster is used by another file.
(FAT partition)
If you check the "Include even if the file size is zero" box, you can
find more files, but it's almost pointless to restore them because
it's exactly the same as creating a new empty file of the same name
manually.
After finishing the regular search, a message will appear asking you
if you want to scan vacant clusters, if you couldn't find your target
file, please select yes. (FAT partition)
All possible items (the ones that pass the specific condition) will
be listed. (FAT partition)
After showing the items, when you click on the heading for a column,
that values in that column instantly sort in ascending sequence.
If you click the heading a second time, the values are sorted in
descending sequence.
Subsequent clicks would continue to alternate the sort sequence
between ascending and descending.

2. Select a listed file.

3. Click "Restore by copying" button.

4. Specify the location you want to restore to.
I recommend you if possible to select a different drive from the
searched drive so not to overwrite original data.
If the file is a compressed file of NTFS, it will be decompressed and
restored.

All clusters scan (FAT partition)
Scan all clusters unconditionally and list all candidates
(the ones that pass the specific condition).

1. Click "Others" and then "Scan All Clusters" from the menu bar.

2. Answer the dialog boxes.

Complete deletion
Erase all vacant clusters by overwriting with random numbers and then
with zeros.
After that, erase all deleted file information(FAT partition)/file
records(NTFS partition) by using random numbers and zeros.

1. Click "Others" and then "Delete Completely" from the menu bar.

2. Answer the dialog boxes.

=======================================================================

[Copyright]
This is freeware, but the copyright is reserved.
You may distribute this program freely only in the original archive
(i.e. it must include this readme document without modification).
You may not make profit by selling this program.

[Technical Support]
I'll try to support if time allows.
However, in most cases it's almost impossible to solve the problem
without seeing the PC itself.
My English is not perfect, so please use easy expressions if you send
me an e-mail.
In addition, if you are a native English speaker and find any wrong
expressions in the program or this readme document, please correct it
and let me know.

Author: Brian Kato e-mail: bkato@fli.freeserve.ne.jp

The "Resotration" file is the Data recovery program I told you to use, but you were supposed to download it to the Master Hard Drive and run it from there, and Not on the Slave Hard Drive. You've been writing new data on the drive, possibly causing the files you want to recover to be over-written by the new data. In such case then your data is gone.

GW, I have not used this "restoration" program from this "E" HD (that I am now aware of, that is). Its been there for quite some time now. I recognize rewriting may have occurred>somehow< but then there is still the fact that there is SOOOOoooo much free space on this "E" drive. See below current shot, pls

Getting tired, see ya tom>> Jim and thks again

By briefly reading the "Restoration" Product description/License text, it is certain that it is a Data recovery program.

Do a scan of the Slave hd with recuva, and enable "Deep Scan", it'll take a while.

Ya, best I can tell its a data recovery program. So that is agreed.
Do a Recuva deep scan that may take a while you say. OK, I'll run it tonight before heading to dreamland.

I know there are named files in there somewhere. Get data back FAT free trial scan had a fair sized named file list that I recognized.
The dmdd program came up with some files too.
A recuva deep scan might do what can be done too. Good thinking in any case!

Again, your time is much appreciated, Jim

Edit: I googled the "Restoration Version 2.5.14" in the readme file data that I posted. Please Read this:

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/restoration.HTML
http://download.cnet.com/Restoration/3000-...4-10322950.html

Just got my access to this forum back into in order!!

Did do a Recuvia deep scan. Like always, only a Fat32 dedicated "lost file" scan (other than "everyThing") comes up with positive results, sorry to say!

Any advice on where to find FAT32 specific programs for just such solely lost (gen term) Fat32 only files?

Have you checked out any of these links for options: http://www.active-undelete.com/ & http://www.file-recovery.net/ .

NuMe: No have not as I recall, Open to a look see and will do so. Thanks so much for the added info. Hope its FAT32 specific

GW: Not leaving you out. I do very much appreciate your efforts! Any Ideas on FAT32 specific based recovery programs?

Please note: I was specifically told and directed that solely a win98 OS could recover these fat32 files I seek. what do you folks know for a fact, please.

I think you should give the drive/machine to the person that told you that and say "show me" or "prove it".

I don't see any recovery app that has been suggested so far that won't recover files from FAT, FAT16 or FAT32 drives. It is possible your files are too corrupted to be recovered at this point. It happens. Maybe a professional recovery service can help, but they can be expensive so you need to determine how much the files are worth to you.

There is also the possibility that the files are in an app format that you no longer have. I'm thinking old DOS WordPerfect but there are other possibilities. So even if you recover them you still won't be able to read them.

@diligentinquirer



After reviewing this thread, I came across the post above.

What hd did you defragged?

Defragmentation physically re-arranges data pieces into a continuous sequence. So if you defragged the slave hd, then everything is pretty much is screwed-up.

I did not as I recall, defrag the win98 source HD files. I realize I could "pretty have much screwed-up everything" somehow. I was definitively informed by an HP chat person that a win98 OS was the sole way to recover these fat32 files by its own read and open fat32 files program operations.

ED P: your once in a wile comments help some but little. Sounds more like argument or retaliation or the sort. Your opinion(s) is/are gratefully accepted but please if you like to comment do take the time to explain why you stated your comment at least. I am just trying to solve a problem I face, is all.

Lets all regroup as friends. ok?

Thanks, Diligent

The chat person is wrong, or you misunderstood what he said. All the utilities suggested recover FAT32 files whether run in XP, Vista or Win 7. No argument, fact.

I have rephrased my previous posting, it kinda sounded rude. I definitely need to proofread my posts. My apologies.



You need to read the following pages, so you can understand what fat32 is

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_sector
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_system
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_Allocation_Table
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filename_extension

.doc files are NOT "fat32" files, the .doc file extension refers to a word processing document, commonly associated with Microsoft Word. So you don't need to be in working from a FAT32 filesystem to open these files, you only need a word processor, it can either be Microsoft Word, or any other word processing program (OpenOffice, LibreOffice) regardless if your on a NTFS or on a ext4 file system.

Depending on the age of the files they could be WordPerfect format.


And if so it's highly unlikely that Word, at least current versions, will read them. No argument, fact.

OK guys, I got the general idea of what both of you are saying. Was running a 1997 version of windows word I thought. I know the files were .doc files because upon on timesome were saved onto a cd that were read only that I had to make available to access.

Thanks for the help guys!! I am really tired right now (9:14 pm here) so need to hit the sack. Your efforts much appreciated!!

Genuinely appreciated, Diligent

Wordpad default extension was (is?) .doc and Wordpad .doc files are neihter .txt files nor MS Word files.

the new version of Wordpad does not save files in .doc format. Anyways, there are plenty of alternatives out there that can open & save .doc files so that's not the important thing.

@ diligentinquirer

I came across this Program try it, and lets see how it goes.