Partition Recovery

Partition Recovery Concepts

System Boot Process

In certain cases, the first indication of a problem with hard data of drive is a refusal of the machine to carry out a starting of closed loop.  So that the machine can start correctly, the following conditions must apply

1.        Master Boot Record (MBR) exists and is safe

2.        Partition Table exists and contains at least one active partition

If the above is in place, executable code in the MBR selects an active partition and passes control there, so it can start loading the standard files (COMMAND.COM, NTLDR, ... ) depending on the file system type on that partition.

If these files are missing or corrupted it will be impossible for the OS to boot - if you have ever seen the famous "NTLDR is missing ..." error, you understand the situation.

By using Active@UNDELETE, the software of re-establishment reaches the order damaged on a bottom grade, deviating the standard process of boot of system (it is identical as if you asked the computer to reject of a hard order or a bootable floppy disc different).  Once that the computer functions in this environment of re-establishment, it will help you to see all other files and directories on the order and to enable you to copy data at a sure place from another order.

Partition Recovery Visibility

A more serious situation exists if your computer will start and cannot see an order dividing or the physical order *. for the partition or the physical order with being obvious with the operating software which the following conditions must apply

1.        Partition/Drive can be found via Partition Table

2.        Partition/Drive boot sector is safe

If the above conditions are true, the OS can read the partition or physical drive parameters and display the drive in the list of the available drives.

If the file system is damaged (root, LARGE sector on FAT12/fat16/fat32, or discs of system MFT on NTFS) the contents of drive could not be shown and we could see errors as the "MFT is corrupt ", or the "Drive is inadmissible "...  If it is the case it is less probable than you can reconstitute your data.  Do not despair, because there can be some turns or ends to show some of the residual entries which are still sure, while enabling you to recover your data at another place.

What Partition Recovery Describes ?

Partition recovery describes two things:

1.        "Physical partition recovery ".  The goal is to identify the problem and to write information at the suitable place on the hard order so that the partition still becomes obvious with OS.  This can be done by using the manual writers of disc with the suitable directives or by using the software of re-establishment, conceived specifically for this purpose.

2.        "Virtual partition recovery ".  The goal is to determine the critical parameters of the partition of deleted/damaged/overwritten and to make them open of sweeping in order to show its contents.  This approach can be applied in certain cases when the physical re-establishment of partition is not possible (for example, the sector of boot of partition died) and is generally employed by the software of re-establishment.  This process is almost impossible to manually apply it.

*Note that if your computer made choose two operating softwares and you to start in Windows 95/98 or ME, these operating softwares cannot see the partitions which are made up for NTFS.  It is normal operation for these operating softwares.  To look at partitions of NTFS, you must be in an environment of Windows NT/2000/xp.