Need some Data Recovery help.

[D0M!N03S]

hey everyone,
umm i had to format my 250gb because of gay errors and so on but my Cod2 online key (which was given to me by a friend) was on it and i couldnt get into the hdd so i had no choice but to format it..
soo now im in need of some programs or what eva to recover some lost data..i heard theres a few out there, anyone got any recommendations of what i can do??

kk thx ppl

[AlCaTrAzz]

if the drive has been quick formatted, there's a chance u'll be able to get it... if it was afull format, then the data is more than likely unrecoverable

[DrSp3d]

Even if it's a full format you can get it back... but normal programs available online will not help you do this...

But Alc is right, a quick format will usually traces of most of your data. I used a program a few years ago but can't remember the name of it.

Let me ask my friends at Police and see if I can get some names, but most of the time they actually use alot more sophisticated methods...

[Dezza Bot]

Just ask your friend for the key again.

[LogiK]

1. I gave him the key
2. I got it off someone who threw it away now..
3. I didn't keep it :(

[Fun9RY]

4. not real sensible :blink:

We use a recovery service at work, send it away and if they can recover, they will (for a fee $$). If they cant, you dont get charged.

Im guessing you dont want to be without your drive though

[bboy_skidz]

There is a program called Activ@ Undelete.

not sure if it works for formatted (quick or full) drives, but you could give it a shot. do an advanced search on the HDD and it might pick up something.

[linux_inside v2]

http://www.stellarinfo.com/partition-recovery.htm

Will recover files from a formatted drive,

Even from a full format files will be recoverable, formatting only clears your File Allocation Table and marks all the sectors as free, data will be easily recoverable unless those sectors have been overwritten, so you might not recover all of your files if you have written to the drive but with an empty one i'd say you would be fine

Even if you have overwritten it, and the data cannot be recovered by software you can pay a recovery company to do it, the magnetic data is still recoverable via a process of removing the platters from the drive and using a special machine to read it.

Data recovery places have recovered data from devices that have suffered extreme heat, physical shock, submersion and several other issues.

But anyway, your data should be easily recoverable with the right software, just don't write to the drive!

[AlCaTrAzz]

i always thought a quick format wipes the FAT, but a full format actually writes 0's or 1's to the drive as well?

[linux_inside v2]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AlCaTrAzz @ Dec 8 2006, 11:24 AM) 103868</div>
i always thought a quick format wipes the FAT, but a full format actually writes 0's or 1's to the drive as well?
[/b]


The difference between quick format and format is that format checks for bad sectors while formatting, whereas quick format just empties your FAT.

As such, the sector scan increases format time a lot.

For more info consult this Microsoft KB Article: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...6&Product=winxp (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302686&Product=winxp)

Zerofilling your hard drive is not much use with formatting unless you really want to get rid of some of sensitive data but unfortunately zerofills are different, and depending on the size of your HDD and the computer it can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day.

[AlCaTrAzz]

some good info, cheers bro

[Dezza Bot]

Out of all the options linux has suggested, the quickest and easiest option would be to buy a copy of cod2