Need to recover jpg files from disc

[JN]

My HD (FAT32, 30GB) crashed, and I lost access to many jpg files. The
folders which contained pictures are present, but instead of jpg's
there's only a junk in them, So I think, that directory structure is
overwritten and files are inaccessible. I can locate where the files
can be (from files in previous and next correct directory), but the
extraction is very time-consuming:
- I search cluster by substring 'JFIF'
- I save the cluster and name it *.jpg
- If it's visibly truncated, I read next cluster and append it to
previous.
- The file length is max. 3 clusters ( 3 x 32768 bytes).

There's also hope, that the files are not fragmented. Does exist any
utility which can:
- Extract jpg files by the way described above from given location or
from whole disc?
- Check existing jpg files for correctness, so I need not to view
them?

What are my prospects in using standard chkdsk (I have win2000) or
some other utility? I didn't do any automatic recovery yet.

Thanks.

 

[Michael Cecil]

My HD (FAT32, 30GB) crashed, and I lost access to many jpg files. The
folders which contained pictures are present, but instead of jpg's
there's only a junk in them, So I think, that directory structure is
overwritten and files are inaccessible. I can locate where the files
can be (from files in previous and next correct directory), but the
extraction is very time-consuming:
- I search cluster by substring 'JFIF'
- I save the cluster and name it *.jpg
- If it's visibly truncated, I read next cluster and append it to
previous.
- The file length is max. 3 clusters ( 3 x 32768 bytes).

There's also hope, that the files are not fragmented. Does exist any
utility which can:
- Extract jpg files by the way described above from given location or
from whole disc?
- Check existing jpg files for correctness, so I need not to view
them?

What are my prospects in using standard chkdsk (I have win2000) or
some other utility? I didn't do any automatic recovery yet.

You might want to try Bob Green's free ZefrJPG program. It was originally
written to recover jpg files lost to the Loveletter virus but works in
other cases as well by scanning for the jpg file signatures on the disk.
http://download.filerecovery.biz/

 

[Zvi Netiv]

Both Bob Green's program mentioned below, and RESQDATA, will do that. Both are
free for that purpose.

Can't be done, from the nature of the files. Be glad that you can recover them
at all. You'll have to view the files to weed out the corrupted ones, and then
"save", to truncate them to their original length. Read the RESQDATA
documentation for an explanation. Available from www.resq.co.il/resq.php

Excellent, if you wish *ruining* your chances to recover the files. CHKDSK is
not a data recovery tool and it will do wonders in converting recoverable data
into worthless electronic confetti.

You might want to try Bob Green's free ZefrJPG program. It was originally
written to recover jpg files lost to the Loveletter virus but works in
other cases as well by scanning for the jpg file signatures on the disk.
http://download.filerecovery.biz/

Regards, Zvi

 

[Svend Olaf Mikkelsen]

My HD (FAT32, 30GB) crashed, and I lost access to many jpg files. The
folders which contained pictures are present, but instead of jpg's
there's only a junk in them, So I think, that directory structure is
overwritten and files are inaccessible. I can locate where the files
can be (from files in previous and next correct directory), but the
extraction is very time-consuming:
- I search cluster by substring 'JFIF'
- I save the cluster and name it *.jpg
- If it's visibly truncated, I read next cluster and append it to
previous.
- The file length is max. 3 clusters ( 3 x 32768 bytes).

There's also hope, that the files are not fragmented. Does exist any
utility which can:
- Extract jpg files by the way described above from given location or
from whole disc?
- Check existing jpg files for correctness, so I need not to view
them?

What are my prospects in using standard chkdsk (I have win2000) or
some other utility? I didn't do any automatic recovery yet.

Thanks.

Maybe it should be mentioned that if the directory entries are lost,
the FAT for the files may still be present, which can help for
fragmented files.

When a partition is damaged without known explanation, it should be
verified that there are no partition table errors such as overlapping
partitions and no disk size problem, such as the 128 GB problem in
Windows 2000.

 

[JN]

Maybe it should be mentioned that if the directory entries are lost,
the FAT for the files may still be present, which can help for
fragmented files.

When a partition is damaged without known explanation, it should be
verified that there are no partition table errors such as overlapping
partitions and no disk size problem, such as the 128 GB problem in
Windows 2000.

That's very interesting information. Forgetting directory structure,
it could be then possible save every file (except it's correct name
and exact length) on disc. Am I right? Sorting out and renaming jpgs
would be easy. But, some utility to do all this come in handy. Does
anybody know about one? Thanks.

 

[Svend Olaf Mikkelsen]

That's very interesting information. Forgetting directory structure,
it could be then possible save every file (except it's correct name
and exact length) on disc. Am I right? Sorting out and renaming jpgs
would be easy. But, some utility to do all this come in handy. Does
anybody know about one? Thanks.

Well, I know one, since I made it, but it only works for FAT16. I will
look into it.