Is there a free UNFormat utility

RecklessRon · Jan 19, 2018

I formatted a drive using "FORMAT C:" and then proceeding to say yes and enter the label. It turned out to be the wrong drive - the one I store data on. It got switched by the boot from a disk - for some reason my normal C: and D: where reversed. So... I want to recover that drive. I do NOT want a bunch of randomly named files (File001.jpg, etc.) I want to recover the FAT as all the data is unchanged and I have written nothing to it. I really want an unformat utility rather than some data recovery tool that can't recover file names. Does anyone know of a free unformat utility that works? (I expect to get ONE shot at recovery so I need a reliable unformater). Thanks, eh!

RememberThe5th · Jan 19, 2018

I think this one works, i've tried and it worked, MAKE SURE YOU DONT INSTALL OR COPY ON IT!
https://www.easeus.com/resource/quick-format-recovery.htm

Well ill suggest you to wait cause im not soo "advanced" in this but you can give it a shot.

RecklessRon · Jan 19, 2018

RememberThe5th :

Thanks, that's what I was looking for. I'm trying it and will update when I know the results. It says this:
Summary
Unformat Freeware from EaseUS can unformat hard drive and files. Free download unformat software to recover data from formatted hard drive.

DAMN its a scam. They are 'unformatting' the files by recovering them. They are NOT unformatting the drive! And it does not recover the file names

I don't need 10,000 files called file0001.mp4

RememberThe5th · Jan 19, 2018

RecklessRon :

RememberThe5th :

Thanks, that's what I was looking for. I'm trying it and will update when I know the results. It says this:
Summary
Unformat Freeware from EaseUS can unformat hard drive and files. Free download unformat software to recover data from formatted hard drive.

Yeah i saw that. Never tried to unformat. You can only recover quick format.

Rogue Leader · Jan 19, 2018

RecklessRon :

Its not a scam, in fact thats one of the better utilities out there.

Formatting does not have an "undo" hence why it asks "are you sure?" when you do it. The files are recoverable, but if you expect a functional setup out of what is recovered you are never going to get that.

4745454b · Jan 19, 2018

Personally I'd rather have the files back. I have two drives that are dying that I need to hook back up and try to see what I can get. While I agree that it would be a giant PITA if they didn't have the name on them, I'd be happy if I at least had them. You can always rename them as you use them.

ex_bubblehead · Jan 19, 2018

And, though it wasn't stated here, if you are working with an SSD you cannot "unformat". The garbage collection routines on SSD's will render all data unrecoverable within 20-30 minutes or so and run any time the drive is powered up (no, you cannot control this).

USAFRet · Jan 19, 2018

My sig picture is appropriate here.

MrZoolook · Jan 19, 2018

Assuming you're still after help, you could try TestDisk. https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

It works by analysing the drive, and rewriting the partition table if you wish. I've used it myself and it works well enough. But it's a terminal program that uses a Linux terminal through Windows. So don't expect a nice pointy clicky menu.

Someone Somewhere · Jan 21, 2018

I am not sure garbage collection would be marked on a format. It requires an OS command separate to simply writing to the drive, and there seems to be some posts that suggest this isn't implemented as part of the format tools.

It's worth a try.

defiantuk · Jan 23, 2018

try this link think it might help
https://www.icare-recovery.com/recover-data-from-formatted-drive.html

Tinstaafl · Jan 23, 2018

Maybe give this a try? Partition Recovery Wizard.
https://www.easeus.com/partition-recovery/index.htm

I had a 1TB external USB drive that somehow wasn't properly ejected when I unplugged it. When plugged in again, partition was missing!

Disclaimer - I hadn't run a format command on this drive, so this may be a different issue. But the cool thing was Partition Recovery found my partition, enabled it, and all was well again!

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Is there a free UNFormat utility

RecklessRon

Honorable

Tinstaafl

RememberThe5th

Illustrious

RecklessRon

Honorable

RememberThe5th

Illustrious

Rogue Leader

It's a trap!

4745454b

Titan

ex_bubblehead

Titan

USAFRet

Titan

MrZoolook

Reputable

Someone Somewhere

Titan

defiantuk

Reputable

Tinstaafl

Reputable

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