Batty ([info]batty) wrote,
@ 2004-08-04 12:47:00
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Computer help? Lost Clusters?
So awhile back we got a virus it got into my d drive and fucked up a bunch of my really important files that I had been saving from my 10-8 years or so of having computers. Pics, txt files, etc. After cleaning the virus It said I had "Lost clusters" upon start up and windows system scan took the files and turned all those files into files I can't open and renamed them things like 00001 00002 etc in a folder that can only be located with a system scan (hidden folder). All the same disc space that the took up is still there, so I am assuming the files are still there (maybe?) but can't be opened. Is there any way to convert them back to the type of files they are supposed to be and save my files? This just happened again to all Xtain's files on the D-drive, and we want to reformat but before we do we want to see if we can save our files.

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my limited experience....
[info]shadesofadream
2004-08-04 11:02 am UTC (link)
Well, those rename files are just "zipped" archieves of your files which were created as garbage files to fill up your harddrive space. I lost many a harddrive by some backdoor virus getting into my PC and slowly transforming the drives into useless paperweights. There are "unhacking" programs designed to undo the damage caused by those types of viruses but you probably need to check with Virus Protection websights (Norton, etc.) and see what they recommend.

I know it's not much help, but I am so anal retentive about protecting my system these days that I got a program called "Black Ice" which is one of the best PC protection systems on the market.

- Shadesofadream

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Re: my limited experience....
[info]mrkamikaze
2004-08-04 11:09 am UTC (link)
Those cluster files are just fragments.
The best you could hope for is to maybe regain snittets of text files.

All in all they are useless. Sorry.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: my limited experience....
[info]surlyone
2004-08-04 11:35 am UTC (link)
Actually, this is not true. check files are "orphan clusters" of files without a FAT entry claiming them.

Please read my post below.

And, yes, "black ice" is a GREAT software package, and I strongly reccomend that all windows users run it, or something like it.

Do you want to see if your computer is vulnerable? Here is a great site

https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

it will scan your computer for vulnerabilities. It will NOT protect you, but WILL show you how to secure your computer.

feel free to mail me with questions. mickm (at) cisco (dot) com

(Reply to this) (Parent)
check file recovery...
[info]surlyone
2004-08-04 11:16 am UTC (link)
Your data IS there. Is it recoverable? It depends on how much work you want to do.

What happened is your FAT (File Allocation Table) was corrupted This is the table of contents to your drive.

If you take every book in your library, remove the bindings, shuffle all the pages together, this is analogous to how data is stored on a drive.

Then, there is a file, hidden at the start of your drive, that says "page 252 is book X page 1" then "page 253 is book X page 2" When files are first written, these pages are usually contiguous, but as time goes on, files are deleted, odd size sections are marked as reusable, and new files are written over the old data, files segments become scattered (fragmented).

So, can your data be recovered? Yes. but this is much like asking "If the head on my 350 small block cracks, can it be repaired". It can be, but not without special tools, and training in their use.

http://www.drivesavers.com/services/estimates.html

These guys have saved my butt a few times.

Mick.

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maybe some help...
[info]egyptmachine
2004-08-04 12:19 pm UTC (link)
Have you tried changing your folder options to view all, then you can see all folders even hidden without a system scan and then you can probably determine if they re just fragments or are actually recoverable.

(Reply to this)

A lesson on important data:
[info]ebmjunke
2004-08-04 12:21 pm UTC (link)
Always back it up. I prefer high quality optical media, like cdr. store safely.

(Reply to this)


[info]darkerimage
2004-08-05 08:45 am UTC (link)
http://www.data-recovery-software.net/
I have a copy of the software referenced in the above link. It has done amazing things helping me recover deleted files. The only problem is the system scan may have made it harder, if not impossible, to get things back. Still, we can try.

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