Programs to restore Windows 8 hard disk. My hard disk resuscitation experience

The problem of restoring a hard disk and information that was stored on it is one of the most pressing problems at the moment. In view of the seriousness of the question, it is advisable to always have a tool at hand that could eliminate malfunctions in the work of the railway. This can be as a comprehensive program to restore HDD and Utward, capable of diagnosing a specific disk functionality.

HDD Regenerator is a program to restore the battered hard disk sectors and create restoring boot disks. Its main advantages include a simple interface without unnecessary problems, the ability to monitor the HDD state, as well as the support of different file systems. And to disadvantages - the fact that the official version of the product is almost $ 90 and the fact that using this program cannot be restored after the hard drive formatting. It eliminates only the Bad sectors and then only on the logical level.

R-Studio is a universal program that is perfect for both to restore the hard disk after formatting and to restore it damaged partitions. It works with a huge number of file systems and is one of the most effective programs for restoring lost data. Also, its advantages include an intuitive interface. Well, the main minus, R-Studio, as well as the HDD Regenerator is a paid product license.

The program is favorably different in front of other analogues through the interface in the Windows Explorer style, which allows its users easily and quickly cope with the problem. Starus Partition Recovery also has the ability to view files before recovering them and has a built-in hex editor, which will have to be very useful for experienced users. The price of this convenience is 2.399 rubles - which is the main minus program.

Acronis Disk Director.

Another paid, but a very convenient and efficient program for restoring the hard disk after damage. It has an extensive functionality and allows the user to do with a hard disk all that he pleases from restoring damaged information before optimization. Fast, powerful, paid.

Free program for diagnosing and restoring hard disk partitions. Its main task is low-level HDD testing and evaluating its performance. The main drawbacks is that the program is no longer supported by the developer and have a complex interface with which it will be difficult to cope with an inexperienced user.

Conclusion

With most of the programs reviewed, you can easily manage the hard disk partitions, restore lost and deleted data, as well as to diagnose the HDD operation. Unfortunately, almost all of them paid, but have a trial version or demo modes. Therefore, you can try and evaluate the work of all programs and choose the one you like most.

Despite the tangible progress, thanks to which the computer equipment is becoming more powerful and reliable, the question of the preservation of data on the hard disk is relevant more than ever. After all, the volumes stored on such drives grow very quickly, and it even happens that it is not possible to detect the loss.

Therefore, it is important to learn how to determine the first signs of hard disk problems in order to make copies of important data in a timely manner, to complete an important project or do without downtime, bought a new disk in advance. Well, if you have waited for breakdowns, you should know how to restore a hard disk while maintaining important information.

How to recognize the problem

External signs for which you can define a hard disk malfunction are very obvious, because the stability of the entire system depends on the operation of this element.

• during power on, clicks, Windows is not loaded, the monitor does not show anything;
• stopped running Windows, error messages are issued;
• during operation, the computer regularly freezes, errors appear when saving files, etc.;
• copying, deleting, saving files occurs extremely slowly, while periodically the process freezes, and then continues;
• the necessary files or folders disappeared, when you try to open documents, an error message is issued.

All these signs, of course, may indicate the fault and other PC components, but still the hard disk is considered the most important, because it is all user data that is stored.

How to understand if the data recovery is possible?

When the user faces with an already accomplished fact that trouble has occurred with the most important component of the computer, the first obvious question is how to restore the hard disk files. Let's look at the solution solutions.

Determine how to restore a hard disk, and it is real at all, only its testing will help, which is carried out as standard means embedded in Windows and using specialized programs.

In the first case, it is necessary that the Windows itself is loaded, which is not always possible, because when the hard disk breaks, it becomes inaccessible on a par with other files and folders. It is easier when the problem is associated with a breakdown of a second hard disk that is not bootable, but is used exclusively for storing different data.

One of the common check options is the following - you need to disconnect the hard drive from the computer, having previously turned off all the loops and unscrewing the fastening bolts, and connect to another obviously good computer as the second storage device. In this case, it is easy to check whether the necessary information on it (can also be copied to another carrier immediately).

The second version of the verification is a bit more complicated, but only because it requires the user to pre-prepare a bootable CD. Although it can be written if necessary on another computer, because such components are usually universal, they are not tied to a specific system. With such testing, for example, it is easier to find a solution to the question of how to restore the remote hard disk.

In any case, when even an outdated version of Windows or another program, which allows you to view the contents of the disks, you can already make sure whether the folders are read, whether files from a faulty drive are copied.

It is worth noting that if you master the technique of work with the internal drives of the system unit, then the user will no longer be the problem in how to restore an external hard drive. The question turns out, not so complicated. In addition, it will become clear how to restore the hard disk of the laptop.

Programs for testing

There is a lot of utilities to test the performance of hard drives, and some offer not only the identification of errors and breakdowns, but also the correction of the part of them, which else can be eliminated. For this reason, all programs are taken to divide into several categories.

• Utilities for checking the surface of hard drives and corrected problem sectors. For example, HDD Scan or HDD Regenerator.
• Programs for checking the logical storage structure and correcting all identified problems. For example, Norton Disk Doctor.

Fully universal programs do not exist, although the developers of software are trying to create them. The fact is that the procedure for restoring the sectors of a hard disk, files and folders requires specific knowledge, for which the relevant specialists are needed. Therefore, the most powerful and efficient programs have no universal capabilities, but work with one or two functions.

Well, when there is a proven hard drive, how to restore the data, there should be no question, because This also uses special programs.

HDD Scan.

The most accessible for an ordinary user are considered to be such utilities that run under Windows. They have a clear and familiar interface that completely repeats other user programs.

The only minus of such products is that it is possible to use them only when a faulty hard disk is connected as a second storage. Although no one excludes such an opportunity as booting a special version of Windows from a CD where you can run all the usual programs, including to check the disk.

One of the most common programs can be called HDD Scan. Its functionality is limited to obtaining information about the hard disk state.

• Three modes of testing of the surface of the drive: "Reading", "Erasing", "Check".
• Reading SMART information from a hard disk memory in which all hardware errors are recorded, at least once occurred when working.

In addition, the program defines the exact disk model, the volume and version of the firmware, running the hard disk. But, unfortunately, such software does not know how to restore the partitions of the hard disk, so if they are damaged, then the surface check will not work.

HDD Regenerator.

This program has a familiar Windows interface and contains a set of functions for checking and restoring the hard disk surface, in particular:

To start checking the drive, after starting the program, select the desired disk and click on the Start Process button. Perhaps a warning will appear that it is necessary to close all programs that use the disc checked. We must agree with this and wait for the end of the verification. Fixing errors The program can do in automatic mode.

It is worth noting that before restoring the hard drive, you need to try data that are still readable, copy to other media. But if they are not read at all, then nothing remains except to restore the hard disk sectors.

Programs for data recovery from hard disk

Programs for data recovery from a hard disk for an incomprehensible reason are considered complex for an ordinary user. But it is completely wrong, most of them have a familiar Windows interface and a Russian-speaking menu. It is enough just to carefully examine the proposed items, and even a low-prepared user will be able to restore everything that is still available for this.

Programs can be divided into two main categories:

• those that search for deleted files, for example, undelete;
• those that are searching for files throughout the hard disk, such as ZAR (Zero Assumption Recovery).

The functionality of the second type programs is usually a search for deleted files, so that they turn out to be more versatile, which does not affect the efficiency of their work, because all lost files, whether manual removal or random loss due to software failure, are searched for one algorithm.

Zar

Zar (Zero Assumption Recovery) is considered sufficiently developed in its capabilities. For example, this is one of the first data recovery utilities, which understands Russian characters in the name of files and folders.

The main features of this program are impressive:

• support for all known file systems (FAT, FAT16, FAT32, NTFS);
• restore hard disk partitions;
• support for Russians and just long file names;
• support compressed disks;
• can restore RAID arrays.

All this set of options are easy to use. The startup procedure consists of selecting the desired disk and pressing the "Next" button. At the end of the search for files, it will be enough to choose those that are really needed, and specify the folder in which to copy the recovered files.

The main thing is to stock up additional hard disk and patience, because this program works long enough (the surround drives can be processed several hours). The second disk is needed because the files are restored by copying, which avoids recording on a damaged disk and increase the chances of saving other files.

Despite certain requirements, the program perfectly solves the question of how to restore the hard disk partitions. That is why it enjoys extremely popular. In addition, the utility allows you to solve the problem with how to restore an external hard disk.

Is it possible to return the data without special programs?

To restore both the hard drives themselves, and the information from them has already developed enough utilities, but they all have any drawback. For example, convenient to use programs with a familiar interface are usually paid, which will require some expenditures on the purchase of a license key. Demonstration versions or programs with a small set of features are distributed free.

Another variant. Powerful and efficient programs require specific knowledge of the user. For example, working with a command line, knowledge of the entire storage structure on disk, etc. But still the recovery procedure will be carried out by the program itself.

Manually do something to do it simply will not work because of the banal ignorance of how to do it. And I will not find the documentation on the Internet either. After all, the development of programs is a business, and no one agrees to just give free technologies for recovery for free use.

The only option when you can do the means of the operating system itself, is when the hard disk removes the hard drive from the list of drivers. How to restore it? You can easily reboot. The driver will automatically be found, and the disk will reappear.

Common myths about recovery and data loss

In practice there are quite interesting, even funny myths, which, nevertheless, are pretty survivors, and thanks to the Internet extend from one user to many others.

Of the most survivable myths, you can note the following:

• If the hard disk began to skip and publish other incomprehensible sounds, it is necessary to light it easier with a screwdriver or another lightweight tool.

In fact, these components can not be exposed to any shock loads, especially when they have started problems. Any extraneous sound inside his body means, unfortunately, the service path failed, which is needed for self-tuning and accurate operation of the reading head. Most often for recovery will have to contact the service center, where there is special equipment, which allows such a problem. At home, you can't do anything.

• It is necessary in a purely baked room, where there is no dust, disassemble the hard disk and remove the entire garbage drunk, which interferes with reading data.

In fact, this is categorically impossible to do! There is always dust at home, even if you do not see it, and it is very dangerous for the surface of the magnetic disks. The distance between the head and the surface of the disk is very small, and even imperceptible to the first look the piece will lead to the appearance of scratches and to the complete breakdown of the drive.

• There are "cars" that restore hard drives after any breakdown.

In fact, there is an equipment that allows you to read data from damaged drives, but it requires compliance with some requirements and conditions for its operation, for example, the drive electronics must be proper, the surface of the disks without scratches, etc. The element itself after recovery is still subject to disposal. So on how to restore the damaged hard disk, there should be no disputes. This is a solved question. The task here is completely different - how to restore the hard disk information.

• Return lost data in any situation with free programs.

In fact, free utilities work only with the simplest cases, because The effective algorithm has a developer who will not just give out the results of his works. Most often, the simplest programs allow you to restore only recently deleted files, and serious failures require the use of professional software.

How to prevent a problem?

Regarding the protection of hard drives from breakdowns, manufacturers have created a lot of different technologies. Some of them are better, others are worse. At least, hard drives in laptops are freely maintained while driving on a car and carrying a computer within the house from the room in the room.

But what this most important component has never learned to withstand, so it is drops, especially in the on state. Most often, the cause of breakage is precisely shock loads, so on the question of how to protect the hard drive from breakdown, there is one answer. It is necessary to secure him from shocks and a strong shaking. And you do not have to break your head over how to restore the hard drive.

In other cases, a variety of technologies are quite effective and able to return all the lost data.

In the article we will consider the possibility of restoring the failed hard disk. About how to restore data from a formatted hard disk, you can read. Many are interested in the question: is it possible to restore the hard drive? Reply like this: Restore information from a damaged hard disk is possible if its working surface is not damaged. Well, now there are several effective ways to recover a disc that will help you return valuable information.

How to restore a damaged hard drive: basic information

First of all, it is necessary to carefully examine the housing of your hard drives (this is exactly how hard drives are called hard drives) for possible damage. To do this, you must first turn off the computer and disconnect the hard disk, after which you can proceed to the inspection. With noticeable damage, you can attribute disk to specialists, as you can not do anything on your own, but before this it is worth it to make a few next steps. To begin, you can try to replace the power and data to new and see whether the disk will work after the connection, since sometimes the problem is the wiring fault.

Also, the problem may be in the wrong disk connection, especially if it is a PATA type disk. Such hard drives may not work in "Slave" mode, so you need to rearrange the jumper on the disk to the Master mode so that the computer sees this disc as the main one. This situation can also be solved by leaving only this "problem" hard drive connected connected. If your disk still does not work, you can try the following: Connect another drive to the same connector instead. In the event that it does not work, the problem is not in the disk, but in the motherboard or in the disk controller board. In the same way, you can connect the disk to another computer that interests you - in the case of positive download, it will become clear that it is already necessary to inspect the hard drive, but the motherboard or the controller fee.

How to restore hard drive: use another disk

The second way is to replace some of the parts of the hard disk using another hard drive. In particular, let's talk about the board of the controller, which is often quite and is the main reason for the failure of the hard disk. But for a start, you need to make sure that the board is removed without opening the hard drive hull. After that, it is necessary to find a completely similar rigid disk, and you can proceed.

Carefully unscrew the screws and remove the controller board on the broken disk, and then do the same with the working disk and screw the board from the working disk to the broken. Now you can check our hard disk by connecting it to the computer. However, it is worth noting that if it earns, it is better to progress and copy important data somewhere else. If the disk did not earn, screw the fee back to the donor disk, which should work, as before.

Other restoring hard disk partitions

So far, we have spoken mainly about certain physical damage to hard drives. But it often happens that there is no physical damage, and the disk does not work anyway. The most common problem here is damage to the file system. In this case, it can help, for example, using another operating system other than Windows. And the best option is Linux. In Linux, you can make an image that does not work under Windows hard disk, or load the Windows installation disk and type the "CHKDSK" command in the console, which will allow you to start the process of checking and restoring the damaged file system.

However, these procedures should be resorted as a last resort, since Linux usually read hard drives with a damaged Windows file system. Do not forget that immediately, how access to files on the disk will be obtained, you should copy them to a more reliable, working disk to avoid problems with hard drive with a damaged file system. And after the completion of the copy, you can run the full formatting of this disk.

We also note that today there are many useful utilities that can restore damaged information - except in cases we will tell about just below.

Utilities for restoring hard drives

To restore data from hard disks, you can use special programs - utilities. And one of these utilities is PHOTOREC. Initially, it was used to restore graphic information, but today's versions allow you to restore files of any type. A certain inconvenience (of course relative) Photorec is that it assigns its own names to restored files, so after the recovery process is completed, you will have to try to find the necessary data. However, these are voids in comparison with the fact that spoiled or anticipated important files will be restored.

In order to learn how to use this program and similar utilities, it will take some time. By the way, to restore individual files from the hard disk, you can use the free Recuva program, which is easy to find on the Internet. It allows you to restore remote files of any type, and in addition, you can search for remote files in a special directory created by the system, and restore only those that you really need. Just restore such programs, as a rule, only those files that have been deleted recently, and here need to be explained why not all the information that occurred on the hard disk can be restored.

When it is impossible to restore information

On one case, in which it is impossible to recover the data (in any case, in full volume), we have already spoken - this is a damaged recording surface of the hard disk. In this case, in order to try to restore information, you can contact a special firm.

The second case is associated with the restoration of the information recorded on the disc. And here the chances of recovery are the less than before those or other files were deleted. The fact is that the recording on the hard disk is done in such a way that the new information is written on top of the old one, which has been removed. That is, remote information is actually stored on the disk (if only it has been removed in a special way, using special programs), but gradually rubs more than new. At the same time, even if there is little new information on the disk, it is still a chance of restoring very old files small, because you can not forget about system files that are created by the operating system during operation.

Now you know almost everything about how to restore a hard drive. It remains to add that in some cases it is still worth entrusting the restoration of hard drives to those skilled in the art. It is advisable, firstly, when trying to restore very important data, in order to prevent the final breakdown of the hard drive, to which it can lead, for example, careless handling of a hard disk.

And secondly, you can trust the hard drive to the masters and in the case when the manufacturer's warranty is valid. In this case, you can contact the service center for free. The only thing you should remember: if you want to repair the disk in the service center, you can not open the disk housing, otherwise you will be denied warranty service.

HDD (Railway, HDD, Winchester) is one of the most unreliable components of the computer. It can easily "kill" a voltage jump or excessive voltage ripples on the line +12 V (sin with these low-quality power supplies). Slowly detach the drive and vibration, if it is not sufficiently fastened in the housing. Coupling the disk during operation can cause a spindle head offset and, due to disk breakage. Such fragility of the hard drive is due to its inner design. In addition, like any product, the hard drive has a specific work resource. In modern models, the service life is 5 years or more (depending on the quality of assembly and components). When hardware issues, the hard disk recovery is often impossible, or perhaps, but for a short time, which will help a little delay the purchase of a new device.

The software problems of the LDG also deliver the user inconvenience and can lead to loss of important data, but they are not as dangerous for the device itself. Restoring a hard disk in this case guarantees its long and stable operation, if the railway does not have hardware problems. How to restore hard drive? By applying specialized software! This process is quite simple and can be carried out by a non-specialist at home.

Hard disk restoration programs

Before you start recovering the hard disk, you must install the following software:

1. Victoria HDD 4.47.. Reliable and time-tested, but already outdated tool that has not received updates for a long time. It will be suitable first for diagnosing a hard disk, recovery produces badly, cannot restore some hard drives;
2. HDD Regenerator.. Main Working Tool for HDD Recovery. It helps in most cases, but is paid (however, there are activators for it);
3. (optional) Aomei Partition Assistant Standard Edition 7.0. To restore those hard drives that have hardware problems.

The smallest organizational unit of the main memory of the railway accessible to the user is the sector. The size of the sector of modern drives is 4-8 KB. Their number is measured by hundreds of millions and even billion. Each hard drive has a definable number of "spare" sectors (~ 10% of the volume). If the "basic" sectors are faulty, a hard disk marks one of the "spare" number of the sector, which is faulty and the railway continues to work. All these actions have a hard disk independently, without user participation. However, various errors may appear in this system, and then it is necessary to do a manual recovery of a hard disk.

Step-by-step hard disk restoration: instruction

Let's discern how to restore the hard drive. This requires the following actions:

1. Run Victoria HDD.;
2. Select a drive that needs to be checked in the list to the right
3. Go to the "Tests" tab, then click on "Start". All parameters must be default, as in the screenshot:
   
   
4. Wait for the end of diagnosis. It lasts quite a long time depends on the speed of the hard disk, the number of "broken" and "slow" sectors. At the end, the program will show the number of "broken" sectors of the railway. If such is not found, your hard disk is "healthy". "Bied" sectors can be tried to restore in Victoria by selecting the "Remap" verification script (see Screenshot), but it is better to immediately go to the HDD Regenerator;
   
   
5. Run HDD Regenerator. After activating the key or hacking the program, the following picture will appear:
   
   
6. Close on the "Restore" menu and select the "Start Processing Start" item:
   
   
7. Select a hard drive that needs to be restored and click "Start Process":
   
   
8. Enter "2" and press ENTER:
   
   
9. Now enter "1" by selecting the scan and restore the hard disk sectors, then press ENTER:
   
   
10. To check all the hard disk sectors, you must enter "1" and press the ENTER key again. If you need to reduce the recovery time, you must enter "3", press ENTER, enter the initial number (usually the number of the first Victoria sector detected) and the final sectors (the number of the last Victoria sector detected). However, it is better to check the entire hard drive to make absolutely accurately make sure that there are no "broken" sectors:
    
    
11. Wait for the end of checking and restoring the hard disk. If everything is fine, the program will write about how many "broken" sectors are detected, restored and replaced:
    
    

When to restore the HDD does not work

In some cases, only the DOS version of the HDD REGENERATOR can restore the hard drive. If you failed to restore the hard drive using the Windows version of the program, then you should try to do it out of DOS.

If the hard disk ended the backup sectors, and the detected "broken" sectors are not amenable to software "treatment", it will not be possible to restore the hard disk.

The problem of how to restore a hard disk having hardware problems and the above-described software recovery is relevant for many users. In this case, it will have to "cut" a disk space that complies with "broken" sectors in Aomei Partition Assistant.. Such divisions may be needed by several areas with "bats" sectors can be hidden in the same program so that they do not write files there by mistake. Such a "restore" hard disk will only help for a short time. As a result, the HDD will be divided into n number of sections, some of which (with defective clusters) will be labeled as hidden.

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In this category, it is difficult to give an unequivocal conclusion, because it cannot be said that it will help to restore a hard disk without detailed diagnostics. Simple users, we do not advise you to try to reanimate the device to avoid negative consequences. Before proceeding with such work, the HDD computer must be studied, understand its algorithms, learn to navigate in the command line, etc. Speaking easier, it is better to leave the case to professionals. Moreover, with formatted discs and other carriers after complete overwriting, the data cannot be saved.

We recommend periodically, if the hard drive is suspected (files disappear or long, files are open, Winsows XP-10 performs CKDSK before each system load, etc.) Check its surface and SMART using HDDScan.. You can download the utility for free, it is only required to understand English minimally. It conducts reading all the important hardware.

Apply to recover data Hetman Partition Recovery.- She pulls out maximum information, even if the volume stopped correctly displayed in the conductor. Step-by-step wizard will help perform the procedure easily and quickly. Eliminate partitioning facilities will help Zero Assumption Recovery or Acronis Recovery Expert from the Acronis Disk Director set. We also recommend an effective Seagate File Recovery tool, but pay attention to its feature - compatibility exclusively with Seagate Hard Disk.

We will tell a little about each worthy, in our opinion, utility.

HDD Capacity Restore Tool Saves when the volume of the disk unexpectedly "decreased" from hundreds of GB to several MB. The application moderately simple, effective, can return the hard disk capacity after a failure or if the laptop manufacturer initially "cut" it part for the needs of the subsystem.

Low Level Format Tool - A good thing for flash drives and discs, information on which is not needed. Restore data after it will not work. The main function of this program is the so-called. "Low-level formatting" - overwrite both normal and broken areas zeros. It helps irretrievably erase files and improve the speed of the hard disk by lacking fragmentation for new data.

Program HDD Regenerator. It is mercilessly criticized by experts, but it is useful for "half-epic" because it turns the resuscitation of damaged partitions into a slight task. You boot from the disk / flash drives, select the drive, ask the tool to scan and restore it, and calmly drink tea. Boot sectors and "Logic Bad" it will "cure." Such removal of damage 100% will not hurt, the utility itself is easy to use, but it is expensive.

Cogatu professional solutions is a trinity , . The two latter are greatly popular. Initially, they were created under DOS, but alternative developers were able to port applications on Win, depriving only parts of the "branded buns".

Possibilities of products + are the same: "low-level formatting" and corrupting damaged sectors (Advanced Remap). Speaking easier, setting the mark on the impossibility of writing to Bad Block. This will not help against a large number of "bads", but if there are several dozen, you will extend the life of the drive.

The work algorithms utilities are similar. It is better to keep on your computer thanks to the ease of disk selection, its interface is easier than that. But the trouble is that both projects stopped - the support of the latest models' hard drives can be found only in. The high speed of the programs also distinguishes them from the HDD Regenerator.

Summarizing the foregoing, once again we note that the beginners are better not to "play hard". In case of detection of problems, simply spend the recovery of individual files (images, audio, video, etc.) using the program Hetman Partition Recovery.and carry "Screw" to the workshop. If "make friends" with the decision from Hetman does not exit, free, but less effective 7-Data Recovery Suite, Minitool Power Data Recovery will come to the rescue.

Advanced users will appreciate LLF Tool, Capacity Restore Tool, HDD Regenerator or his cheaper analog DREVITALIZE., Windows version of the popular DOS-utility Victoria.

The selection of the pro is unequivocal - it is bootable , or - a project that continues to evolve unlike the famous "colleagues". Updates on the official site appear regularly, developers enthusiastically continue to improve the tool and add support for new drive models.