Disc Utility 'how to undo an erase of disc?'

[AlexJD]

I accidentally erased two mirrored back up discs today, both were Fat 32 and are USB 250 GB.

Is it possible to undo this or will I have to use a data recovery software, like Data Rescue. I have not written anything else to them.

I have data there that I don't have backed up elsewhere and really want it back, I would appreciate any help at all on this.

iMac 3.06 - 2008 - OSX 10.6.6.

Cheers....

 

[miles01110]

You will have to use Data Recovery software, and even then you won't be able to restore the disc to its original state.

 

[AlexJD]

You will have to use Data Recovery software, and even then you won't be able to restore the disc to its original state.

Thanks, I suspected as much but was hoping for some kinda command line miracle....

 

[itickings]

Thanks, I suspected as much but was hoping for some kinda command line miracle....

For command line miracles, check out TestDisk. Not for the faint of heart, but powerful. And free.

 

[AlexJD]

For command line miracles, check out TestDisk. Not for the faint of heart, but powerful. And free.

Thanks, that looks interesting, and I'm trying to learn more about the terminal stuff so we will have a close look, I would like to know how to rebuild directories etc. I'll post what I find here.

 

[old-wiz]

Thanks, that looks interesting, and I'm trying to learn more about the terminal stuff so we will have a close look, I would like to know how to rebuild directories etc. I'll post what I find here.

Rebuilding directories and files is not something you can do from command line; you need a program that understands disk structure and how to go in and mess around with stuff.

 

[AlexJD]

Rebuilding directories and files is not something you can do from command line; you need a program that understands disk structure and how to go in and mess around with stuff.

Thanks, what program would you recommend, to try and get it all back together again? I'm scanning it with Data Rescue 3.1 at the moment.

 

[itickings]

Rebuilding directories and files is not something you can do from command line; you need a program that understands disk structure and how to go in and mess around with stuff.

Which is what TestDisk in many cases can do, or at least give you the required information to do so.

 

[Sam1982]

Recover data after formating drive

I also made a mistake by formating my drive without erasing my data. I'm trying to recover with Data rescue 3, even bought an external hard disk...if anyone have information that could help you're welcome!

 

[AlexJD]

Which is what TestDisk in many cases can do, or at least give you the required information to do so.

I've finished the Data Rescue scan and its a mess ok, not all there and hard to find. This TestDisk looks interesting, but as you said, not for the fainthearted. Have to learn some stuff to even install it and get it working. I'm busy now doing assignments for college and will get time next week and get stuck in. Thanks for the link.

 

[itickings]

This TestDisk looks interesting, but as you said, not for the fainthearted.

I've used it previously to recover completely lost partitions fully intact by rebuilding the partition map, index & stuff, but at the moment I'm not entirely familiar with how invasive a non-secure Disk Utility erase is.

If I happen to find an empty hard drive and have some time over sometime I'll make a quick try to simulate your situation and see if TestDisk can recover from an erase. What was your setup like? One big partition only?

 

[AlexJD]

I've used it previously to recover completely lost partitions fully intact by rebuilding the partition map, index & stuff, but at the moment I'm not entirely familiar with how invasive a non-secure Disk Utility erase is.

If I happen to find an empty hard drive and have some time over sometime I'll make a quick try to simulate your situation and see if TestDisk can recover from an erase. What was your setup like? One big partition only?

Yes, just one partition, I had a problem with one, and was erasing it to copy the other on to it, and had them both open at the same time, while I was talking to my daughter on the phone!! One wrong click and voila, two blank discs. I was feeling smug with all my back ups too... lesson learnt. I'm not sure if I deleted the partition or just the contents of the partition. Many thanks, your help is appreciated.