Recovering WHS data files

Using PhotoRec to recover lost data
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mare
Posts: 3
Joined: 14 Oct 2013, 12:58

Recovering WHS data files

#1 Post by mare »

My windows home server died and will not let me reinstall. How can I recover the dat or data files? All the research I've done says I have to have WHS to read the files. Any help is appreciated.
Mare

bartleby
Posts: 10
Joined: 26 Sep 2013, 01:49

Re: Recovering WHS data files

#2 Post by bartleby »

I don't think you really need data recovery for that. I would just use a linux live cd or live usb flash drive that automatically mounts the drives and simply copy the data you need from the drive with the files to another drive. Here's a link to a step by step tutorial for creating a ubuntu live usb stick using windows os: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/ ... on-windows

mare
Posts: 3
Joined: 14 Oct 2013, 12:58

Re: Recovering WHS data files

#3 Post by mare »

Thanks for your reply. I do have a Linux machine with ubuntu. Can I open these files on that machine? I can put some dat and data files on a USB stick and see if I can open them. Or, should I go about this differently?

Mare

bartleby
Posts: 10
Joined: 26 Sep 2013, 01:49

Re: Recovering WHS data files

#4 Post by bartleby »

Whether linux can "open" or do something with your data depends of course on whether there is a linux app that works with that type of data but certainly linux can copy the data files to another drive at the very least. If you already have an ubuntu installation you might want to just try plugging that drive into that machine and mount it (which the file manager will likely do automatically). The drive you want the data from will have an interface/connector like usb or sata or ide. Shut down your ubuntu machine (unplug the power) and connect the drive and then start the machine back up run ubuntu and check if the file manager sees the drive you connected.

mare
Posts: 3
Joined: 14 Oct 2013, 12:58

Re: Recovering WHS data files

#5 Post by mare »

I can see the dat and data folders on my PC. Recognizing is not the problem. Opening them seems to be the problem. I will try the Linux if you think it may open the folders so they are readable and not just the dat or data folders.

bartleby
Posts: 10
Joined: 26 Sep 2013, 01:49

Re: Recovering WHS data files

#6 Post by bartleby »

A little info on .dat files:
http://askleo.com/whats_a_dat_file/
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_figure_out_ ... nsion.html

If you don't know which app created the .dat file perhaps photorec will rebuild the file for you so it may be worth a try to recover it that way. If photorec cannot identify the signature of the file then you'll have to do your own investigative work I think.

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