Data Not Accessible

[Augphoto]

What?

A Linux program works with windows?

[patio]

No. The Linux program runs on it's own...it will however give you access to the hard drive to see if the data is still intact...

[2k_dummy]

No. It boots linux, but will mount the drive and allow you to work with the data. It will boot and run directly from the CD.

Edit: I'm a day late and dollar short. I simply must take typing lessons.

[contrex]

How a Corrupted USB Drive Was Saved by GNU/Linux

http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8366

My USB drive is a Lexar Media USB Jumpdrive Pro 2.0 (512 MB).  I was working
    on it in a computer with Windows 2000 and logged off before
    ejecting the drive.  Next time when I tried to use it,
    it showed up as a Removable drive rather than the usual
    Lexar Media drive and when I tried to open it, it said the
    drive was not formatted; and under Properties, 0 bytes free
    and used space and file system "RAW"
    According to Lexar tech support, there is a bug with
    Windows 2000 (that MS never bothered to fix) and can corrupt
    the drive when it is removed without proper eject. They
    recommend EasyRecovery Pro for data recovery which did
    allow me to recover some files (> 500) using their RAW data
    recovery program (all other tool failed because usually
    said "no recognizable file on disc").  Unfortunately,
    all the file names are lost and some files are gone.

[Augphoto]

    I'm sorry I took so long to post this but, because of a great fear of lossing all my data, I put this problem on hold for a while.

Finally after getting over my fears, I tried the 'GetDataBack' program.  I'm ecstatic!  It seems I recovered everything.  I was hoping to recover my data without spending money but, I broke down and bought this program out of desperation.  GLAD I Did.

I am one happy customer. 

[patio]

Glad to hear you got it back...now it's time to develop a good solid backup strategy.

Stop by for some good advice from the crew...

[Dam1an]

Yes, it is an excellent program.  I have used it a couple times myself. 

As for the problem, I believe that when the drive dismount error occurs, it corrupts the format data on the hard drive, making it unreadable.  The data on the drive is not actually damaged most times and easily recovered.  That's also how you can still get files back you delete with the same program.  When you delete a file, Windows doesnt actually "erase" the information.  Rather, it takes the tag off the front of it that keeps the hard drove from overwriting on it.  As long as it hasn't been overwritten, you can recover it. 

Today's tidbit brought to you by the letters G and C, and the number 8.

[Augphoto]

I believe you are right Dam1an.  I think it was a dismount error that caused all my woes.

And patio, I KNOW you are right.  I'm going to improve my backup strategy starting . . . now!