How to repair a corrupt file allocation table?

[TheLizardMan]

Whats a good program to repair a corrupt FAT? I need to repair it to get some data off the drive. Then once that is do I will reformate and install windows to make sure that everything is okay.

 

[ironique]

Is the drive recognized in windows? You tried the good old chkdsk command? chkdsk /r /x [drive].

 

[TheLizardMan]

No, it's for a friends computer. I will be checking it out soon.

Now if it is the FAT that is corrupt, giving windows wrong file size information, will chkdsk /r /x fix it? Also, if this fails the drive will be lost for good. So i'd rather try another method first if there is one.

BTW, how would you check to verify that the file allocation table is corrupt in the first place? Right now I'm just taking a guess.

Thanks

 

[LiLithTecH]

What OS?

There are Shareware\Freeware file recovery apps that you can try.

The best Retail File Recovery Program I have found is;

Active@File Recovery for Windows

 

[HeidiK77]

Hi, TheLizardMan, I think I got the same prob as your friend's.
I agree with you on chkdsk;
I havent found any way of checking that it is the fat thats corrupted but the files are stilll on the disk and look corrupt (folders and files are made of odd characters). So far the only options i've found were recover the data via some various proggs (dont know if they work) and format disk...
If you find something plz let me know, I will do the same. Good Luck

 

[VertigoPariah]

I just went through this myself and found a great program to pull the data off the drive. Its not freeware but it does work and it does what it says. Go to www.restorer2000.com.

 

[HeidiK77]

Thanks for the tip VertigoPariah.
Any clue for recovering a corrupt FAT?
ALso, I should had this happened cause i was trying to use a drive over 127/137gb and my Bios cant handle it.
I'm devasted (lost 138gb of data) and I dont know how to get the disk working other than buying new motherboard and format since the latest bios for my current motherboard wont handle such drive size. After all, if i could just get the data back or repair the fat, i dont care too much about the drive, as far as i'm concerned this drive is evil
I read about fat mismatch and being able to recover the fat by replacing it with its backup (as long as checkdisk didnt interfer), only prob is you need to be some kind of guru to perform that...
Another question: can i recover the data using some prog (like restorer2000 or else) with the hdd size not handled by the bios? or do i need to plug the hdd to a motherboard with bios that can handle the size (and 48-bit Logical Block Addressing) then try to recover the files?
Thanx for any feedback, this is not something very well documented on the net (been looking for info for days).

 

[montag451]

Hi.
Apart from plugging the drive into another sys with a mobo that can handle 48bitLBA, another option is to try a Promise ATA card, or maybe even a USB enclosure MIGHT circumvent the problem.
U will have to get the data off, and reformat though.
Drive is not evil, it is the old non48bit mobo that is.

 

[HeidiK77]

Thanx montag451.
How do i go about to recover the data so i have the best chance of succeeding?
Does the system has to be 48bit lba compatible for me to do that or will my old sys be enough to get the data?
If i put the drive in a compatible system, will my data be there as it should?
I read that before putting my drive in a 48bit lba compatible system, I had to remove the DDO (from WD), is it necessary and how will that affect the data on the drive?
Ofc, once the data is saved, I'll reformat and put it in another sys or use a controller card.
I've never had to do something like that before (retrieve data on a big drive with DDO and compatibility problems) and would really appreciate some guidance for newbies...
Thanx a lot