Friday, January 30, 2009

How the MBR Corruption Occurs in Linux

Master Boot Record or MBR is the store of all the information, requisite by the operating system for the execution of the booting process. This information is located at the first sector of the hard drive. The end of the MBR sector reveals the knowledge about the bootable partition. In Linux, the MBR is directly accessible through the dd command.

But unfortunately, a mere misdeed with this information can fetch some drastic mishaps to the data.

The data might turn out to be inaccessible (as the booting of the system would not be succeeded) and the Linux data recovery need may step into the scenario. This usually happens when this MBR gets overwritten. The chances of this phenomenon rises particularly when you are dual booting between Windows and Linux.

However, there are few cases when the overwriting or the corruption of MBR is observed like:

Wrong use of dd: dd command can be used to restore MBR as:

# dd if=/path/mbr-backup of=/dev/hda bs=512 count=1

However the incorrect use may overwrite the existing MBR and may corrupt it.
In the dual boot system and while working with Windows, clicking on hibernate instead of shutdown may overwrite the existing MBR. The GRUB boot loader, which is the multiboot loader, then gets housed.

This is the clear risk to your data and it may remain inaccessible until you apply the fixing mechanism for the damaged MBR or some Linux recovery utility. Linux Distribution CD may help you in this regard, from which the booting of the system is required and some BIOS settings are required while the mere GRUB corruption can be cured with the following command:

# grub-install /dev/hda

Note: in case of SCSI hard disk, the device node is /dev/sda instead of /dev/hda of IDE hard disk.

If the trouble is un-addressable by any of the fix, data recovery Linux is the way to go through third party application. This software has the inbuilt power to scan the hard drive thoroughly and to retrieve the information. Termed as Linux recovery software, these address each specific problem of data loss and offer an interactive interface to the users.

Linux Data Recovery software works for the entire data loss scenario in the most effective and easy manner. Without letting you know any technical details about the data recovery Linux process, this software goes well with Ext2, Ext3 and Reiser FS file systems.

This Linux data recovery utility is applicable for all the Linux flavors. The File Filter and File Mask like options add to the advantages of this Linux recovery tool and software is viable for recovering each type of file.

If File Vault ‘Secure Erase’ is interrupted Data Loss May Occur In Mac

File Vault is a system In Mac computer which protects your important data from unauthorized access. It is available in Mac OS X 10.3 and later versions. It uses an encrypted file system, which are mounted and un-mounted when user logs in or out of the account or system. The home directory of user account is encrypted with the help of AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) algorithm.

while user turns on the File Vault protection for his/her account in the security preferences in System Preferences, whole home directory is changed into encrypted disk image. In Mac OS X 10.4, you could also securely wipe out data, when the File Vault protection is on, by clicking on “Use secure erase” checkbox when “You are now ready to turn on File Vault protection” message box appears.

The protected erase option erases all the files copied in the encrypted disk image of File Vault. But, if you have selected “do not interrupt the secure erase process”, and the process gets interrupted, you may fall in serious problems of data loss.

Due to any of the reasons, like power failure or hardware failure, the erase process gets interrupted; you may come across the following situations:

1. You might not be capable of logging into the account, for which you have enabled the File Vault protection.

2. Every file in your Home directory, along with which are selected for secure erase in File Vault, will be deleted and you will have to face the disastrous problems of data loss.

In such situations you will not be able to access your account and data stored in it. When you log in through any other account, you will not be able to access the encrypted disk image. All this behavior will ultimately lead to data loss, which might put you out of the business. Thus, you need to search for a good data recovery Mac solution.

Mac data recovery is most excellent possible through the application of Mac recovery software. Mac recovery software are third party tools, specifically designed to meet different users’ data recovery Mac needs. There are so many data recovery companies in the market, offering Mac recovery software with varying set of features. Considering the best Mac data recovery software is extensively significant as well as challenging.

Macintosh Data Recovery software is the finest ever made data recovery Mac utility. It allows you to have absolute, safe and easy Mac data recovery in all possible posers of Mac data loss. With intuitive user interface and rich graphical support, this Mac recovery software will never let you feel the lack of sound technical skills. It is usable with all file versions of Mac OS X including Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

How Can We Recover Data from Ext3 File System in Linux?

As you may know, nearby there is no need to de-fragment an Ext3 file system based Linux hard drive. It is an enormous feature which avoids the risks of extensive fragmentation and file system corruption and also improves the system performance. But along with the benefits it provides, it also has a dreadful side effect.

You can not get back your deleted files manually in Ext3 file system. It is a good trade-off in the server environment. This is not feasible to run defragmenter on live server. This process may take several hours to complete and during the process you can not access the drive.

The majority of the servers have proper backup mechanisms. Therefore Linux data recovery is not a big problem. But, when it comes to desktop environment, it is very bad thing. From the desktop user’s perspective, this is not a big deal to run defragmenter once is a week. But accidental deletion of files and directories is a huge problem as most of the desktop users do not make proper backup.

In Ext2 and other Linux file systems, it is likely possible to recover data manually after accidental deletion. But it can not be done in Ext3 file systems as it overwrites the deleted portions for avoiding file fragmentation. In such catastrophic situations, Linux data recovery is the only thing which can recover your data and can save your business.

Linux data recovery is the method of scanning the affected Linux hard drive, locating the lost data and retrieving it. To have easy and automated Linux data recovery, you should go for Data Recovery Linux software. These are third party applications, which are able to recover lost data in a quick and straightforward way.

Linux Data Recovery software is the most powerful and result oriented Linux recovery software. This comprehensive tool recovers lost Linux data from all sorts of logically damaged hard drives. With intuitive user interface, it is very easy to use this software. Phoenix Linux data recovery works with all Linux file systems including Ext2, Ext3 and ReiserFS and also supports recovery from almost all of the Linux flavors.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

When No space left on device (Reason) - Mac Error

Hard Disk utility advantages Tiger users to resize the partitions, exclusive of loss of data. Therefore if you are resizing Mac hard drives, Disk Utility offers you an easy way. however users keep reporting that while doing so, they get some strange error messages which state that there is no enough space on the drive, which is not so in actual:

“No space left on device”

While there is lot of empty space on the drive, Disk utility doesn’t take it so. This may be due to the reason that Tiger doesn’t take Disk Utility, other than of itself, for good. So errors may arise while operation. However, one of the easy ways has been discovered to solve the present issue.

If you face such error messages, try deleting the large files from system. But, always remember to copy all those files on some other storage media. A hurried decision may cost later in terms of Mac data recovery need if you delete any important file.

Locate those files which are large, especially 1 GB+ files, delete them and see if you can now resize the partition. But always check the content it possesses, deleting the important will ask for Mac recovery.

Therefore back it up or use Mac Recovery utilities to extract them from affected hard drive. Mac data recovery software are the tools which scan, locate and recover the lost information. They have the ability to run in each specific cause of data loss. Also, the interactive interface makes the process simple.

Data Recovery Mac uses the most influential scanning algorithms for Mac recovery. The application is compatible with HFS, HFS+, HFSX and HFS Wrapper file systems and supports all MAC OS X versions. This data recovery Mac software has graphically rich look to offer.

Friday, January 23, 2009

What Happen When Mac Continuously Reboot After Mac OS X 10.5.5 Update

Mac OS X 10.5.5 update has come up with the certain new markup, which a Mac user will constantly want to have. This update is supportive in enhancing the operating system capabilities with respect to stability, security and compatibility. Certain application related problems have also been fixed. But a strange incident, which states that the system autonomously restarts after the update, has kept of all these advantages as this can be the data attacking case, which can generate Mac data recovery need, the rebooting starts continuously.

Moreover a gray screen with the spinning wheel and the loss of the power to boot into safe or single user mode is also seen. The user lefts with no clue as the process start in a circle. Some reports suggest that this could be the consequence of incorrect manual updating to the system files. The required permissions could have got changed, resulting into the stuck system state into rebooting. Try resetting the PRAM and PMU. See if it helps.

But if this is the difficult problem of incorrect application of update, the scene is going to be really horrifying. On the other hand, running the permissions fix through Mac OS X DVD can help if the files are lying in the correct permissions database, otherwise not. If neither of the solutions works, you can choose to roll back to the previous system state which is possible through the Time Machine backup. This will restore the system to the last functional state.

If this fails either, reinstalling the operating system is the last option. But this data loss causing decision must be taken when you fell entirely helpless as this need formatting which means that data loss is certain and most probably when the hard drive has not been partitioned at all.

Mac recovery, which has become a real need here, would then be possible through data recovery Mac software which retains the scanning ability for the hard drive. These are the term, used when Mac recovery due to any of the cause makes feel its need. Mac data recovery software is the tools which will revert all the disastrous cases of data loss via the interactive user interface. They will recover all your files, basically of any source.

Data Recovery Mac software completes the stand in line of being the most trustworthy product for data recovery Mac. The software uses the most powerful scanning algorithms to scan and retrieve the lost data tactfully. This Mac recovery software identifies all your files counting from simple document files to complex system files. With the effectiveness of the interface, this Mac data recovery software is the complete tool to work with.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Mac MDB Corruption and Its Recovery

The partitions in the Mac OS are referred as Mac volumes. When you partition the Mac hard drive, you require initializing it and carrying out the further process, either through Drive Setup or Disk Utility. These utilities perform disk related tasks.

Once the disk has been partitioned, all the related amount of volume information is stored in MDB, which is an acronym of Master Directory Blocks. MDB is the data structure of HFS file system which holds specific and common information of Mac volumes, which make them recognizable under Mac operating system. Since of the work it does, Master Directory Block is also popular as Volume Information Block or VIB.

MDB possesses volume information such as volume signatures, creation and modification details of volumes, number of files in the root directory and volume itself, volume name and other attributes, number of allocation blocks in volume, first allocation block, start of next allocation search and more. All these information are required by the system software to recognize existing volumes.

In addition, this information is also requisite when the volume is mounted. File Manager reads this data from MDB and then copies it in VCB (Volume Control Block).

MDB Corruption-MDB may corrupt and any or all of the volumes may become inaccessible or appear as corrupted. Additionally, you may get errors like “Bad master directory block”. The reason could be unexpected system shutdown or virus attack.

To handle up such situations and to avoid Mac data recovery, HFS possesses a backup copy of MDB at the opposite end of the volume. So, if you find MDB corrupted, use any disk utility and let it to recover. However, if the copy also fails as of the corruption, try using third party Mac recovery utilities.

Regarding Mac Recovery- data recovery Mac software can scan and recover the lost information. These applications use algorithms and help retrieving the data. Data recovery Mac utilities are designed with the advantage to offer ease to users and safety to data and so are complete and worth.

Phoenix Macintosh Data Recovery software is the high-scanning Mac recovery product. The application supports HFS, HFS+, HFSX and HFS Wrapper file systems and offers data recovery Mac is each case. This Mac data recovery software has interactive interface and a queue of quality features to offer.

Un-mounted Disk Image Recovery

Every operating system like UNIX, as well as Mac OS X, offer a DD command that you can use to make a disk image. This command is usable with command line interface. This command makes a bit by bit image of the hard drive. Typically, for making a disk image, the disk you are copying from has to be capable of spinning.

However what happens if your hard drive is becoming a doorstop? As long as it persists to spin, even with physical damage to the drive, DD command will get you out of the fire. Once you have created a disk image of the affected hard drive, you can restore your data from it. It works as a backup copy of your hard drive.

Following reinstalling or repairing your corrupted operating system, you can use this copy to restore your data and can get your system in working situation.It is a pretty cool data recovery utility that is very helpful in case if any disaster happens. But there are some unfortunate situations where the disk image created using DD command can’t be used.

When you try to mount the disk image, you may receive an error message stating:

“No mountable file systems”

After this error message, you can’t restore or recover your data from the disk image and it could lead to the grave circumstances of data loss. Data loss is the worst scenario that a computer user can face. It can fall you in need of data recovery.

Data loss sometimes can possibly put you out of the business if the lost data is very critical from business point of view. Data recovery in such scenarios is feasible using data recovery software, called Mac data recovery specifically for this case or any other Mac data loss situation.

Mac data recovery software are the data recovery software capable of recovering data from HFS, HFS+, HFSX, and HFS Wrapper file systems. You can find a wide range of Mac data recovery software in the market developed by different data recovery companies and supportive for different Mac file versions and file systems. You should go for the best data recovery software that can assure you a perfect data recovery Mac.

You should completely analyze before purchasing Mac recovery software, because it is the question of lifeblood of your organization- data. Some good data recovery companies provide the free demo version of Mac data recovery software to check out the skills, usability and efficiency of the software.

Mac Data Recovery is the exclusive solution for all of your Mac data loss problems. It is an easy to use, non destructive and read only data recovery Mac solution that executes quick and safe Mac recovery. This software systematically scans the affected Mac hard drive and extracts as much data as possible.

You can use this Mac data recovery software with all file versions of Mac OS X including Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5. It offers support for HFS, HFS+, HFSX and HFS Wrapper file systems based hard drive volumes of Mac operating system.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

How can we get back Removed Files on Ext3 Hard Drive

As we all know that Linux operating system, an Open Source flag bearer is getting more and more popular because of a wide array of applications like Office suite, Drawing applications and much more. We don’t have to install additional software to do the daily Office work, DTP (Desktop Publishing), Technical Drawings etc. In other words, we can customize the operating system options at the time of install as per our preference.

The Ext3 is a well-liked file system used with the Linux operating system. We usually face data loss in Linux due to system files corruption, user error, or malicious software. We generally loose data in multi user environment in Linux where the files generally get deleted to make disk space or increase disk performance.

It is not possible to recover files manually from an Ext3 file system based Linux hard drive. For ensuring that Ext3 could securely resume unlink after the crash, it zeros out block pointers in inode. Then only option you have is to “grep” for the parts of file, which have been removed.

Grep is command line based text search tool in Linux operating system. It searches for the files or standard inputs globally for the lines matching to given expression and retrieves them.

Though, it is not basically true that all files still remain there. This is less probable, since files have to be retrieved from the journal. On top of that, Meta data of file system is less logically related to the real data so that complex algorithms are required to find them back.

Every time the file is accessed, the Access Time gets changed and the inode is written to the hard drive with 32 other indoes, which reside in the same block. When this happens, copy of that particular block is written to journal. Thus, if your volume is not so large, and if you have recently accessed the files, which you wish to recover, you may be able to retrieve the block pointers from journal.

While, this method works in a number of data loss situations, but can not guarantee full recovery in all possible scenarios of data loss in Ext3 file system. This tool comes with some limitations like:

1. It can recover only recently deleted files. If you have mounted the file system after data loss, it will not work.

2. If the file system is corrupted or there is any other issue with hard drive data structure, you will not get desired results.

3. It can not recover larger files.

unluckily, in all above situations, grep can not perform Linux data recovery and thus you need to find a third party Linux data recovery software to get your data back.

Linux recovery software are sophisticated tools, which are designed to thoroughly scan you entire hard drive and extract all data from it. Linux data recovery software are generally very easy to use and thus not demand any sound or prior technical knowledge.

Stellar Phoenix Linux Data Recovery is the most excellent Linux recovery tool and offers complete Linux recovery; it supports all Linux file systems including Ext2, Ext3 and ReiserFS. With its intuitive user interface, we can have trouble free Linux data recovery for all Linux operating system distributions.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Why Disk Utility Fails to Format the Drive

A hard disk utility in an operating system performs disk related responsibilities such as disk formatting ,partitioning, , mounting and unmounting disks, verifying and repairing authentications; formation, compression and conversion of disk images . But, it has been found that due to certain reasons, the disk utility fails to format the drive with some logical problem.

The issue is commonly faced in Mac OS X 10.5. The users report that when they try to format the drive, an error occurs that reports the failure of the format operation.The reason that Disk Utility may fail to format can be the hard drive malfunction. If the hard drive is facing some physical errors or the firmware has gone corrupt, the Disk Utility may report errors.

A Hard drive failure is the common cause behind such an error. We need to check if the hard drive is making some unusual sound, if it is, we have to opt for Mac recovery service as the resolution.While, the other issues may lie in the manner in which Mac OS X 10.5 handles the formatting of a drive.

So, the user is suggested to take the drive to a system, with Operating System different than Leopard and try to format it again. However, this is highly suggested to backup all the data, prior the disk format operation, to avoid any data recovery situation at a later stage.

The failure to format or partition the drive is a common indication, when the drive faces physical errors. Though, the limitations in MAC OSX versions itself are still to be addressed. So, before it may occur, use any non-Leopard system and format the hard drive after taking the entire data backup.

About Mac recovery

Several users may understand the significance of data after formatting, when they have ignored data backup. To solve such an issues, Mac recovery tools exist in market which can scan and recover lost data.

Mac data recovery tools use the scanning algorithms based upon the file system, locate lost data and recover it.Moreover the Mac Data recovery is also possible when the drive has failed physically. Various Mac recovery services are available, where experts put in their repairing attempts and try to extract all data.

At Stellar you would find excellent Mac recovery solutions. Stellar Phoenix Macintosh Data Recovery software is the application equipped with highly developed deep-scanning algorithms to recover the lost data and is compatible with HFS, HFSX, HFS+ and HFS Wrapper file systems of Mac. Also, Stellar’s data recovery experts for Mac are capable to deal all failed hard drives in Class 100 Clean Room.