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Data recovery after OS failure with UFS Explorer Backup and Emergency Recovery CD

If the operating system has failed and cannot be booted anymore, one can eject the hard disk drive from the problem computer, attach it to another working system and recover data from this disk like from an average removable device. However, there are situations, when such manipulations with the machine are undesirable due to the warranty or impossible owing to its technological specificity, there is no secondary computer to use for the procedure or one simply lacks basic technical skills required to disassemble the appliance, while on the other hand, the computer’s hardware hasn’t been damaged and is still working properly. Under these circumstances, one might consider restoring the lost files with the help of a live CD – a self-contained operating system which runs directly from a CD-ROM or any other portable storage device, like a USB flash drive, and doesn't require installation.

Hint: In case of damage or malfunction of computer’s hardware whose are described in the article about data recovery from a computer with a failed OS, please, follow the procedure of data recovery after OS failure using another computer instead of employing a Live CD.

Recover data from unbootable Windows, Linux, macOS, UNIX or BSD without disassembling the computer

With the above-mentioned cases in mind, SysDev Laboratories has constructed UFS Explorer Backup and Emergency Recovery CD – a bootable environment which includes the live Ubuntu Linux operating system with a set of preinstalled data recovery applications and can be easily burnt to a CD, DVD or USB stick. Among the integrated utilities one can find all the latest releases of UFS Explorer and Recovery Explorer software products and choose the one which supports the storage technologies employed by the affected drive. The programs will thoroughly analyze the content of the storage to retrieve the lacking data and enable its further copying to any external storage or a network location.

Hint: For detailed information about the supported file systems and additional storage technologies please refer to the product specifications and the storage technologies page.

Note: For detailed information about the supported file systems and additional storage technologies please refer to the product specifications and the technologies page.

In order to get the necessary data back with the help of UFS Explorer Standard Recovery, follow these steps:

  1. Download the ISO file of UFS Explorer Backup and Emergency Recovery CD to any functioning computer.

  2. Burn the downloaded ISO image to a CD/DVD or create a bootable USB flash drive using specialized software. An example of the procedure is described here.

  3. Attach the bootable device you’ve created to the problem computer. In addition, prepare a target storage to which you are going to save the recovered files (an external device or a network location).

  4. Restart the computer and enter to the Boot menu (press F11, F12 or Esc for older systems on the start screen) and choose the connected CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or USB stick.

  5. Press Enter and the Ubuntu Linux operating system will start loading.

  6. You may try accessing your drive using standard means of Ubuntu, as an OS crash doesn’t necessarily imply data loss: go to Places to open Computer, select and mount your partition under Devices in left panel and copy the needed files to a safe location. If the data cannot be accessed this way, the file system may be corrupted or cannot be recognized in Linux.

    Warning: Mounting and accessing the drive directly in the operating system may lead to data overwriting. If the lost data is of crucial importance or you are not sure you can do this properly, please, skip this step and proceed to the next one.

  7. Launch UFS Explorer Standard Recovery from the desktop and, if needed, change its parameters in the settings pane.

    Note: To use the program on a live CD, a Linux version of the license is required.

  8. Find your drive among the options under connected storages in the left pane and scan it for lost files with the help of the corresponding button or the storage context menu option.

    Note: If the disk is missing from the list of devices, you are likely to have a physically flawed drive/enclosure.

  9. Specify the desired scan parameters. If you are sure which file system you are dealing with, deselect the remaining ones. After that, click "Start scan" and wait for the process to complete.

  10. Inspect the file system reconstructed by the program: you may sort the files by name, date, type, employ quick or advanced search and preview images, videos, audio files or PDF documents. After that, click "Define selection" and pick out the items you want to copy by putting ticks next to them.

  11. Choose a destination folder for these items. See to it that you are not trying to copy them to the same disk from which they are being restored.

Last update: August 09, 2022

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