Bob, You have no issue from me. I use Ontrack's data recovery software too. What it can't do--what no data recovery software can do--is recover overwritten data. That was my only point. The consequence of this fact mean that one pass of a data wiping utility is no less effective than 100 passes, if your only concern is software-based data recovery or reusing your media for data forensics.
Troy > -----Original Message----- > From: Bob Walker [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, June 27, 2003 8:10 PM > To: 'Troy Larson'; 'Robinson, Sonja'; 'NC Agent'; > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: Digital Evidence Question - What is an effective > Windows hard -disk search tool? > > > Greetings All, > > I really have to jump in in the middle of this one(threads > included, for contextual reference). OnTrack's Data Recovery > utility (cost: $200) is an excellent tool for recovering data > from lost partitions, formatted drives, deleted files, etc. > I work in a small computer shop, and this has saved my > backside several times already. > > Regards > Bob > > -----Original Message----- > From: Troy Larson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 2:32 PM > To: 'Robinson, Sonja'; 'NC Agent'; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: Digital Evidence Question - What is an effective > Windows hard -disk search tool? > > > Sonja, > > I respectfully take issue with only one statement: "A wipe to > DoD specs (7 or more passes - 31 recommended now) would make > data unrecoverable." > > > I would say that, unless you are using special hardware tools > to access the hard drive disk platters directly, ONE pass is > sufficient to make the data unrecoverable. That is, one pass > should make data unrecoverable to any software recovery tool > (or any method that relies solely on the hard drive's own hardware). > > Please let me know if I am mistaken. > > Troy > > -----Original Message----- > From: Robinson, Sonja [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 9:01 AM > To: 'NC Agent'; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: Digital Evidence Question - What is an effective > Windows hard -disk search tool? > > > >>O/S could be Fat32. We didn't have that info. True. > Normal formats > still retain data in parts of the clusters so data is > recoverable. My previous posts stated that. A wipe to DoD > specs (7 or more passes - 31 recommended now) would make data > unrecoverable. I'm sorry if people missed earlier posts > where I discussed un/allocated, free, swap space, > non/sequential clusters, etc. and are only responding to > this one or if I wasn't as specific as I should have been in > . I had previously stated in other posts that, potentially, > data is recoverable if it was not overwritten (and the user > potentially overwrote a number of clusters when he > reinstalled the O/S and the apps, depending on where the new > install files were written to on the hd of course). And that > if the full cluster was overwritten they would not be able to > recover anything in unallocated space sinec it would then be > allocated. If only part of the cluster is > overwritten/allocated the data residing in the unallocated > space is recoverable. The user had asked if he could recover > files in a format readable by the original apps. If only > parts of the files are recoverable, i.e. using hex editor or > similar tool then most likely not. (And I will not profess to > know every potential tool that could potentially recover some > in a readable format.) MS tends to write non-contiguously and > thus it is likely that a part of a file was overwritten by > one of the newly installed programs. This of course is > effected by the age of the drive, the amount of data, where > the files were written to-the beginning of the hard vs the > end, the amount of files that were "deleted" throughout the > years, etc. > > Also, in another post I suggested he try a hex editor to view > the data in the clusters to see what was available for > recovery. Based on that review you could determine what it > was worth to buy a program to help recover any data or what > would be necessary to rebuild the files manually. It > appeared that this was beyond the user's technical > capabilities at the moment and that such rebuilding would > require a third party and an additional cost which he did not > seem inclined to pay. I think he specifically mentioned a PST > file and his e-mail messages which is what I was mainly > focusing on. In all likelihood, PST would be extremely > difficult to put back together so it was readable by Outlook > since all of the messages would be scattered and some most > likely lost. My main point was that in all likelihood it was > going to require him to put files back together manually and > that they would most likely not be readable by the original > program. Other files may be easier to get in their entirety. > I should have clarified this, sorry. > > In any event it is nice to share all of the potential ways to > recover lost data for varying technical capabilities. The > more avenues you have the more chances you might have to > recover something even if it is only bits and pieces. > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Robinson, Sonja [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 10:50 > To: 'Wilcox, Stephen'; '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' > Subject: RE: Digital Evidence Question - What is an effective > Windows hard -disk search tool? > > If you reformatted, don't waste your money on any product, > your stuff is gone and the $75 tool isn't going to help you. > Forensics tolls aren't going to help you. > > I would take exception to the above comment, assuming a FAT32 > system and using the high level format the only part of the > drive that will be lost is the system area of the drive. The > data area, cluster 2 and beyond will remain untouched. So > even if you format the data is still there, just the system > area is zeroed. Which means you may have to look for it > manually, but does not mean that it is gone and your search > would be a waste of time. > > > > You're only hope is something like Ontrack and that will cost > you. Even if you could recover some of the information from > free space or slack space, no your files wouldn't have been > readable. IF you has not reformatted and IF you had not > reinstalled the O/S yes they woul;d have been readble by the > original program. You're pretty much toast dude. Sorry. It > is possible to reassemble files IF they are still there > (99.5% chance they're hosed) but reassembly will cost you > serious $$ because it takes a lot of time to do manually. > > Actually all that you have to do is rebuild the root files > and remap the FAT, if the files were contained in contiguous > clusters before the formatting it is not that tough to do > although a little time consuming. If however the files were > in non-contiguous clusters then you are in for time consuming > recovery. > > Clayton Hoskinson, CFCE > IS Auditor > State Auditor and Inspector > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------- > --- > Evaluating SSL VPNs' Consider NEOTERIS, chosen as leader by > top analysts! 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This transmission is > intended only for the use of the recipient(s) named above. > If you are not the intended recipient, or a person > responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you > are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, > distribution or use of any of the information contained in > this transmission is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you have > received this transmission in error, please immediately > notify me by reply e-mail and destroy the original > transmission in its entirety without saving it in any manner. > > > > > > > ********************************************************************** > > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------- > --- > Evaluating SSL VPNs' Consider NEOTERIS, chosen as leader by > top analysts! 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