Please Help Recover These Files!

[ProdigyzMined]

Hello everyone! today has been a bit stressful, as I've realized that an ftp transfer of files that I did from my personal server to a separate HDD did not transfer over everything successfully, and now critically important files are completely missing. I formatted the original drive in the server to install Proxmox, and after transferring the folder back onto a new windows node I realized that not everything was there. How can I recover these files? I tried using Recuva, but my PC won't recognize the Proxmox drive and therefore it cannot be scanned. What other options do I have?

[Lehti]

If your FTP server uses Linux, you could use TestDisk. I personally haven't had much luck with it, maybe because I didn't invest that much time and effort trying to recover my stuff, but your mileage may be better than mine (I hope, at least).

[ProdigyzMined]

Just now, Lehti said:

If your FTP server uses Linux, you could use TestDisk. I personally haven't had much luck with it, maybe because I didn't invest that much time and effort trying to recover my stuff, but your mileage may be better than mine (I hope, at least).

The server is a Dell PowerEdge R210, and was running stock Windows 10 Pro. I wanted to run some Ubuntu Server and CentOS as well though so I decided to implement Proxmox. For TestDisk, what would i run that on? The new windows node does not have access to the entire drive, just a section. I need to scan the entire thing though?

[Lehti]

A Linux Live environment should work. There are also a few Linux-based recovery Live CDs/USBs out there, but I have no first-hand knowledge of how well they perform. You shouldn't worry about what section of the drive your Windows node has access to, because the Live environment will see the entire hard drive as it's its own. And yes, you have to scan the entire drive, and this may take some time.

[ProdigyzMined]

1 minute ago, Lehti said:

A Linux Live environment should work. There are also a few Linux-based recovery Live CDs/USBs out there, but I have no first-hand knowledge of how well they perform. You shouldn't worry about what section of the drive your Windows node has access to, because the Live environment will see the entire hard drive as it's its own. And yes, you have to scan the entire drive, and this may take some time.

Sorry for sounding like a nub, but would I add another node through Proxmox to get that live environment? I'd imagine installing more stuff would be bad... maybe boot off of a flash drive?

[Lehti]

A Live environment is an operating system instance that runs off of a flash drive or a CD. It's "Live" because you don't need to install anything. Make sure you enable persistence, or else you won't be able to install new software on the flash drive.

[ProdigyzMined]

Just now, Lehti said:

A Live environment is an operating system instance that runs off of a flash drive or a CD. It's "Live" because you don't need to install anything. Make sure you enable persistence, or else you won't be able to install new software on the flash drive.

Good to know, thank you!