Data Recovery Options

I'm almost a little embarrassed to post this, but I figured, why not

My computer (despite the presence of a UPS) was killed by an extrem
power surge last week Tuesday during a thunder storm, which is ver
common in my area. The only components that survived this disaster ar
the 8 hard drive
(http://www.vistax64.com/general-disc...tml#post533290)
The data on all but 3 of these drive is ok, and was 100% accessible b
plugging them into a temporary XP machine loaned to me by my ISP. Th
remaining three drives where configured as a JBOD array in order t
provide a single 530GB "drive" to contain my music and videos folder
without fuss

The JBOD setup was a standard function of the ASUS A8N32-Sli-Delux
motherboard. The RAID controller on the replacement motherboard that th
insurance company is giving me (MB-M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WiFi-AP) does no
support JBOD, so in most cases I'd be pretty much stuffed, if not fo
the backups I already have

The problem is this - The last backup I have of this JBOD array wa
made about a week before the computer was popped by lightning, an
covers only about 90% or so of the data, which leaves me with about 33G
that has not been backed up

So what I'm looking for is this

- A reputable data recovery program that can scan the 3 individua
drives (possibly scanning for NTFS structures) and recover the data.
have got *GetDataBack NTFS 3.02*, but it's success rate isn't ver
good, so I don't know how well it will work in this instance
- A Vista x64 driver that can "emulate" JBOD from standard SAT
connections so that I can re-construct the 3-drive array (even i
only temporarily), and then use Windows Explorer to copy the lost dat
to new locations. I've already run up the phone bill through the roof contactin
component suppliers in South Africa to try an locate a separate SAT
RAID controller that supports JBOD, but no joy

All I need to do is recover that missing 10% that has been lost
Unfortunately, brute force data recovery is my only option, as some o
the sources where I got the music and videos are no longer available, a
they too where wiped out by the storm, some of which aren't as regula
with their backups as I am

Are there any suggestions

--
dzomlij

____________________
Peter Alexander Dzomlij
-Do you hear, huh? The Alpha and The Omega? Death and Rebirth? And a
you die, so shall I be Reborn...

:cry:-U--nfortunately, my rig (As seen i
http://www.vistax64.com/general-disc...tml#post533290
went south thanks to mother nature and a lightning bolt to the main
supply that my UPS could not stop. Now I'm just waiting for th
insurance payout, so I can build a new machine.-
' (http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/e...zomlija/Venus/)

I would suggest as an array is involved, unless you can reconstruct that
array, and almost certainly you might only succeed with that by, using an
identical motherboard, or possibly using a motherboard that utilises the
same sata controller, then you should seek help from a professional & very
expensive data recovery company.


"dzomlija" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> I'm almost a little embarrassed to post this, but I figured, why not?
>
> My computer (despite the presence of a UPS) was killed by an extreme
> power surge last week Tuesday during a thunder storm, which is very
> common in my area. The only components that survived this disaster are
> the 8 hard drives
> (http://www.vistax64.com/general-disc...tml#post533290).
> The data on all but 3 of these drive is ok, and was 100% accessible by
> plugging them into a temporary XP machine loaned to me by my ISP. The
> remaining three drives where configured as a JBOD array in order to
> provide a single 530GB "drive" to contain my music and videos folders
> without fuss.
>
> The JBOD setup was a standard function of the ASUS A8N32-Sli-Deluxe
> motherboard. The RAID controller on the replacement motherboard that the
> insurance company is giving me (MB-M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WiFi-AP) does not
> support JBOD, so in most cases I'd be pretty much stuffed, if not for
> the backups I already have.
>
> The problem is this - The last backup I have of this JBOD array was
> made about a week before the computer was popped by lightning, and
> covers only about 90% or so of the data, which leaves me with about 33GB
> that has not been backed up.
>
> So what I'm looking for is this:
>
> - A reputable data recovery program that can scan the 3 individual
> drives (possibly scanning for NTFS structures) and recover the data. I
> have got *GetDataBack NTFS 3.02*, but it's success rate isn't very
> good, so I don't know how well it will work in this instance.
> - A Vista x64 driver that can "emulate" JBOD from standard SATA
> connections so that I can re-construct the 3-drive array (even if
> only temporarily), and then use Windows Explorer to copy the lost data
> to new locations. I've already run up the phone bill through the roof
> contacting
> component suppliers in South Africa to try an locate a separate SATA
> RAID controller that supports JBOD, but no joy.
>
> All I need to do is recover that missing 10% that has been lost.
> Unfortunately, brute force data recovery is my only option, as some of
> the sources where I got the music and videos are no longer available, as
> they too where wiped out by the storm, some of which aren't as regular
> with their backups as I am.
>
> Are there any suggestions?
>
>
> --
> dzomlija
>
> _____________________
> Peter Alexander Dzomlija
> -Do you hear, huh? The Alpha and The Omega? Death and Rebirth? And as
> you die, so shall I be Reborn...-
>
> :cry:-U--nfortunately, my rig (As seen in
> http://www.vistax64.com/general-disc...tml#post533290)
> went south thanks to mother nature and a lightning bolt to the mains
> supply that my UPS could not stop. Now I'm just waiting for the
> insurance payout, so I can build a new machine.-'
> ' (http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/e...zomlija/Venus/)

DL;644368 Wrote:
> I would suggest as an array is involved, unless you can reconstruct that
> array, and almost certainly you might only succeed with that by, using
> an identical motherboard, or possibly using a motherboard that utilises
> the same sata controller, then you should seek help from a professional
> & very expensive data recovery company.

Unfortunately, an identical motherboard is out of the question, as the
one I was using (ASUS A8N32-Sli-Deluxe) was discontinued by ASUS several
months ago, and I have been unable to locate a similar board that uses a
compatible SATA controller. I can't check now, as I no longer have the
board (the insurance company wanted it for the own inspection teams).

Other than GetDataBack NTFS, are there no other software alternatives
that I can try?


--
dzomlija

_____________________
Peter Alexander Dzomlija
-Do you hear, huh? The Alpha and The Omega? Death and Rebirth? And as
you die, so shall I be Reborn...-

:cry:-U--nfortunately, my rig (As seen in
http://www.vistax64.com/general-disc...tml#post533290)
went south thanks to mother nature and a lightning bolt to the mains
supply that my UPS could not stop. Now I'm just waiting for the
insurance payout, so I can build a new machine.-'
' (http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/e...zomlija/Venus/)

"dzomlija" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> DL;644368 Wrote:
>> I would suggest as an array is involved, unless you can reconstruct that
>> array, and almost certainly you might only succeed with that by, using
>> an identical motherboard, or possibly using a motherboard that utilises
>> the same sata controller, then you should seek help from a professional
>> & very expensive data recovery company.
>
> Unfortunately, an identical motherboard is out of the question, as the
> one I was using (ASUS A8N32-Sli-Deluxe) was discontinued by ASUS several
> months ago, and I have been unable to locate a similar board that uses a
> compatible SATA controller. I can't check now, as I no longer have the
> board (the insurance company wanted it for the own inspection teams).

I have never seen the point in using JBOD, especially as I like to have
different types of files in different arrays, drives or partitions. What
controller was it that you used for JBOD? If it was a Promise or Silicon
Image controller or similar, it is possible that you can get a PCI/PCIe
controller card with the same chip, or another compatible one from the same
manufacturer.

> Other than GetDataBack NTFS, are there no other software alternatives
> that I can try?

GetDataBack for NTFS is really good software. You actually might be able to
recover everything you need, as only some files will be spanning more than
one drive.

ss.

"Synapse Syndrome" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> I have never seen the point in using JBOD, especially as I like to have
> different types of files in different arrays, drives or partitions.

Another thing:

I suppose you like to have everything appearing as one drive, as you were
using JBOD. Instead of all that hassle, of setting up a JBOD array like
that, you could just use NTFS Mount Points, within Disk Management, or NTFS
Junction Points. With this you can extend the apparent size of any tree of
folders seamlessly, in a similar way, but at the same time keeping the data
safely on different disks. You can also add and remove disks as and when
you need them.

ss.

In article <>,
dzomlija <> wrote:
>
>The JBOD setup was a standard function of the ASUS A8N32-Sli-Deluxe

Try to find another A8N on ebay

Synapse Syndrome;644653 Wrote:
> I have never seen the point in using JBOD, especially as I like to have
> different types of files in different arrays, drives or partitions.
> What controller was it that you used for JBOD? If it was a Promise or
> Silicon Image controller or similar, it is possible that you can get a
> PCI/PCIe controller card with the same chip, or another compatible one
> from the same manufacturer.

It was the onboard Silicon Image controller that I used. I setup the
JBOD as a quick and dirty (and cheap!) way of getting the 530GB I needed
to consolidate all my music and videos into a single "partition". In
hindsight, it was perhaps a dumb move, and I should've gone straight to
to buying a 500GB hard disk instead.

Synapse Syndrome;644653 Wrote:
> GetDataBack for NTFS is really good software. You actually might be
> able to recover everything you need, as only some files will be spanning
> more than one drive.
>
> ss.


GetDataBackNTFS it is then. I use it a lot when I recover data from
customers hard disk who "accidentally" erased their files or formatted
their drives. I've just never tried it in a scenario such as this
before, and was thinking that maybe there are other utilities out there
that may also help.

Thanks, SS...


--
dzomlija

_____________________
Peter Alexander Dzomlija
-Do you hear, huh? The Alpha and The Omega? Death and Rebirth? And as
you die, so shall I be Reborn...-

:cry:-U--nfortunately, my rig (As seen in
http://www.vistax64.com/general-disc...tml#post533290)
went south thanks to mother nature and a lightning bolt to the mains
supply that my UPS could not stop. Now I'm just waiting for the
insurance payout, so I can build a new machine.-'
' (http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/e...zomlija/Venus/)

On Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:15:05 -0500, dzomlija
<> wrote:

>
>Synapse Syndrome;644653 Wrote:
>> I have never seen the point in using JBOD, especially as I like to have
>> different types of files in different arrays, drives or partitions.
>> What controller was it that you used for JBOD? If it was a Promise or
>> Silicon Image controller or similar, it is possible that you can get a
>> PCI/PCIe controller card with the same chip, or another compatible one
>> from the same manufacturer.
>
>It was the onboard Silicon Image controller that I used. I setup the
>JBOD as a quick and dirty (and cheap!) way of getting the 530GB I needed
>to consolidate all my music and videos into a single "partition". In
>hindsight, it was perhaps a dumb move, and I should've gone straight to
>to buying a 500GB hard disk instead.

Try using this card: PCI Express Serial ATA II (SATA II) Card, 2x
External Port (e-SATA), SiI3132 Chipset
<http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10407&cs_id=1040702&p_i d=3581&seq=1&format=2>
>
>Synapse Syndrome;644653 Wrote:
>> GetDataBack for NTFS is really good software. You actually might be
>> able to recover everything you need, as only some files will be spanning
>> more than one drive.
>>
>> ss.
>
>
>GetDataBackNTFS it is then. I use it a lot when I recover data from
>customers hard disk who "accidentally" erased their files or formatted
>their drives. I've just never tried it in a scenario such as this
>before, and was thinking that maybe there are other utilities out there
>that may also help.
>
>Thanks, SS...

andy;645772 Wrote:
> Try using this card: PCI Express Serial ATA II (SATA II) Card, 2
> External Port (e-SATA), SiI3132 Chipse
> <http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

Thanks, SS, I'm looking into it now. But the one for which you provide
the link has only 2 e-Sata ports. I need at least 3 SATA RAID ports tha
can be configured as JBOD. Thier product ID 2667 looks to be a bette
selection

--
dzomlij

____________________
Peter Alexander Dzomlij
-Do you hear, huh? The Alpha and The Omega? Death and Rebirth? And a
you die, so shall I be Reborn...

:cry:-U--nfortunately, my rig (As seen i
http://www.vistax64.com/general-disc...tml#post533290
went south thanks to mother nature and a lightning bolt to the main
supply that my UPS could not stop. Now I'm just waiting for th
insurance payout, so I can build a new machine.-
' (http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/e...zomlija/Venus/)

"dzomlija" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> andy;645772 Wrote:
>> Try using this card: PCI Express Serial ATA II (SATA II) Card, 2x
>> External Port (e-SATA), SiI3132 Chipset
>> <http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10407&cs_id=1040702&p_i d=3581&seq=1&format=2>
>
> Thanks, SS, I'm looking into it now. But the one for which you provided
> the link has only 2 e-Sata ports. I need at least 3 SATA RAID ports that
> can be configured as JBOD. Thier product ID 2667 looks to be a better
> selection.


OK, but I did not post that link.

The card you mention,
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2
is PCI and not PCIe, which would be preferable though. I'm not totally
sure, but if you using three or four drive simultaneously (in RAID-0, for
example) the PCI bus might not have enough bandwidth for the fastest
possible operation. It won't be an issue with JBOD though, and only with
RAID-0. I could be wrong though, and it might not be relevant to your use
of the card.

ss.