Data LifeSaver Data Recovery - Manual

System Requirements
For successful data recovery the system should have at least

a 1 GHz processor
512 MB RAM

Depending on the size of the storage device to be recovered we recommend a PC with at

least 1 GHz and 1 GB RAM.
Data LifeSaver uses quite a lot of memory when recovering a large volume of data. If your
computer doesnt have enough accessible RAM, the operating system will source extra
memory to successfully complete the process. So there will be no restrictions if Windows is
allowed to increase his virtual memory.
Please make sure you have all the storage devices needed. You will need another recovery
device where you can install the software and later save the recovered data to.
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Preparations - What you need to do first
Please read carefully!
Please make sure you have all the storage devices needed. You will need another recovery
device where you can install the software and later save the recovered data to.
This may be:

another hard disk, ZIP drive or a USB stick

an undamaged partition on the same hard drive or
another workstation when you are part of a PC network.

Apart from this we highly recommend to make an image of the damaged device before the
recovery process. For this you will need an extra storage device.
Doing this you will keep the original storage media in the best possible state and you may
use it for a physical recovery procedure later in a laboratory if necessary. This applies
especially if a physical damage cannot be excluded.
With every working process on a damaged disk more data are destroyed, even when only
reading. You should not use Data LifeSaver on a disk itself that has too many physical
damages. Create an image first and work on this!
Professional data recovery is always working on a copy never on the original!
The more you work on a damaged storage device, the less data you will be able to recover.
Cease all operating with the device. This includes surfing on the internet!
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Download and Installation
Data LifeSaver can be downloaded for free to do all necessary testing before it is
purchased.
Go on our homepage at www.easis.com to the page 'Downloads' and transfer the software
to your additional storage device.
Important!
If possible, save then install the Data LifeSaver installation program on a drive other than
the one on which your files were lost.
Instead choose e.g. another hard disk you can save the recovered data to, or another
workstation in a network. If the data to be saved are already on a storage device other than
your hard disk, you can store and install the software on any good hard disk.
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Which Module to Use for a Data Recovery?
Data LifeSaver offers you three modules that may be used on different applications of
recovery.
Recycle Files reconstructs data that were deleted and removed from the bin.
Fast Recall is the recovery instrument to be used after virus attacks, or if a password got
lost, of if you have a defect driver. It is also useful when a folder is no longer found or
cannot be opened any more. In case data recovery with Fast Recall is not successful, Data
LifeSaver will recognize this automatically and tell you to start Volume Recovery.
Volume Recovery is the most powerful instrument and recovers data from devices when a
more complex problem has occurred. The software reconstructs files, folders and file
systems from even very little fragments of information. Volume Recovery saves data with a
much more complex and more exact procedure. It should always be applied if the cause of
a problem is not known or when a first run with Recycle Files or Fast Recall has not been
successful.
Select at the start screen or at 'Modules' the data recovery module that suits to your data
recovery exercise.
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Data Recovery with Fast Recycle
1. Choose the logical drive (C:,D:,etc.) where the deleted files and/or folders were
stored and doubleclick to start the scan.
If the selcted drive is an XP (NTFS) drive, a new window will open to visualize the
advancing process.
2. After the scan is finished the Software will start automatically a search for deleted
files and folders.
3. After the scan is finished a file explorer window will open to show you the previously
deleted files and folders. Deleted files are marked in red.
Please note: Sometimes the 'deleted' attribute for individual files are not properly
set, so your missing files with 'Fast Recycle' may not be visible.
Then use the opportunity for a file search.
Folders are only listed in the view 'Explorer' (register above the file listing).
4. Go to `Recover -> Preview to check the files or go directly to Recover -> Copy
after selected the files to save the files to the new storage device.
Please Note: Upon deletion of a file or folder in a FAT system the first letter of the name is
typically overwritten with a '_'. This will have to be replaced manually after the copying
process.
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Data Recovery with Fast Recall
1. Choose the partition which you want to recover and doubleclick to start the scan. If
the partition is clicked only once with the mouse you will receive additional
information on the size, file system type and kind of media.
If the selcted drive is an XP (NTFS) drive, a new window will open to visualize the
advancing process.
2. After the scan the following window shows a file explorer where you can pick files
and folders for preview or to copy them to a safe storage device.
3. To show deleted files you have to select 'Show deleted files' in the Option-> Data
Recovery Options menu.
Please note: Sometimes the 'deleted' attribute for individual files are not properly
set, so your missing files with 'Fast Recycle' may not be visible.
Then use the opportunity for a file search.
4. Go to `Recover -> Preview to check the files content or go directly to Recover ->
Copy after selected the files to save them to the new storage device.
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Data Recovery with Volume Recovery
1. The module Volume Recovery will reconstruct file systems after more serious
damages. Choose the hard disk drive which you want to recover and doubleclick to
start the scan. If the partition is clicked only once with the mouse you will receive
additional information on the size, file system type and kind of media.
2. Depending on the size of your storage device and the volume of data this process
may take 2 minutes or up to an hour. Example: with a 2 GHz processor and a 350
GB hard disk it takes ca. 90 min., when there is no physical problem.
In the process window you can see the advance of the complex scan and recovery
procedure. The first step is the search for useable information and will take the
longest. An estimated time is given next to the bar. The following process steps will
be between a few seconds to minutes.
3. After a scan all recoverable file systems are shown in a file explorer.
The recovery procedure may find more file systems than you expected. This
depends on how often the operating system on this storage device has been
reconfigured, and on how many of the old data are still readable.
Compare the folders and directories to identify the correct or latest file system. You
may also use the built in search functions, e.g. the chronological order, to look for
folders and files.
4. Now, go to `Recover -> Preview to check the files content or go directly to Recover
-> Copy after selected the files to save them to the new storage device.
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Preview of Files and Folders
Data LifeSaver offers you the opportunity to preview recovered data and check if they are
complete before you buy the software.
The software presents the recovered folders and files in a file explorer window and similar
to the structure you knew before. They are listed with their original names and extensions
and can be previewed in their original applications `Recover->Preview.
If the data are still intact, that is if they havent been overwritten, the files will be readable in
the application. If some of the data have been destroyed, the application may give you an
error message which means the file could not be recovered.
All steps described so far can be performed with an unregistered copy of the software. To
save your data you need to purchase a registration key. It will then be forwarded to you by
e-mail so you can unlock the software and proceed.
You may save the scan of Volume Recovery before registration or if you want to resume
your work later and reload it afterwards to finish your data recovery. After restarting the
software, select LOAD on the first page and open the process file.
After unlocking the software you select the folders and files you want and save them to the
additional storage device. To do this you should either use the explorer window and pick
the files/ folders to be recovered, or use the search module to find a group of files or
folders.
Folders will be copied completely with all subdirectories and files.
Now the data are accessible again to the user.
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Searching for Files and Folders
Data LifeSaver offers you the comfort of searching for folders and files. Start the search
module after completetion of the scan by going to `Recover -> Search.
Type the file extension you want into the search field. Here are some examples:

*.doc - Word documents

*.jpg - JPEG images
*.bmp - Bitmap images
*.xls - Exel files
Ver* - all files and folders beginning with the letters Ver
* - all files and folders (not recomended)

'*' means any combination of letters.

'?' is a joker for a certain letter.
A chronological order will help you to find the newest files on reformatted drives.
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Save or Resume a Data Recovery
Data LifeSaver allows you to save the results from a scan. You can always reload it later on
to resume the processing.
Please note: Saving the scan is no data recovery and no backup procedure. When loading
the file the damaged storage device must be in the same position as before.
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Software Options
The experienced user may use further options to try and influence the result of data
recovery if the first result is not satisfactory enough.
Please note: The default settings will bring you an optimized result in almost all cases.
Options are:
Show NTFS System Files
This option must select before you do a data recovery. It will show also NTFS system files
such as $ MFT, and so on.
Data recovery without FAT
In some cases the FAT system may not be useful for data recovery and you can achieve
better results without FAT. Anyhow, Data LifeSaver will check the FAT and will not use it if
it is a bad FAT (see also Probabilistic FAT analysis ) .
Probabilistic FAT analysis
Data LifeSaver uses a spezial procedure to check the suitability of the FAT. We do not
recommend to switch it off.
Sector backoff strategy
A special procedure allows for the skipping of single bad sectors on a disk. It may be
swithced off for higher speed. After switching it off larger sector blocks will be skipped that
may contain useable information.
Show deleted files
Data LifeSaver will show deleted files and folders.
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Licensing and Registration
For single workstations you can choose generally between two license versions:

14-day-license for a one time recovery

full licenses

Depending on whether there are private licenses or licenses for the business customers
are also entitled to commercial data recoverys.
You will find further information on our hompage www.easis.com
With the short license you can do data recovery for a period of 14 days after registration of
your license.
If you want to you can update it to a full license within six months.
A full license may be used without a time limit on a single work station. Upgrades are free.
You can buy license when visiting our homepage by selecting the button 'Purchase' and
going through the process. You can also buy it while working with the software. Select the
register with the shopping cart and go on from there. For more information on licenses,
please refer to our EULA.
We accept all common credit cards.
Enter your data and finish the purchase. Within a few minutes you will receive an e-mail
with the registration key to give you access to the fully functionable software.
For registration go to the starting page of the software and select the register 'UNLOCK'.
On the following page you must enter the key that you have received earlier.
Should there be a problem with registration, please contact our support hotline or send an
e-mail to support easis.com.
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Missing Files or Folders
A file is no longer found in the original folder, what does it mean?
It is not unusual that the information found on a drive is not sufficient for placing a file or a
folder to its original place in the directory structure.
The software will collect these files and folders in the new directories 'Lost Files' and 'Lost
Directories'. If you cant find a certain file in the old structure, you should go and look in
these folders.
Every data recovery software has its limits just like this one. If the storage device doesnt
contain enough information for reconstruction, e.g. after overwriting a sector with new data,
the file cannot be found anymore and will not be listed in the directory.
The quality of data recovery often suffers from overwritten data.
Here is another example:
An image file is listed in a folder but previewing is not possible.
This is the case when basic information on the image file is still accessible but the image
data have been overwritten and the image cannot be viewed. Data LifeSaver will find and
show the file information and it looks like the image file still exists, although it can not be
reconstructed.
Should you encounter other problems please go and check on our homepage
www.easis.com, whether you are working with the most recent version of Data LifeSaver. If
not, please download it to a safe storage device.
Nobody is perfect, neither are we. Should you have a problem or found a bug in this
software, please send an e-mail to support easis.com describing your action and the
problem. Thank you very much for your help.
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Warranty and Liability
EASIS GmbH does not warrant that EASIS software is free from errors.
EASIS GmbH disclaims all warranties with respect to the software, either expressed or
implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a
particular purpose, achievable results and noninfringement of third party rights.
EASIS GmbH excludes all liability for consequential, incidental or indirect damages arising
out of the download, installation, or use of EASIS software, even if EASIS GmbH has been
advised of the possibility of such damages.
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