+- Hack Forums (https://hackforums.net)
+-- Forum: Tech (https://hackforums.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=444)
+--- Forum: Computing (https://hackforums.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=88)
+---- Forum: Computing Lounge (https://hackforums.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=8)
+---- Thread: Formatting question (/showthread.php?tid=6255509)
Formatting question - Sardukarrr - Nov 3, 2023
Hi,
Let's say I do not want to use a special eraser software and full format USB first in ext4 and then in FAT32. What are chances that original files are still recoverable?
RE: Formatting question - BiNBo - Nov 3, 2023
If you format a USB drive first in ext4 and then in FAT32 without overwriting the data in between, there is a high chance that the original files are still recoverable. If you want to make sure that the original files are not recoverable, you would need to use specialized data erasure software that can securely overwrite the entire drive with random data or zeros multiple times. To recover the original files in this scenario, you would typically need to use file recovery software, which can scan the drive for the old file structures and attempt to retrieve the data that hasn't been overwritten by the new formatting. However, the chances of successful recovery diminish if the drive has been used quite a bit after the formatting, as the new data may have overwritten parts of the old data.
RE: Formatting question - Sardukarrr - Nov 3, 2023
(Nov 3, 2023 11:56 AM)BiNBo Wrote: If you format a USB drive first in ext4 and then in FAT32 without overwriting the data in between, there is a high chance that the original files are still recoverable. If you want to make sure that the original files are not recoverable, you would need to use specialized data erasure software that can securely overwrite the entire drive with random data or zeros multiple times. To recover the original files in this scenario, you would typically need to use file recovery software, which can scan the drive for the old file structures and attempt to retrieve the data that hasn't been overwritten by the new formatting. However, the chances of successful recovery diminish if the drive has been used quite a bit after the formatting, as the new data may have overwritten parts of the old data.
Hmmm, thank you. I suspected simple formatting switch would not be nearly enough...
RE: Formatting question - gh05t - Dec 7, 2023
Depends on how you erase mate, if its just a quick format then its easy for recovery. Try uncheck the default quick format do it 3 times for sure file recovery maybe hard.