This text will explain you how to perform ntfs data recovery even if the disk partition is damaged. That is really big problem nowadays as the amount of data stored on disks is constantly growing and it is hard to manage all the information appropriately.
In case you are an experienced client you should realize that HDD is not considered to be a reliable place to save some very important information. You have to understand that HDD is a mechanism and any mechanism has some operation life and that is not really big. But not only the mechanical breakdown may be the cause of such problems as there are also electronic failures.
The operators that attempted to resolve any HDD problems with Windows 98 or earlier systems preferred use of fdisk utility and some other primitive systems. Today the usage of such programs even by truly well skilled operators may lead to irreversible consequences.
File systems
File system determines the method which is utilized to save data on the surface of the HDD. Free space is separated on some partitions with some logical drives within. The most spread file systems that are used by Windows are NTFS (NT File System) and FAT (File Allocation Table). FAT is older system that was utilized in DOS as FAT-16 and in Windows 9x/ME as FAT-32. The basic difference between these systems is the capability of the system. FAT-16 may operate with disks spaces not more than 2 GB. Operating systems Windows 2000 and Windows XP are compatible with FAT system meanwhile FAT is not the primary system.
Windows NT, XP and 2000 use NTFS system as it offers significantly higher degree of safety of data storage. That has become probable to get access rights for every file with usage of NTFS system. Every initial sector of every disk includes data that is called disk partition table and boot record that is believed to be service data. In case the data in MBR is unreadable computer won't boot at all and some setors can be shown as empty.
Data recovery
If you want to recover ntfs you oughtn't to execute anything since time you revealed the loss. If you have deleted the required partition and marked the new one you shouldn't take any measures at all. If you erased something that was stored in recycle bin and you understood that you want that data do not write any data on the HDD. Erased files are just hidden but they are still stored on the disk. They will be completely deleted.
That is considerably more difficult to restore lost info when there is only one partition on the HDD. In these instances we should utilize some other computer to operate with the HDD. It is more convenient to operate the HDD form other computer.
Data recovery utilities
Most of users attempt to reinstall the operating system at once when they have any troubles with HDD but it isn't right. There are some software programs which allow you to boot the computer under the control of the alternative operating system.
There are some freeware programs but commonly they are not as efficient as shareware recovery software. The market is full of great proposals and such type of solutions is believed to be cheap.