Levels of Data Recovery Specialists

Data Recovery SpecialistsGenerally data recovery specialists can be divided into three different levels, according to their technical competence and the recovery methods they use.

1. First level’s data recovery specialists just can use the software which are developed by others. Such as the widely used data recovery software: FinalData、EasyRecovery and R-STUDIO; The system recovery software: DISKGEN (DISKMAN), etc. In fact, these are very good software. Even if a great skilled programmer is difficult to write the similar data recovery software or the better software than the above-mentioned software. However, sometimes these classical software can’t play a role with two reasons:

a). The situations of data loss are complicated and different. The software can’t be applied to every case;

b). These software don’t have thought. They use the fixed mode which is set by programmer to judge and deal with the fault. Sometimes the result may be biased or even wrong. Therefore these technicians who just can use the ready-made software have the limit capacity to deal with the data loss problem.

2. Second level’s data recovery specialists know the main file systems’ sector store rules. They can analyze data which stored on the sectors. Then fix some error system parameters by the malfunction reasons and the status of the storage medium. With the above-mentioned classical software, their problem solving skills will be greatly enhanced. When they analyze the sector’s data, they can give full play to their logical thinking skills, and then do the right operation.

3. Third level’s data recovery specialists can develop corresponding program according to their need to analyze the sectors’ data. Using these programs, the operator can quickly and accurately judge the reasons which caused the malfunction, and then find the best way to recover the data. With the above-mentioned classical software, their data recovery skill can attain the higher level. At the same times, these technicians can constantly improve these software’s function by their operation experience. Let these software can help others to detect and diagnose data loss reasons better.

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Access control method and module with data recovery option for a hard disk

1. An access control method for a hard disk, comprising the steps of: (A) partitioning the hard disk into primary and secondary partitions; (B) in response to a write command from a host terminal for storing write data in an addressable space found in the primary partition of the hard disk, (i) creating a recovery file that includes a write time, an address of the addressable space, and recover information including a starting data found in the addressable space of the hard disk during the write time, and (ii) storing the write data in the primary partition at the address of the addressable space, and the recovery file in the secondary partition; and (C) in response to a recover command from the host terminal, (a) retrieving the recovery files from the secondary partition, the write time in each of the retrieved recovery files being not earlier than a recovery time associated with the recover command, and (b) based on the contents of the recovery files retrieved in sub-step (a), restoring the primary partition to the starting data initially found therein during the recovery time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, in sub-step (ii), the address of the addressable space, the write data and the recovery file are stored in a buffer prior to storage in the hard disk.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the recover information further includes the write data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, in sub-step (b), restoring of the primary partition is performed in a chronological order of the write times in the retrieved recovery files starting from one of the retrieved recovery files having a latest write time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of reporting a total storage capacity of the hard disk as being equal to that of the primary partition in response to a capacity inquiry command from the host terminal.

6. An access control module for a hard disk that is partitioned into primary and secondary partitions, said access control module being responsive to write and recover commands from a host terminal, and comprising: a processor; a first interface adapted to connect said processor to the host terminal; a second interface adapted to connect said processor to the hard disk; a command interpreter coupled to said first interface for interpreting the write and recover commands; and a recovery file creator coupled to said processor and said command interpreter; wherein, in response to the write command for storing write data in an addressable space found in the primary partition of the hard disk, said command interpreter enables said recovery file creator to create a recovery file that includes a write time, an address of the addressable space, and recover information including a starting data found in the addressable space of the hard disk during the write time, and further enables said processor to store the write data in the primary partition at the address of the addressable space, and the recovery file in the secondary partition; and wherein, in response to the recover command from the host terminal, said command interpreter enables said processor to retrieve the recovery files from the secondary partition, the write time in each of the retrieved recovery files being not earlier than a recovery time associated with the recover command, and based on the contents of the recovery files retrieved by said processor, to restore the primary partition to the starting data initially found therein during the recovery time.

7. The access control module of claim 6, further comprising a buffer coupled to said processor, said processor storing the address of the addressable space, the write data and the recovery file in said buffer prior to storage in the hard disk.

8. The access control module of claim 6, wherein the recover information further includes the write data.

9. The access control module of claim 6, wherein said processor restores the primary partition in a chronological order of the write times in the retrieved recovery files starting from one of the retrieved recovery files having a latest write time.

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