Windows 7: Get data back program

Hello Seven Forums,

My windows 7 Pro computer contains a 1.5TB and a .5TB hard drive. About 6 months ago I was hit by a drive by virus or what ever that started deleting files, how I do not know but I witnessed the deletions. I was using some very valuable images and a paint program which is OK but lost all the jpgs. I pulled the plug, had to re-install Win7pro. I purchased, about 3 yrs ago Run Time Software called "Get Data Back" when I got Win7Pro I received 64 bit updates from that company. That Co. says I cannot use the C
drive in the computer to get data back I have to make it the second drive install a new drive and windows seven. Then use the Get data back sofware on the drive that was the c drive. I cannot do that. So I asked them if I could use there software on my XP cmputer and connect the SATA DRIVE from the Windows 7 computer and their software on my XP machine they said there software would work that way. Sooooooo,

My question to Seven Forums, will I be able to run the 64 bit hard drive, connected to a usb port on the XP computer without damaging the win 7 Pro installed on it, since the XP is 32 Bit?? The get data back software only told be that their software would work, not whether 32 versus 64 bit wold be a problem.

Sorry this is long but wanted anyone who answers me has the whole story.

It's been a while since I've used it but many of the recovery software of that type won't work with a USB connected hard drive. It must be connected to a SATA port. The software uses specialized read routines that, for the most part, becomes it's own operating system to access the drive. The USB drivers won't support it. This is not the same as recovering a USB thumb drive which most will do. Check to be sure yours allows a hard drive via the USB port. It shouldn't matter if the disk data is stored with x64 or x32. That's used for internal addressing. Both XP and Windows 7 uses the NT file system.

If you have been using the drive(s) for the past six months, I seriously doubt that you'll be successful at recovery. You should have removed the drives at that point, not try to re-install software and re-use it. That may have over-written the files you wanted to recover. When a file is deleted, it's space is marked as available but the data on disk remains until you write to the disk again. If the OS writes to that area, your old file is gone forever.

First off, 32-bit or 64-bit indeed makes no difference from a filesystem point of view.
However, I respectfully disagree with carwiz in that the harddisk must be connected via SATA, any SATA-to-USB adapter will do the trick.
What isn't clear is which of your two drives you intend to perform data recovery on, and which one you reinstalled your OS on. Are we talking about both of your drives or just one?
If the data you seek to restore is on your other drive (not the C: one which you reinstalled) then you can just go ahead and run the recovery software right from C: - no need to fuss with using a different PC and moving drives and all that.
BTW, might I also recommend Recuva from Piriform which is small, fast, and really works well.

Corazon - Thanks for bringing me up to date. I just checked my version of ZAR and it does indeed allow USB connected drives.

No problem mate.