Disk structure is corrupt and unreadable

Slartybart · 13 Jun 2014

Ok thanks. Keep us posted.

I haven't been much help, but you seem to have a good handle on the issue.

I'll take a look at IsoBuster - it might be another tool in the tool belt.

Then I'm hitting the sack.

Back in 8 - 16 hours.

edit: IsoBuster website
License models

IsoBuster said:

If you install IsoBuster and want to make use of the free functionality only, click the "Free Functionality" button when prompted.

If you run into functionality that needs to be paid for, you will be prompted. There are no hidden features so you need not to wonder what a paid for version would show extra. You can safely install IsoBuster on your system, there are no xx-days limitations to the free use, you may install at work or wherever you like.

For a registration: Pay online and get a key sent to you automatically on payment verification.

All functionality prior to version 1.0 is free and remains free. All functionality related to the ISO9660, Joliet, Rock Ridge, El Torito and CD-i file-systems, everything related to Video CDs and all image-file making functionality is free. So, finding data, extracting (copying) data etc. is free.

Part of the functionality related to the UDF and HFS(+) file-systems is not free and needs to be paid for. This is the extraction of files that come from the UDF [drag & drop software] or HFS(+) [Macintosh] file-systems. So, all functionality is present, including scanning and finding of lost files, but if you actually want to extract (copy) a file from the UDF or HFS file-system you need a valid registration.

Sounds as though this will fill the bill with regards to .ifo and .vob - @ 40 USD, it might be worth your hard earned cash if it does work as advertised. I would contact the vendor first though if you find that the free version doesn't pass the mustard.

Good luck and good night.

Bill

shokan2 · 13 Jun 2014

Yes, the .vob extraction thing (that started I think with v3.3) is what made me try it. The product came up when I Googled something like "recover .vob files".

I've just noticed a running file ticker (scanned number of files and total to be scanned) down at the bottom that also is flashing file extensions in quick succession as it comes across them (.vob, mp4, avi etc.), so that's encouraging. That nothing is showing up in the file tree yet, however, is not. It has a pretty comprehensive Help which, as usual, I haven't looked over much.

I doubt if all the videos from Digital Tutors (usually mp4) that may be recovered will help me much because there would be no way to re-organize them, ie. video file with file name given by the recovery software with no indication what series or package it belongs to. You can see the problem. It means I have to get another subscription and re-download all of them. Oh well. We're talking hundreds. I say re-download, actually they don't permit that. I do capture them, though, for my own use. Yikes, so much work... gone.

The only hope there is that the retrieved files come grouped in the same order as they were originally saved to disk in folders, if you follow me. That way I might be able to re-organize them. Not expecting that they will be retrieved in the original order, though. They'll probably be all mixed up. Getting another subscription would be much easier.

jumanji · 13 Jun 2014

Thanks Slarty for the excellent support you have provided. Honestly I couldn't have done anything better than what you did - why better, it is nothing, I could have done nothing :).. I wasn't even aware of fidentify.

Vob files do seem to be difficult to recover and a quick roll through google confirms it and a solution seems to be evading thus far. But somewhere someone had said that PhotoRec recovers the vob files as an mpg file. OP also can do a google search on " Can PhotoRec recover .vob files" and check whether he gets any clue. Sometimes an interested party can do a better search compared to a "not-so-concerned" outsider.:)

And yes, I was also thinking of ISObuster, but not straightaway on the HDD but on whatever PhotoRec recovered for that vob file to check whether it can demystify it. I appreciate OP trying it straightaway on the HDD. I have ISObuster Pro - but never used it but at one point of time I was trying to create an exact copy of a copy protected media complete with the protection for that is what the law permits, a backup copy of your own media without breaking any of its copy protection, but gave up after that experiment failed :) - but on occasions where people wanted to recover from damaged CDs and DVDs I had recommended it - that is what for it started with. I am also not sure whether the free version of ISObuster can deal with HDDs. OP may check the ISObuster website.

It is a well accepted fact that in Data Recovery there is no one-size-fits-all. The author of Test Disk recommends Zero Assumption Recovery, GetDataBack for NTFS or Restorer 2000 as alternatives.

I have nothing more to add to this thread except wait and watch for OP's report on whatever he is doing and vacating this spot for Slarty to lead further.I may break in only if something flashes in mind with a prophetic vision. :)

shokan2 · 13 Jun 2014

You've provided very useful information to me, Jumanji. Especially that Photorec thing. And, free. My favorite price. High hopes for .bmp retrieval later. Thanks very much!

shokan2 · 13 Jun 2014

So, finished but need to buy it to go further. I think I will. Going back to photorec to try some more stuff there first.

Slartybart · 13 Jun 2014

Ok, I have a .vob file that I can look at to see if a custom file definition can be created.

Or you might test to see if Photorec definition for .mp4 finds the .vob files.

The data stream relationship between .ifo and .vob files will need to be restored or recreated, but that's another issue after recovery.

Bill
.

shokan2 · 13 Jun 2014

Slartybart said:

Ok, I have a .vob file that I can look at to see if a custom file definition can be created.

Or you might test to see if Photorec definition for .mp4 finds the .vob files.

The data stream relationship between .ifo and .vob files will need to be restored or recreated, but that's another issue after recovery.

Bill
.

If you could, that'd be great. But, I'm going to get Isobuster anyway because it has the option of extracting results individually. I believe PhotoRec results would be to extract all to a directory as the only option and currently I just don't have the space.

Slartybart · 13 Jun 2014

Understood, I'll try the custom file definition just so that I understand the process.

I think IsoBuster can repair the relationship between the files - but you should verify that with the vendor. The description I read might apply to files that are healthy or come off an optical disc. I'm not certain.

Slartybart · 13 Jun 2014

I ran fidentify_win.exe against the .vob file I have and it came back as mpg.

Good thing too, I was going cross eyed reading the ISO file header information.

Try Photorec and specify .mpg as the file type to search / recover.

You'll still have the "where do I put the files" issue, and the data stream relationship issue - but I think the money would be better spent on a external drive than a single purpose program. That's your call, of course.

shokan2 · 13 Jun 2014

Yep, finding space. It's do-able but time consuming. Very, in my case.

Running Stellar Phoenix now and will take probably the same 10-12 hrs.. And, almost certainly it won't extract in the demo mode. With its RAW Recovery mode, it's adding folders one by one in the tree each time it comes across a new extension, which is good for me. On the site it says .vob is included, so...

Same as others, around $50.