Partition Recovery Tool: Let the Lesson Begin

Partition recovery tool sounds like rocket-science to a lot of people. End-users almost invariably ask, 'What's a partition?' Even some technicians quietly admit during a support call that they do not know when to use a partition recovery tool or file recovery software - they just want to get their files back.

Lesson 101

A partition divides storage space on your computers hard disk drive (or other storage device) into isolated sections, like cubicles within an office divide space into working sections. The office represents the total space on the storage device, and the cubicles represent the partitions within the total area, where your data is stored.

To store data on a hard drive, each partition within it must be programmed to 'talk' a specific language, known as an operating system (i.e. Windows, Mac's Linux, etc.). So, a storage device cannot store data until a partition is created, speaking a specific language. In other words, if the partition(s) within your hard disk drive is programmed to speak the same language as your operating system, you can store your data within it.

To Recover your Data

Partition recovery tool and file recovery software can be used. Both function differently, but give you the same results. The difference between the two solutions is the approach: data recovery utilities try to recover your files directly. A partition recovery tool indirectly reclaims your data by recovering the partitions which contain your files.

Using a partition recovery tool may seem like a daunting task, but you can do it, whether you are an end-user or technician. The task is not much different than using file recovery software, but because people cannot relate to the term partition recovery tool, it usually scares them away from using one.

If you are not sure if you have a partition problem, I suggest using data recovery software before attempting to use a partition recovery tool. Why? If a partition repair solution fails to repair the partitions, you will have to start the entire process over again, using a data recovery solution anyway. If you know that recoverying a partition is what you need to do to gain access to your data, then download a partition recovery tool or two, and get started. And remember, after you recover your data, finidng a good back-up system will prevent this problem in the future.

An important side note

If you are using a partition recovery tool, keep it from restarting your drive at the end - to complete the process. When requested to do so, decline the offer. If you do not, you will be flipping a coin: Heads you get your data back; tails much of your data may be gone forever. Without having to explain the technical details, for the greatest safety of your data, any partition recovery tool should require that recover data to a seperate storage device.