Tools for undeleting files larger than 4GB

Topic

New Reply

I have a drive from which I deleted several dvd images (*.iso). Using several undelete tools I have managed to recover all of the files that are 3.99 GB or smaller. The larger files show up as being there, but having file size zero. I have not written anything to the drive since I deleted the files (it is a separate data only drive), so I know they are still there. I understand this is a known issue, related to MFTs, but I’ve yet to see a comprehensive explanation, or a solution to recover these files.

I’d appreciate any help.

Rob

Reply | Quote

Replies

1 What software have you used to attempt recovery?
2 What is the file system of the drive you are attempting a recovery on?
4 What is the file system of the operating system drive that you are running the recovery program from?
3 Was just the data deleted or was it an entire partition on the drive that was deleted?

I would recomend creating a disk image as this site suggests prior to trying with other software.

Limitations of FAT32 File System

Reply | Quote

Clint –

Thanks for taking a look at this.

In response to your questions:
1) I’ve tried at least 10, including Recuva, File Undelete, Altap Salamander and others top rated by cnet.com.
2) NTFS
3) XP SP3, with all current updates
4) A specific folder containing about 500 GB of DVD images (*.iso) was deleted from the drive

Most of the tools could find all the files, but assign file size 0KB to those whose size is actually 4GB or larger. Correct file sizes are assigned to those 3.99GG or smaller. If I recover the 0KB files (to a different drive), they are recovered as 0KB files. One tool, File Undelete, found some of the larger files. My guess, informed by what I have done to the drive in the past, is that those were the files that were not fragmented (I defragmented this drive about a month ago). Other files over 4GB show as 0KB file size. I am using a “try me” version of File Undelete, which is limited to recovering 64MB files, so I can’t confirm that it would in reality recover these files.

This appears to be a known issue (Google “over 4gb recover”).

Any further advice or known solutions appreciated.

Bests,

Rob

Reply | Quote

Any further advice or known solutions appreciated.

The Google search you suggests gives a hit for a Microsoft Answers thread which says that the only hefty-file recovery program which worked for the OP was R-Studio 5.4 ($80)…

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

Reply | Quote

I moved hundreds of folders including files 1GB-40GB from one NTFS disk array to another. Target array was broken soon so I had to recover files from source array. After reviewing tons of obsolete software like Pandora Undelete and many others I confirm the only known software undeleting NTFS large files without any problem is R-Studio http://www.r-studio.com/. Thank you, R-Studio, you saved my life (at least a year of it). Googling forums I found hundreds of answers but all of them are out of topic. I hope now google will find this notice as a proper solution for NTFS large (>4GB ) files recover issue.

Reply | Quote

Somewhat Old Thread, but registered just to say +1 on it working for very large files (over 50Gigs).

I moved hundreds of folders including files 1GB-40GB from one NTFS disk array to another. Target array was broken soon so I had to recover files from source array. After reviewing tons of obsolete software like Pandora Undelete and many others I confirm the only known software undeleting NTFS large files without any problem is R-Studio http://www.r-studio.com/. Thank you, R-Studio, you saved my life (at least a year of it). Googling forums I found hundreds of answers but all of them are out of topic. I hope now google will find this notice as a proper solution for NTFS large (>4GB ) files recover issue.

Reply | Quote

I’m not aware of any file size limitations in NTFS beyond 4 GB’s as far as recovering deleted files is concerned.
I do see alot of conflicting reports though, but nothing definitive that would outline a specific NTSF limitation more specific that a non professional opinion on some forums.

I would also think it very important and would assume that these large files, like iso files, would be very susceptible to post deletion deterioration and or corruption. The MFT may very well play a part in rewriting itself after file deletion of large files within the NTFS. But I have yet to come across a professional whitesheet that would explain this behavior.

You’ll have to move up to a paid version of a recovery tool that specifically advertises file recovery of file sizes >4 GBs Like this or this.

Paid versions of file recovery tools will offer support and documentation. It would be advised to read through any documentation carefully.

Do not use free tools, many of which have limitations.
Free tools won’t cut it here, if that is what you have been using thus far.

Reply | Quote

In your case you can recover the full 4GB file which you have deleted by doing Recover Window files. This software can recover all the deleted files irrespective of its size. And since you have not saved any new data into that drive you will recover all the contents of the deleted file. You can download the software by just clicking here:http://www.remosoftware.com/remo-recover-windows.exe

Reply | Quote

I’m delighted I mentioned R-Studio in the previous post, then! :D:

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

Reply | Quote

Yes, Batcher, the first clue came from your post, indeed. Thank you for your post. I downloaded 153rd application known as “universal file undelete” and… surprise! This one really works and do not distinguish small and large files – the program treats all of them in the same way. I wonder how many users lost their files and data because MicroS*** didn’t warn about different treating files at the (next, I remember already many Windows limits) 4GB limit. Short Int and Long Int still rules in MS products. We will find this integers in many next troubles I’m sure. I wonder why IT specialists in Pandora and 151 another teams producing specialized software for undeleting are still in XIX century thinking we can delete only notepad 1kB files. They all show “0” size making user confused. Instead of “0” size they should write there “our abilities are too low to undelete this file, use R-Studio instead of our product”.

Reply | Quote

I too have joined just to sing the praises of R-studio. After clicking a empty folder then “delete” and finding out that somehow windows assumed I meant the entire parent directory I ended up having to go hunting for some way to recover about 25 4.5gb dvd ISO’s. After trying recuve, that I’d used before, it didn’t find anything. I then tried Puran, it found the ISO’s but they were all 0kb. I then happened across R-studio and it did the same thing as Puran. After finding this thread I checked to find the R-studio I had was 5.1. So I grabbed a copy of 5.4 and like magic, they are now found, report as >4gb and are recovering as I write this. Just hope they aren’t corrupt. Thanks so much to this thread, at least I have some shred of hope!

Reply | Quote

I understand this is a known issue, related to MFTs, but I’ve yet to see a comprehensive explanation, or a solution to recover these files.

I was looking for a solution earlier today and came upon this old thread. Recuva still doesn’t appear to be able to process files > 4gb – it now shows their size (it used to say 0kb), but says there is no data associated with them.

After much hunting and unsuccessfully trying out several other free (and demo) recovery platforms, I found the freeware (GNU) PhotoRec –http://www.cgsecurit…g/wiki/TestDisk

All other software I tried had Recuva’s limitation (most showed the file I wanted as 0kb), but PhotoRec managed to piece together and recover my 5.54gb video file I had accidentally deleted from my 2TB external NFTS drive. All the filename info was gone, but the file itself was intact.

[/FONT][/COLOR]

Reply | Quote

The only software that worked for me recovering 4GB+ MKV files was PhotoRec: http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec

In addition I tried with no success: R-Studio, EaseUS, LazeSoft and Restorer Ultimate.

Reply | Quote