Archive for the ‘Mac’ Category

Recovering Deleted files on a Mac using Data Rescue 3

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Do you need to recover files that have been deleted? Data Rescue 3 is the best digital data recovery software on the market for recovering files from a problem hard drive or that have been previously deleted. Data Rescue 3 is completely safe to use since it does not attempt any risky repairs to the drive it is scanning.
A second hard drive with adequate space is necessary to recover data and host Data Rescue’s workspace.
When Data Rescue scans, it uses a workspace folder to hold files of information pertaining to the scan.
Data Rescue will not allow the workspace to be in the same volume that is being scanned.
The workspace may, but does not have to be, on the same volume that you will use to recover

Use the following links below that best describes how your files were deleted.
Using our How to’s will guide you through the proper way to install Data Rescue 3 without overwriting more files in the process.
I deleted files from my internal hard drive (Mac HD) and emptied the trash.
I deleted files from my external hard drive.
Now your ready download Data Rescue 3 demo here:
https://www.prosofteng.com/downloads/download.php?prodID=78Step 1: Selecting a Drive or Volume to Scan
The first step is to select the hard drive or volume that is missing the files.
Click on the hard drive or volume icon.
Click on the next button.
Step 2: Choose a Task
The second step is to select the task to perform on the volume or hard drive. In this case you will want to choose the “ Deleted files Scan” .
Click on the Deleted files Scan icon for the task you would like to perform.
Click on the Start button. Wait for the Scan Process to complete.

Step 3: Find and Mark Files
The third step is to mark the files and folders to be recovered. Marking a folder will automatically mark all the files and folders contained within the folder.
The Reconstructed Files results will organize any found files by category and file type. These results will NOT have their original directory structure and will usually not have their original file names since they are found by file patterns. You will want to look through the Reconstructed Files results if you are recovering from a hard drive that was accidentally reformatted or had files that were accidentally deleted.

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Upgrading your operating system

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

If you decide to upgrade or change your operating system it is important to know that when you make the switch your data will not be automatically saved. It is highly recommended to back up your computer to a secondary hard drive, so you don’t risk the chance of loosing your irreplaceable data.

For Mac users who will be installing the new Mac OS X 10.7 Lion operating system in July, make sure your data is backed up to a separate external hard drive. The same is recommended if you are looking to upgrade your Windows Vista to the newer Windows 7 operating system. We recommend a simple USB or FireWire drive, found in any computer store. A clone backup is a good solution in this scenario as a clone of your drive will allow you to revert back to the other drive seamlessly should anything go wrong.

Once you’ve completely backed up your computer, the next step is to CHECK your backup.. That is, don’t just assume that the backup went ok and you’re covered. Check the drive to make sure it is indeed backed up correctly-

When you’re upgrading the OS, make sure to take your time during the steps. Don’t just click “return” on steps, assuming the update wizard is assuming the correct procedure for you. There are many options when updating the OS and you need to check the selection that you want. We deal with many customers who made mistakes during the OS upgrade process which could be avoided with some good old fashioned patience and reading during the steps. As much as you want to rush through the upgrade and start playing with the new Operating System, it really is important to take a breath and make sure you’re choosing the right steps-

Another reason we see a lot of hard drive recovery needs during a major OS release is that customers’ hard drives can fail on them during the upgrade. Here’s why: A hard drive is a spinning, moving piece of equipment. It is under a lot of stress daily, but when you do something major like upgrade the Operating System, that puts even more pressure on the drive. I think of it much like a stress test you may perform at a doctor’s office. Sometimes the intense writing and moving of files during a major OS upgrade is enough to put a drive over the edge and physical or logical issues with the drive that weren’t apparent before may become exposed. Its no wonder that we see a huge spike our sales of our hard drive recovery software, Data Rescue 3, whenever a major OS is released..

So, before you upgrade to Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, make sure to backup your Mac.. Then, make sure to check the backup.. And once you are indeed doing the upgrade, make sure to read and understand the different options given, so as not to overwrite any data or lose any files.

If something doesn’t go right during the installation, and you fear you’ve lost some computer files, the first step is to stop doing anything on the computer and give us a call– By stopping your computer use, you are minimizing the damage as you’re not creating new files (even temp files your computer makes in the background can write over files!).

If you have any questions, at any time, just give us a call or email-

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Doomsday? Day of Salvation? The Apocalypse? Judgement Day?

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

Well, this Saturday is supposed to be a major bummer if you listen to Harold…. But for those of us that don’t think it’s going to be the end of the word, it is at least a time for us to reflect.. Reflect on important things in our life and how we should cherish them more… Hug a family member, tell someone you love them and appreciate them in your life, and backup your computer..

That’s right, Backup The Computer!!! So many people lose computer files each and every day. Sure, you can pay us to recover your data for you but why not take a proactive approach and backup your computer today- Just one backup is better than none. However, to be really safe, you’ll want to start a backup “scheme” or backup schedule… Something that will backup your computer on a regular basis– Our sister company, Prosoft Engineering sells both Macintosh Backup Software as well as Windows Computer Backup Software. These backup programs automatically backup your important files once you’ve set the schedule. Important digital pictures and movies are priceless (you can’t redo a child’s first steps!). Take time out today to backup the important files on your computer.. If you don’t, and you end up needing hard drive recovery service, well, we’re here for you–

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Why mac data recovery is worth every penny

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Mac data recovery is a specialized form of data recovery that requires special tools, custom hardware, expensive software, and a trained professionals in order to successfully complete. These reasons all justify the premium that most Mac data recovery specialists charge, but many people also believe that the fact that Mac systems are premium computers also plays at least a small part in the premium pricing. Whether or not this is true is certainly up to debate, but it is difficult to argue with the fact that Mac data recovery does generally cost more than comparable PC repair regardless of whether or not the premiums involved with Mac ownership play a significant role.
Virtually all Mac systems every sold require special tools or tools that go above and beyond the Phillips-head screwdrivers that most PCs require. Some Macs require highly specialized tools that are generally made available only to repair shops that service Apple computers but are required to open cases or access internal enclosures such as the hard drive bin. In many cases the hard drive must be physically removed in order for Mac data recovery to be successful, so specialized tools are also part of the operating expense of any company offering data recovery for Mac systems.
Replacement parts for Mac systems are another issue that not many people understand until they actually work on a Mac system. Apple and other hardware vendors often arrange special deals for custom hardware from large manufacturers including those that make hard drives. As a result, any time that a hard drive needs to be opened and have its internal hardware components replaced may prove to be a challenge as it can be a real challenge to determine which components are shared with stock hard disk drives and which are Mac-specific options without a lot of research. The research must be done in order to ensure that further data loss is avoided, and finding replacement hardware can be a real challenge in and of itself. Either way, physically repairing a drive that shipped with a Mac system is generally an expensive affair.
The software required to handle the HFS/HFS+ and other file systems that Macs use is also specialized and thus expensive. Just like the tools of the trade, an investment made in expensive Mac-specific data recovery software usually account for a small part of the operating overhead of a Mac data recovery shop when spread out over several months or even years. Unlike hardware, data recovery software is often updated and thus is a constant strain on the budget of any data recovery operation that must be passed on to the customers in the form of higher bills.
Macs are great systems, but when their hard drives go down it can be an expensive affair to get the data back. A data backup is a great idea, but many people think of this too late. By the time that a hard drive fails, it is time to see a Mac data recovery specialist.

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Data Loss on Your Mac

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

When Mac hardware fails, not all is lost. There’s actually an excellent chance that a professional can recover the data using HDD recovery techniques. However, you must act quickly and appropriately. It’s important to note that mac data recovery is different from PC recovery, and it presents its own set of unique challenges. You don’t simply want a data recovery specialist. You want someone who specializes in mac data recovery.

So what makes Mac data recovery different from recovery on PC? Well, there are the architectural differences, but more importantly, it’s the difference in the file system structure, which dictates how your computer stores data on the drive. The Mac uses the HFS file system, which is quite different from the FAT and NTFS formats that are prevalent on Windows-based systems.

Since PCs are more widely used than Macs are, most data recovery engineers specialize in techniques best suited to that platform. However, HFS calls for very different strategies most of the time, and if the engineer does not employ them, it greatly diminishes the chance of data recovery. This problem is especially evident at local computer repair shops where expertise is limited and the majority of the business is PC-based.

If you should experience data loss on your Mac, it’s important that you stop using the computer and shut it down completely if it has not shut down on its own. If it has shut down, do not power it back up under any circumstances. If the hard drive is even marginally useable, doing so can make Mac data recovery more difficult, meaning more expensive, or altogether impossible.

Also, make sure to disconnect the computer from its power source, including the battery if it’s a laptop. This is especially important if there has been water damage. In addition, understand that not all data loss occurs during a catastrophic crash. In fact, the most common form of Mac data loss occurs when Mac OS X Finder is corrupted. When this occurs you will experience program crashes and corrupted data files, but the computer itself may seem relatively operational.

Do not use software-based solutions first rather than calling a professional. A professional data recovery specialist will be able to recommend the best solution to recovering your data. In some cases data recovery software will be able to recover the data and avoid using a data recovery service. Software-based data recovery works well in logical data loss scenarios and is caused by some minor corruption. The problem with using it if it is a physical loss, it can actually further obscure the data and make it more difficult for the data to be recovered.

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Next jump in drive storage announced

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Seagate just announced their first 3TB drive for release later this year. However, in order to be able to use the whole space on the drive, a couple of hardware and software upgrades will have to happen, as the currently used MBR (Master Boot Record) on PCs can only address up to 2TB of data.

The replacement will be the GPT (GUID Partition Table), which is supported by newer versions of Windows, as well as Mac OS X and Linux. Most notably Windows XP does not support it. To make matters worse, most motherboards with a regular BIOS cannot boot from a drive partitioned with GPT, so that new boards that support EFI firmware may be necessary. This “Extensible Firmware Interface” as defined by Intel is, however, a rarity in today’s marketplace. The most notable PC manufacturer of EFI machines is… Apple.

Of course, it is probably safe to say that there will be plenty of bugs found in various BIOSes, drivers, and storage device firmwares, so being an early adopter of any drives with a capacity in excess of 2TB will be an adventure, to say the least. Fasten your seatbelt, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

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Monitoring your drives just got a little easier

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

With the release of Drive Genius 3 on the Mac, a new feature was added that makes monitoring your drives a lot easier: DrivePulse®! Using DrivePulse®, whenever the system is inactive for a period of time, it will check your drives for potential problems, making use of the S.M.A.R.T. technology in today’s drives (S.M.A.R.T. stands for Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology), as well as fragmentation status, temperature, and other items.

While this monitoring will not necessarily alert you exactly when your drive is about to fail (something that isn’t really possible anyway, just like predicting volcano eruptions or earthquakes: you know it will happen, but can’t be sure when), it gives you some good indicators about the health of the drive and when it might me a good idea for a backup.

If you have a Mac and are looking for a universal drive utility, check out the brand new Drive Genius 3.

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The 4K Sector Transition

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

A change is coming into the hard drive market place this year, after planning has been going on for about a decade or so. The change in question? Raising the size of hard drive sectors from 512 bytes to 4096 bytes, or 4KB. Why is this important, and why should you care?

First some background about what’s going on: the main reason for raising the amount of data a single sector can hold is to improve efficiency (and therefore speed), as well as support for even larger hard drives. You see, the storage capacity of hard drives has increased immensely year over year, but the way the data is organized on the platters has not kept pace. And there are good reasons why the organizational side hasn’t changed the same way, even though the manufacturers were aware that they would be running into issues eventually and needed to do something about it.

The problem with smaller sector sizes that basically every hard drive up to 2010 used is that they are increasingly inefficient. The data stored on hard disks isn’t just your actual data, but also overhead that enables important functionality like error correction, without which you couldn’t rely on your data being stored correctly. Going from 512 byte sectors to 4KB sectors allows better and more efficient error correction algorithms to be used, which will result in higher speeds, but also increases capacity of the drives, as more of the drive space can be used for user data, and less for error correction.

Now this all sounds very good and reasonable, but what’s the catch? As alluded to, some older OSes and applications cannot properly deal with these new 4K sector drives, the most popular one being Windows XP. So if you haven’t upgraded to Windows Vista or Windows 7 yet, you might want to avoid getting one of these new drives (Macintosh users running Tiger or higher are not affected). You can find some helpful general information from Western Digital about these new drives, or if you would like to get the nitty-gritty technical background, head on over to AnandTech.

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Snow Leopard and file system utilities

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

If you recently got a new Mac with Snow Leopard pre-installed or if you are thinking about upgrading (or already did) to Snow Leopard, be aware that Apple made some significant extensions to its HFS file system. As such any disk or data utility you are using should be updated and fully compliant with Snow Leopard, in order to prevent data loss.

Check out the compatibility matrix for Prosoft’s products to find the latest releases for the likes of Data Rescue and Drive Genius.

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