Linux programs to recover data and repair disks
Since our creation, in Ubunlog as a Blog dedicated to the Linuxverse To this day, we have dedicated some of our publications to the technical and practical part of problem solving on a computer with a free and open operating system based on GNU/Linux. And given that, among many of the most serious problems (computer incidents) that can occur to any computer user, there is the loss (partial or complete) of data (files) and hard drives or storage units (removable or not) today we will address this topic once again.
Searching like this, group in a single entry all those existing ones that we have previously addressed and also those that we have never mentioned. For the comfort and usefulness of many, especially our faithful and beloved community of frequent readers and those who may occasionally read us. So without further ado, below we will briefly mention the most well-known and used programs (applications) available for GNU/Linux operating systems focused on achieve a quick and successful “data recovery and disk repair” task.
But, before starting this publication about the most well-known and used apps for «recover data and repair disks», we recommend you explore a previous related post with this scope, at the end of reading it:
Recover data and repair disks: Available Linux programs
List of free and open apps to recover data and repair disks
Terminal Commands
Fsck and E2Fsck
fsck y E2Fsck They are 2 different commands, but with the same objective. The former can be used by installing the 'util-linux' package, while the latter can be used by installing the 'e2fsprogs' package. Additionally, Fsck allows check and, optionally, repair one or more types of Linux file systems by using their corresponding device names, mount points, file system label, or their UUID specifier. Whereas, E2Fsck does basically the same thing, but focused only on ext 2/3/4 file systems.
TestDisk and PhotoRec
TestDisk y PhotoRec They are 2 sister software tools (same developer and the second is integrated within the first), which function respectively as a partition scanner and disk recovery tool, and as a file recovery tool. Therefore, TestDisk focuses on being able to check the partition and boot sectors of the disks to try to recover lost partitions, while PhotoRec focuses entirely on recovering data files, especially those of the image type and on any medium. .
BadBlocks
BadBlocks is a terminal command used to search for damaged or bad blocks on a disk device or storage device (usually on a disk partition), through the special file corresponding to it. For example: /dev/sda1. And it is capable of accepting parameters that indicate or not, from which disk sector to start and finish the requested diagnosis and repair. Additionally, to use it you must have the e2fsprogs package installed, which provides support for management of the ext2, ext3 and ext4 file systems.
Scalpel and Foremost
Scalpel y Foremost They are 2 old terminal programs focused on computer forensics that are still available for forensic investigation tasks and recovering lost files. The first being a complete rewrite of the second. Function that they manage to execute successfully by managing the headers, footers and internal data structures of each file. And both are capable of working on FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, Ext2, Ext3, Ext4, JFS, XFS, ReiserFS, raw partitions, and more file systems.
Desktop Applications
- GParted: It is one of the most well-known and used disk and partition management tools of all. Which, without a doubt, is due to being very efficient and effective when it comes to editing partitions through their graphical management. And thanks to this, it allows us to resize, copy and move partitions without data loss, on disks with native Windows, macOS and GNU/Linux file systems, among others. In addition, it can be used from a Live Distribution, in order to use it directly on any computer and operating system.
- GNOME Disks: It is a tool specific to the GNOME Ecosystem, although it is functional on other DE/WM. Therefore, it is ideal for these technical tasks of diagnosis and repair of disks and storage units on any Distro and configuration. Additionally, it excels at providing an easy way to inspect, format, partition, and configure disks and block devices. And also, it is capable of viewing SMART data, through the SmartMonTools package, in order to manage devices, perform performance tests on disks and create images of USB devices.
- KDE Partition Manager: It is a tool from the KDE Project, very similar to GNOME Discos, which can also work on other DE/WM. And therefore, it is capable of partitioning and formatting disks, creating and restoring disk images, or monitoring their speed and health status.
- KDiskMark: It is a small open source application for GNU/Linux Distros, which works as a useful HDD and SSD benchmarking application. And therefore, it works as a tool capable of performing performance tests on the disks to be managed. In addition, it has a very friendly and powerful GUI that makes use of the software Flexible I/O Tester.
Rescue and Maintenance Distributions
Summary
In summary, we hope that this publication is a useful starting point for many, especially when they have to investigate how to solve problems related to loss of information or reading/writing problems in file systems or disks. That is, when it comes to checking and fixing disks and recovering data on any GNU/Linux operating system. And, if you have already used some of these «software tools to recover data and repair disks» about a computer with GNU/Linux, we invite you to tell us your experience about it via comments.
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