BitLocker Restore Data Drive Encrypted and Formatted

This case details data recovery from a Windows restore data drive encrypted and formatted (HDD) with Win Magic Secured encryption that suffered a physical crash when the user inadvertently formatted the HDD.

This 500 GB HDD, according to the customer’s description, stored close to 300 GB of data. The customer attempted to attach this HDD as a secondary drive in a variety of Windows PCs (desktops, laptops, and so on), but they were unable to read the data.

The Synopsis of the Problem and the Inherent Difficulties needed all 300 GB of data recovered from a physically damaged hard drive that had been encrypted before formatting.

After copying the drive, BLR data recovery tool learned that it contained unencrypted data. Following a conversation with the customer, it was determined that the drive had been formatted twice by the user. According to the technical analysis, this encrypted HDD was formatted multiple times and utilized indefinitely until its physical crash.

Because the data recovery problem affected both the logical and physical components of the storage, it was a highly challenging and complex task. Furthermore, given the usage history of this HDD, which comprised restore data drive encrypted and formatted, it seemed evident that a large percentage of the data would have already been overwritten* with fresh information.

How BLR BitLocker data Recovery Tool Saviours Solved the Issue

BLR BitLocker data recovery tool Savers took the following steps to begin the data recovery process:

1. HDD disassembly and head assembly replacement in a contemporary Class 100 cleanroom.

→ It was claimed that the HDD was clicking and that none of the Windows workstations could detect it, necessitating a manual examination. The following were the ensuing actions:

→ I asked the client for permission to tamper in order to inspect the platter and head assembly’s physical condition.

→ The platter was in fine condition, but the head assembly was shattered, which explained why the HDD was clicking.

→ In order to regain access for future data recovery processes, the receiving patient’s HDD was replaced with a new head assembly from a donor HDD.

2. Creating a functioning copy with disk cloning for safe data recovery.

→ The data saviours utilized a specialized cloning application to generate two copies of the patient’s HDD after getting access to it.

→ Once the disk had been successfully cloned in under 7 days, the next task was to decrypt the clone and retrieve the original encrypted data.

→Despite this, the data rescuers discovered that the drive had been formatted by the user because it already contained over 100 GB of unencrypted data.

→ The client confirmed that the drive had been formatted twice prior to its physical failure.

3. To get back the encrypted data, is to decode the hard drive.

→ Despite their best attempts to search the left-out area below 100 GB of overwritten space, the data saviours were unable to locate the encryption details.

→ The data saviours stole the customer’s WinMagic Secured decryption key.

→ After formatting the data, the data saviours began demanding the cloned disk to be decrypted because automated decryption was not possible due to the overwriting of critical decryption information.

→ The encrypted HDD’s unlimited access to that storage region enabled the possibility of restore data drive encrypted and formatted beneath the overwritten data area that had not been overwritten.

4. Extensive data recovery scanning

→ The data saviours recovered data from beneath the deleted area on this encrypted clone utilizing superb data recovery software with a deep scanning function.

→ Deep scan capabilities were critical for maximizing data recovery from overwritten HDDs.

→ Using file signature-based search, it was possible to locate missing data fragments and piece them together into a cohesive whole.

→ In this seemingly difficult case of an encrypted hard drive that was repeatedly formatted, erased, and finally crashed, the team was able to recover 170 GB of lost data.

Restore data drive encrypted and formatted HDD’s extensive formatting and use history. This exceedingly intricate circumstance would have resulted in irreversible data loss if the highly specialized BLR Tools indicated above had not been created and implemented by the data saviours.

Another notable case outcome is that the customer attested to the data being recovered with flawless integrity. Furthermore, the entire data recovery project was completed and delivered on time.

*Note: Following a data loss incident, repeated formatting and use of storage media overwrites the lost data. Any data recovery service or product will be unable to recover such erased data; it has been irreversibly destroyed. We recommend that you stop using the storage medium from which the lost data originated as soon as possible for the highest possibility of successful data recovery.

We gave up on ever restore data drive encrypted and formatted because it was not recognized by multiple systems. However, the BLR BitLocker specialists support us by delivering our lost data inside the time frame given.