Database Users

[Q] Please Help! Accidentally deleted the entire My Pictures Folder - trips to India

Please Help! Accidentally deleted the entire My Pictures Folder - trips to India, etc!
& while I can find ways to recover data from the card I can not find how to recover files & folders from the machines memory
It is an HTC HD2
Any Ideas Please ??
All & any help Most gratefully received
Thanks in Advance
M

Once it's gone, it is gone. Unless it exists somewhere else, it is gone.

ouch, that really hurts... there should be a way to undelete from the phone's memory. if there is one, i hope you find it.

There is still hope...
Hi, don't just assume that once you've deleted it, it's gone. There is still hope for your data. You see, when you delete something it doesn't actually get removed, the OS just "hypnotizes" itself into forgetting the data is there. Over time the data will become overwritten (depending on how much you used the sdcard your pictures were on).
There are special programs designed to recover deleted files, I recommend Recuva by Piriform (same guys who make CCleaner).
http://www.piriform.com/recuva
Just point it to your sdcard and scan. Again, depending on how much you've used your device they may either be completely gone or easily recoverable.
Good luck

JoonatanO said:
Hi, don't just assume that once you've deleted it, it's gone. There is still hope for your data. You see, when you delete something it doesn't actually get removed, the OS just "hypnotizes" itself into forgetting the data is there. Over time the data will become overwritten (depending on how much you used the sdcard your pictures were on).
There are special programs designed to recover deleted files, I recommend Recuva by Piriform (same guys who make CCleaner).
http://www.piriform.com/recuva
Just point it to your sdcard and scan. Again, depending on how much you've used your device they may either be completely gone or easily recoverable.
Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He is talking about the phone memory
...while I can find ways to recover data from the card I can not find how to recover files & folders from the machines memory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

you could try one of the mem card recovery programs and connect in active sync mode, might see internal memory as a drive ? ...
worth a try !

knobbyhtccruise said:
you could try one of the mem card recovery programs and connect in active sync mode, might see internal memory as a drive ? ...
worth a try !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I second knobbyhtccruise's suggestion. Dont use any apps that may write to your phone memory. Just try ActiveSync method and use this software i have attached below.
Unzip the file to desktop. Connect ur HD2 via AS.
Run Restoration.exe and in Drive see if you can access phone memory. Goodluck

No data recovery software can access the phone memory of HTC or else other smart phone etc

Can't be saved dude. No go dude. No go.

ayyu3m said:
I second knobbyhtccruise's suggestion. Dont use any apps that may write to your phone memory. Just try ActiveSync method and use this software i have attached below.
Unzip the file to desktop. Connect ur HD2 via AS.
Run Restoration.exe and in Drive see if you can access phone memory. Goodluck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try http://www.datarecovery.com/. It helped me. It's not free, but you can try if it finds your files for free. Does it find it, you have to buy it to be able to save the files. Worth a try! Good luck, man!

Firs of all, many thanks to all the respondents,
perhaps someone would be kind enough to help me enhance my understanding?
As far as I know a file system allocates space for files & directories, when it is told to delete something it does not do that but instead merely marks the space as available by setting a bit / flag on that entry. This being why it is imperative NOT to write to the file system in the case of an accidental deletion & a recovery program merely reverses the process to mark the space from available to unavailable & displays the entry again
in some expert hands even a hex editor can be used to undelete / recover data
to my limited knowledge both the internal memory & the sd card use a fat32 file system
given the above, I do not understand what is the difference & why data can be recovered from the sd card but not from the main memory. Perhaps someone more qualified can set me straight please?
A random thought - would there be any use setting up a dual boot to android & would that help / harm my case - thought being that there may be more tools available?
once again TIA
M

once a file is deleted, the space is marked as resuable. Therefore, stop using the device because every of your activity may be destorying (overwriting) your deleted data beyond recovery.
SD is recoverable because you can mount it to a PC using a card reader, or even using the HD2 directly. Then most software can read the storage and try to recover. Phone member is presented to the PC as a connected device and it may not be possible for other PC software to access it like a storage device. If you can find a tool that copies the whole 476MB (or whatever) memory to somewhere else (PC hard disk, SD card, any passive storage that is not a phone), then those software will probably to able to handle it.

here is a program that can undelete files from external and internal storage. good luck.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.hexamob.hexamobrecoverypro

AthenaLod said:
here is a program that can undelete files from external and internal storage. good luck.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.hexamob.hexamobrecoverypro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assume it might help if he has NAND android, otherwise it won't.

did some searching and found two programs that may or may not help on WinMo
Wizcode Unformat Mobile
Wizcode Undelete Mobile
not sure if they can access phone storage. but you can try. hopefully, you haven't fiddled much with your phone since then. it's been about two months.

I believe Wizcode undelete mobile works on storage card only.

alex fung said:
I believe Wizcode undelete mobile works on storage card only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so I think the only hope is by sending it to a service center hoping they have tools to mount device memory as removable device, and tools to recover deleted files.
and next time, save your photos on your SD.
if you know anyone with a copy of your photos, now is the time to start calling friends.

Clarification for SD card issues on kitkat 4.4.2

To save some people time in searching and asking the same question I had (and for 4.4.2 I think there will be plenty...):
I had severe issues using a brand new SD card in a brand new unrooted Galaxy S5. However, I now found through test that it was not the card.
I tried many things, formatting on my computer, formatting on another phone, etc etc. Nothing worked. I then tried to use the card on other devices, which worked fine! I then tried other cards, none of them seemed to work.
So I thought the S5 was defective. I did some searching online, and found that it actually is not defective. This is a feature of kitkat 4.4.2!
The card is perfectly usable, but under very restrict situations.
For example, reading is perfectly possible, but writing is controlled by kitkat. I found through some websites that Samsung decided to beef up security and at the same time make the use of external storage more clean.
Previously you could use any file browser to manage any file son any external storage, like an SD card. Although this gave great freedom, Samsung also seemed to believe that it is a source of security risk where rogue apps could read/write to folders they didn't create. They also seemed to believe this made management of files on external storage messy. To control this Samsung now allows properly installed apps to generate folders only in internal memory, and those same apps can only access folders they themselves created. The exception to this are factory standard default apps that come preinstalled on the device.
So my mistake was to use ASTRO file manager to move around a file. Once I read the issue online, I tried the same action with Samsung's pre-installed file manager, and to my surprise the file did transfer to the SD card!
To further clarify, I suspect this "feature" is limited to write activities. For example, backup to SD apps will fail to write apps to SD. Similarly, Airdroid cannot copy files from your desktop to the SD card, only to their own folder (and thus you need Samsungs file manager to move those files to the SD card).
What's interesting about this however, is that READ access seems to still be possible. ASTRO file manager can still read files from directories other apps made. Adobe reader can still read files on all kinds of folders.
The criminal spy app can still read and copy your banking files from your bank directory to its own directory for transfer to the criminal mind who will then plunder your account. So no, the security issue Samsung wanted to address has not been addressed.
What is my opinion about this? Well, I think Samsung made a nice attempt to improve security. However, they completely failed to address the biggest security risk, which isn't write access, but read access. And at the same time made it very painful and difficult to store large numbers of music, video and document files to the SD card. Because now you will either need to plug in your memory card into your computer, or move all those files via internal memory to the external SD card using Samsungs file manager, which of course takes much more time.
More info on the feature can be found here:
http://gs4.wonderhowto.com/how-to/b...ns-android-4-4-kitkat-your-galaxy-s4-0152036/
here:
http://support.solidexplorer.pl/responses/kit-kat-442-issue
And here:
http://developer.samsung.com/forum/...Lines=15&startId=zzzzz~&startPage=2&curPage=4
We could all ask Samsung to revert this "feature", but chances that they will, are remote since there are ways around this problem.
Of course, people who use many many apps/games will be out of luck, as they will be restricted to 16/32 GB.
Note to moderators: Can we make this a sticky for kitkat 4.4.2?

Root and you'll be able to R/W on the ext-SD card and try this app SDFix
Samsung has nothing to do with it... It's an Google's android policy.

So, the links I provided make that same statement. I.e. I'm aware of possible fixes. However, I bought my phone in Singapore so I could have a reliable unhacked, unrooted, unmodified phone. Others might also want original phones and not root their phone until their warranty runs out.
This was not my point though. My point was to provide some info that could be turned into a sticky so it is easier for people to find what could cause their memory card issues.
I still hope the original post will help others troubleshoot their memory card issues with their s5.

internal and external memory got wiped / including all my data.

Hi guys,
First of all, great forum and great place to learn a lot of stuff about ROM's.
I have been using the forums here for a while.
Now I have a problem with my Galaxy S 4.
Galaxy s4 :gt- i9505 (Beglium)
16Gb version
Custom Rom: optimized cm 12.1 -20160118
android 5.1.1
I had some problems playing my music files on the phone, so i connected the phone to my PC.
I deleted my MUSIC folder from my EXTERNAL card.
Then I saw There are a lot more random folders in the ROOT of my EXTERNAL card.
So I deleted the LOG files, some maps that where for AD's (like GO sms), etc.
As far as I know, I did not delete any system files or folders.
While I was in the external card, connected to the PC, I saw that my INTERNAL card had wheeeeyyy much more free space than 5 minutes before. ( normally 0.9Gb free... suddenly 5.72GB free)
So i disconnected the phone and reconnected it again.
Again same thing.
Again disconnected it and on the phone I could not find ANY FILES, NO pictures, No downloads, NOTHING
Basically, my INTERNAL and my EXTERNAL are fully wiped.
with easeUS data recovery I can see all my files and maps on the external, BUT almost all of them are corrupted.
I can not recover them/ preview them.
I have not tried the internal memory yet. It is now doing a DEEP SCAN on the EXTERNAL card, connected to my PC via a SD Card Adapter.
Any possibilities to save something from the external and the internal memory ?
Everything else works normally.
My apps work, my contacts are ok.
PC is set to show hidden and system files => nothing to see
Recycle been on the phone is empty
used some recovery apps from the play store => nothing
Many thanks in advance.
PS: I have already done a search, also on google. But could not find anything useful.

Try Deleter.

I run easeUS recovery all night on the external memory.
Got back 5% of my pictures.
Most ara corrupted.
Same story for the internal memory.
Other suggestions, tips are welcome.

If the data was deleted corrupted then it might be restored corrupted.
I suggest, from now on, to upload your photos Google's servers with the Google Photos app.
You have unlimited storage for photos up to a certain quality.

Yep, i have installed google drive.
Sh#t has happened
Will try to use some other applications for recovery.
Had some pictures i needed.
Any names of really good software to recover sd card of internal memory ?

I told you, if the data was wiped in a corrupted state, then it will be restored in a corrupted stated. Because that's how it was the last time before it was deleted. It's like a checkpoint in a game. If you die, you will revive at the checkpoint in the same state you were when you reached that checkpoint.
You could give Deleter a try. But it won't magically repair corrupted data.

Try a program called recuva: https://www.piriform.com/recuva

audit13 said:
Try a program called recuva: https://www.piriform.com/recuva
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I won't recommend it. It failed to recover two videos from my SD card that I needed to recover for investigation purposes, even when status of these files were Excellent. After restored, these files were corrupted. The same thing went on my .OGG file that was deleted accidentally by dBpoweramp before Vorbis Comments ID Tag was applied.
Even my friend said that Recuva was unable to recover her deleted photos as it should be. Yeah, the same thing, corrupted.
Sent from my ASUS_Z00A using XDA Labs

I have used recuva many times but, as with any software, it really depends on the state of the data at the time the software is run.
When one is desparate to recover files, I recommend trying as many programs as possible.

Hey guys.
Today i will try many different software.
I am trying to find a way to mount my internal storage as a drive with a driveLetter, so i can scan it.
Now its mte/umte or something like that.
So it has no driveletter.

Hey guys.
I managed to retrieve some pictures from the sd card.
Software i used.
[email protected]
EAsuse
Foenix recovery
For the internal memory.
Digdeeper
And some other ones on play store.
Just search for " photo recovey".
Maybe someone can use the names, if they get in the same situation as me.
Thx for the tips guys!

Set external SD card to default install location [HELP]

Hi, my problem is with the phone of my girlfriend. Now have external 64GB SD, because internal storage is full. I used Android SDK and all the instructions for set default storage for install APP the new SD Card, you know, with the command adb shell pm set-install-location 2. And no error, i try get-install-location and report 2. But googe play only try to install in the internal storage.
I think the problem is with the system of the emulated storaged or something, but i tried many APP, many solutions, and i cant fix this, i search in google and others locations, have 30 tabs in firefox open with information, but i cant found the solution for this
Samsung Galaxy NOTE 4 (910F)
Android 5.1.1 (Of samsung of course)
Rooted
The vold.stab is:
dev_mount sdcard /storage/sdcard1 auto /devices/msm_sdcc.2/mmc_host
PLEASE, help me! thanks

I tried dismounting and mounting the SD, touching the vold.stab file, but do not get any results.
Can anybody help me?

Go back to stock, upgrade to 6.0.1. Then see if this helps-
http://www.modaco.com/news/android/...e-adoptable-storage-on-your-s7-s7-edge-r1632/
The article is for S7, but see if you can have that working in the N4 - just have a backup of everything (int SD, ext SD, full backup in recovery).

ph03n!x said:
Go back to stock, upgrade to 6.0.1. Then see if this helps-
The article is for S7, but see if you can have that working in the N4 - just have a backup of everything (int SD, ext SD, full backup in recovery).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, for the moment 6.0.1 is not released in Orange (confirmation date has passed and still not have it, I assume that is in the offing). When have 6.0.1 i try you solution, thanks.

ph03n!x said:
Go back to stock, upgrade to 6.0.1. Then see if this helps-
http://www.modaco.com/news/android/...e-adoptable-storage-on-your-s7-s7-edge-r1632/
The article is for S7, but see if you can have that working in the N4 - just have a backup of everything (int SD, ext SD, full backup in recovery).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried this in my phone. While the command itself worked after a bit of a tweak, the storage situation was pathetic - the phone showed the External SD as a part of the overall storage, but did not save files to it. Instead, it started saving files to the actual internal SD Card, resulting in space running out pretty soon. The External SD card was just there, and there was no way to migrate the files from the internal storage to the adoptable storage.

I just got a new Note 4 (this is the 3rd one I'm using since the first release in 2014) and I also want to adopt external memory card as my internal space bcos the 16Gg duos version is just too small and app to SD comes with a lot of hassles. After a lot of search for different solutions (which I tried out by the way but didn't work) I came across this thread for another phone entirely but it resolved my issue: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-s/general/patch-adoptable-storage-enabler-t3460478.
The only downside is that I can't pop out my card (128Gg Samsung) and plug into my PC but I can still explore it directly from the phone itself.
I've been using the phone for 3 days and it runs smoothly, I hope that solves your problem too.

So there are two parts to the adoptable storage. The first part is the partitioned SD card and mounting the partition. Simple to be done via root essentials or the command line.
The other part is the actual menu entry on an app in application manager for moving it to the second partition. IIRC samsung does not have this support built in. So you need to flash something to replace that manager bit. In my experience with an on5 (like less than 1GB free on internal storage out of the box), adoptable wasn't really worth it, too much stuff still on internal storage. As not every app will allow you to move it to that second partition. It requires both system support and app support.
What I did there was to use the app apps2sd. Same idea, second partition on SD card. But it doesn't show up in settings -> storage. You manage where the apps go via that app. I use the link feature which places a symbolic link in the internal storage and moves all the actual files to that sd card partition.

Will Rickards said:
So there are two parts to the adoptable storage. The first part is the partitioned SD card and mounting the partition. Simple to be done via root essentials or the command line.
The other part is the actual menu entry on an app in application manager for moving it to the second partition. IIRC samsung does not have this support built in. So you need to flash something to replace that manager bit. In my experience with an on5 (like less than 1GB free on internal storage out of the box), adoptable wasn't really worth it, too much stuff still on internal storage. As not every app will allow you to move it to that second partition. It requires both system support and app support.
What I did there was to use the app apps2sd. Same idea, second partition on SD card. But it doesn't show up in settings -> storage. You manage where the apps go via that app. I use the link feature which places a symbolic link in the internal storage and moves all the actual files to that sd card partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been using apps2sd fot about a year and it comes with it headache too, sometimes the apps wouldn't find the external data (usually games with a lot of data) and it'll start downloading it again into the internal memory, so I usually find myself having to force stop the app, delink and relink the data on the memory card to fix the bind. I also didn't bother to partition my SD card since I can explore it on the PC with my phone connected. What this solution ( https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-s/general/patch-adoptable-storage-enabler-t3460478 ) does is to flash back the option to use the SD card as internal memory that Samsung removed from the phones and it works seamlessly on all Samsung phones with rooted stock OS.

Recovering files from local memory

Hi All,
I have an S5 SM-G900P w/6.0.1
I keep my photos on my SDCard. Recently after taking some lengthy vids, I ran out of space and it shifted over to local storage.
I backed up both external and internal DCIM/camera folders to my local machine. Then copied that backup to another backup drive.
I normally parse through the pics to make sure everything is ok before I delete the stuff from my phone, but this last batch was too big to do that, so I only skimmed through.
After thinking the copies were successful, I went ahead and deleted the pictures from my phone. I deleted via Windows 10 while looking at the folders via usb connection.
Shortly after I discovered that any of the files that were on internal storage (and some on the SD Card) were corrupted during the transfer. Their file size was inflated to approx 5.2GB each (normally around 1500KB).
I was able to quickly recover any of the corrupted files on the SD card using Piriform's Recuva. (maker of cCleaner). I mounted the SDcard directly to the PC and didn't use the phone.
However, Recuva won't browse the phones internal storage when connected via USB. Their FAQ says it can only browse and recover from physically attached drives. (no mapped drives, which I tried by using a webserv)
I tried several recovery apps on my phone itself. Disk Digger, Dumpster, etc. They didn't find anything.
AFAIK, I can't mount the internal storage on the phone as a physical drive like we used to be able to do on older phones.
At this point, I'm not sure what else I can do. It's been a day now, so the phone might have already written over the space anyway. But I'm curious if there isn't any other ways to recover those files. I hate losing pics of my kids.

jasonallen19 said:
Hi All,
I have an S5 SM-G900P w/6.0.1
I keep my photos on my SDCard. Recently after taking some lengthy vids, I ran out of space and it shifted over to local storage.
I was able to quickly recover any of the corrupted files on the SD card using Piriform's Recuva. (maker of cCleaner). I mounted the SDcard directly to the PC and didn't use the phone.
AFAIK, I can't mount the internal storage on the phone as a physical drive like we used to be able to do on older phones.
At this point, I'm not sure what else I can do. It's been a day now, so the phone might have already written over the space anyway. But I'm curious if there isn't any other ways to recover those files. I hate losing pics of my kids.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I assume, seeing that you used "Recuva" that you are running Microsoft on your PC???
If that be the case.... will take a little time , and a good size USB Stick. and hopefully, you have a port left for USB3.0 for the S5..
That said, you could set up Ubuntu on a USB Stick (making sure when doing so, you use the whole card, so changes can be made)
Then making sure your PC can boot from a USB Stick, Power that down, Restart PC, Booting into Ubuntu. then plug in phone. Mount the it, and you should be able to find everything you are missing. (that said, I do hope you were using the Stock Camera App, and mot something else.... if so, the files, might be bad from the start, I hope this is not the case).
hope this may help you