How DMDE Can Recover Lost Files from Corrupted Drives

How DMDE Can Recover Lost Files from Corrupted Drives

Data loss is a nightmare for anyone who relies on digital storage. Whether it’s due to accidental deletion, hardware failure, or a corrupted file system, losing important files can be devastating. Fortunately, tools like DMDE (DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software) can help recover lost data from corrupted drives. In this guide, we’ll explore how DMDE works, its key features, and step-by-step instructions to maximize your chances of successful file recovery.

What Is DMDE and Why Use It for Data Recovery?

DMDE is a powerful, lightweight, and versatile data recovery tool designed for both beginners and advanced users. Unlike some recovery software that relies on automated scans, DMDE provides deep manual control over the recovery process, making it ideal for complex cases like corrupted drives, damaged partitions, or RAW file systems.

Key Features of DMDE

DMDE stands out from other recovery tools due to its unique capabilities:

1. Deep Scan & Manual Recovery – Unlike basic recovery software that only performs surface-level scans, DMDE allows users to manually inspect disk structures, edit sectors, and recover files even when the file system is severely damaged.
2. Support for Multiple File Systems – DMDE works with FAT12/16/32, exFAT, NTFS, HFS+, Ext2/3/4, ReFS, and more, making it versatile for different storage devices (HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, etc.).
3. Partition & RAID Recovery – If a drive’s partition table is corrupted or a RAID array fails, DMDE can reconstruct lost partitions and recover data from complex storage setups.

When Should You Use DMDE?

DMDE is particularly useful in the following scenarios:

• Corrupted or RAW Drives – If your drive is unreadable due to file system corruption (e.g., “Drive not formatted” error), DMDE can bypass the damaged structure and extract files directly.
• Deleted or Lost Partitions – If a partition was accidentally deleted or overwritten, DMDE can scan for lost partitions and restore them.
• Virus or Malware Damage – Some malware corrupts file systems or hides files; DMDE can recover data even if the OS can’t detect it.
• Physical Damage (Limited Cases) – While DMDE can’t fix hardware issues, it can recover data from drives with logical errors (bad sectors, corrupted MFT, etc.).

DMDE vs. Other Recovery Tools

Compared to popular alternatives like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery, or TestDisk, DMDE offers:

| Feature | DMDE | Recuva | EaseUS | TestDisk |
||||||
| Manual Recovery Control | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ Limited | ✅ Yes |
| Deep Scan for Corrupted Drives | ✅ Best | ❌ Basic | ✅ Good | ✅ Good |
| Partition Recovery | ✅ Advanced | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| RAID Support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Free Version Available | ✅ Yes (Limited) | ✅ Yes | ❌ Paid | ✅ Yes |

Verdict: If you need precise control over recovery (especially for corrupted drives), DMDE is one of the best choices.

Preparing for Data Recovery with DMDE

Before diving into recovery, proper preparation increases your chances of success. Skipping these steps could lead to permanent data loss or further corruption.

Step 1: Stop Using the Corrupted Drive Immediately

When a drive becomes corrupted, every write operation risks overwriting lost data. Follow these steps:

1. Disconnect the Drive – If it’s an external HDD/SSD or USB, unplug it. For internal drives, avoid booting from it.
2. Do Not Run CHKDSK or Format – Windows may prompt you to “repair” the drive; do not proceed, as this can make recovery harder.
3. Use a Secondary PC (If Possible) – If the corrupted drive is your system drive, boot from a live Linux USB or another Windows installation to avoid further writes.

Step 2: Create a Disk Image (For Critical Cases)

If the drive is physically failing (clicking noises, overheating, or frequent disconnects), create a disk image before attempting recovery.

How to Create a Disk Image with DMDE:

1. Open DMDE and select the corrupted drive.
2. Go to Tools → Copy Sectors.
3. Choose a destination drive (must have enough free space).
4. Select Read Attempts (higher = better for bad sectors, but slower).
5. Click Start to create a bit-for-bit copy of the drive.

Why This Matters:

• Prevents further damage to the original drive.
• Allows safe recovery attempts without risking the source.

Step 3: Check Drive Health (SMART Data)

Before recovery, check if the drive is physically failing using SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology).

How to Check SMART Data in DMDE:

1. Open DMDE and select the drive.
2. Go to Tools → SMART.
3. Look for red flags like:

– Reallocated Sectors Count (high = bad)
– Pending Sectors (unreadable sectors)
– UDMA CRC Error Count (cable/connection issues)

If SMART shows critical errors:

• Stop using the drive immediately (risk of total failure).
• Consider professional data recovery services if the data is irreplaceable.

Step-by-Step Guide: Recovering Files with DMDE

Now that you’re prepared, let’s walk through the actual recovery process using DMDE.

Step 1: Install and Launch DMDE

1. Download DMDE from the [official website](https://dmde.com/).
2. Install the free version (supports recovery of up to 4,000 files per session).
3. Run as Administrator (required for low-level disk access).

Step 2: Select the Corrupted Drive

1. In DMDE, you’ll see a list of physical drives and partitions.
2. Select the corrupted drive (not a partition if it’s missing).
3. Click Open Volume (if the partition is visible) or Full Scan (if the partition is lost).

What If the Drive Isn’t Detected?

• Check connections (try a different USB port/cable).
• Try another PC (to rule out OS/driver issues).
• Use a live Linux USB (sometimes detects drives Windows can’t).

Step 3: Scan for Lost Files

DMDE offers two main scanning methods:

Quick Scan (Fast, for Recently Deleted Files)

• Best for accidental deletions or minor corruption.
• Scans file system metadata (MFT, FAT, etc.).
• Steps:

1. Select the drive → Quick Scan.
2. Choose the file system (NTFS, FAT32, etc.).
3. Click Scan.
4. If files are found, select them → Recover.

Full Scan (Deep, for Severe Corruption)

• Best for RAW drives, lost partitions, or heavily corrupted file systems.
• Scans every sector for file signatures (slower but thorough).
• Steps:

1. Select the drive → Full Scan.
2. Choose file types (or leave as default).
3. Click Scan (may take hours for large drives).
4. After scanning, browse the found files (organized by type).
5. Select files → Recover.

Pro Tip:

• If the drive is physically damaged, use sector-by-sector mode (slower but safer).
• For RAID recovery, use Tools → RAID Constructor.

Advanced Recovery Techniques in DMDE

For complex cases (e.g., overwritten data, damaged MFT, or custom file types), DMDE’s advanced features come into play.

Technique 1: Manual File System Repair

If the Master File Table (MFT) in NTFS or FAT table in FAT32 is corrupted, DMDE allows manual editing.

Steps to Repair NTFS MFT:

1. Open the drive in DMDE.
2. Go to Tools → NTFS → MFT Explorer.
3. If the MFT is damaged, DMDE will attempt to reconstruct it.
4. Manually edit entries if needed (advanced users only).

Warning: Incorrect edits can worsen corruption. Only attempt this if you’re familiar with file system structures.

Technique 2: Recovering Overwritten or Fragmented Files

If files were partially overwritten or are fragmented, DMDE can still recover them using file carving.

How to Recover Fragmented Files:

1. Run a Full Scan in DMDE.
2. In the results, look for file fragments (marked with ? or incomplete names).
3. Use Tools → File Carving to reconstruct files based on headers and footers.
4. Save recovered files to a different drive.

Example:
– If a Word document is corrupted, DMDE can scan for .docx headers (PK signature) and reconstruct the file.

Technique 3: Rebuilding Lost Partitions

If a partition table is damaged (e.g., “Unallocated space” in Disk Management), DMDE can rebuild it.

Steps to Recover a Lost Partition:

1. Open DMDE and select the physical drive.
2. Go to Tools → Partition Manager.
3. Click Search for Lost Partitions.
4. DMDE will scan for partition signatures (NTFS, FAT, etc.).
5. Select the correct partition → Apply Changes.
6. Reboot and check if the partition is accessible.

Pro Tip:

• If DMDE finds multiple partitions, check the size and file system to identify the correct one.
• For GPT disks, use Tools → GPT Editor to manually fix the partition table.

Post-Recovery Best Practices

Successfully recovering files is just the first step. To prevent future data loss, follow these best practices.

Step 1: Verify Recovered Files

Not all recovered files will be 100% intact. Some may be corrupted or incomplete.

How to Check File Integrity:

1. Open recovered files (e.g., documents, images, videos).
2. For ZIP/RAR files, test extraction.
3. For photos/videos, check for visual artifacts.
4. For databases, verify data consistency.

If files are corrupted:

• Try recovering from a disk image (if created earlier).
• Use file repair tools (e.g., Stellar Phoenix, OfficeRecovery).

Step 2: Back Up Recovered Data Immediately

Once recovered, back up your files to multiple locations:

• Cloud Storage (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox).
• External HDD/SSD (at least two copies).
• NAS (Network-Attached Storage) for large datasets.

3-2-1 Backup Rule:

• 3 copies of your data.
• 2 different media types (e.g., HDD + cloud).
• 1 offsite backup (e.g., cloud or remote storage).

Step 3: Prevent Future Data Loss

To avoid another recovery nightmare:

1. Enable SMART Monitoring (use CrystalDiskInfo or HDDScan).
2. Avoid Overwriting Deleted Files (stop using the drive immediately after deletion).
3. Use Reliable Storage (avoid cheap USB drives for critical data).
4. Regularly Check Disk Health (run chkdsk /f periodically).
5. Invest in a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to prevent power-related corruption.