How to Recover Data with UFS Explorer Standard Access — Step‑by‑StepUFS Explorer Standard Access is a data recovery utility designed to access and extract files from storage devices and disk images. This guide walks you through a practical, step‑by‑step recovery workflow — from preparing your environment and choosing the right mode, to performing a safe data extraction and verifying results.
Before you begin — safety first
- Avoid writing to the affected device. Continued use or attempts to install software on the same drive can overwrite recoverable data.
- Use a separate working machine or boot from external media if the system drive is damaged.
- Work with an image (clone) of the damaged volume when possible to preserve the original. UFS Explorer can create or work with disk images; imaging prevents further degradation during recovery.
What you’ll need
- A working computer with enough free storage to save recovered files (equal to or greater than the data you expect to recover).
- UFS Explorer Standard Access installed and activated on the working computer.
- The affected storage device connected physically (USB enclosure, SATA connection) or a disk image file (.img, .dd, .vmdk, etc.).
- Optionally, a write‑blocked adapter if you want to guarantee the source drive is never written to.
Step 1 — Install and launch UFS Explorer Standard Access
- Download and install UFS Explorer Standard Access from the official source.
- Launch the program with administrative privileges (right‑click → Run as administrator on Windows) so the application can access hardware-level devices.
Step 2 — Identify and mount the target device or image
- In the main interface, UFS Explorer lists detected physical disks, logical volumes, RAID containers (if any), and disk image files.
- Select the relevant physical disk or open a disk image via File → Open → Open Local File and choose the image file.
- If the drive is encrypted or uses an uncommon container type, check the documentation for additional steps; UFS Explorer supports many formats but some cases may require a different edition.
Step 3 — Create a disk image (recommended)
- Creating an image of the damaged disk preserves the original and allows multiple recovery attempts without risk.
- To create an image:
- Right‑click the source disk → Create disk image.
- Choose a destination on a healthy drive with sufficient space and set chunk size and read retries as needed.
- Start imaging and wait—this may take hours for large drives or drives with bad sectors.
Step 4 — Analyze the filesystem structure
- After mounting the disk or image, expand its tree in UFS Explorer to view partitions and detected filesystems.
- If the filesystem appears intact, you may be able to browse and copy files directly.
- If partitions are missing or filesystems are damaged, run the program’s analysis functions:
- Use the “File System Analysis” or “Scan for lost data” option on the partition or disk.
- Configure scan parameters: file system type hints (NTFS, FAT, ext, HFS+, etc.), deep scan vs. quick scan, and known file signatures for signature‑based recovery.
Step 5 — Run a scan for lost files
- Start the scan and monitor progress. Scans can take substantial time depending on disk size and scan depth.
- While scanning, UFS Explorer reconstructs file system structures and detects recoverable files using metadata and file signatures.
- After the scan completes, results are usually presented in a reconstructed folder tree or in a “lost files” list grouped by file type.
Step 6 — Preview and select files for recovery
- Use the built‑in previewer to check files before recovery (images, documents, text files, some multimedia formats). Preview reduces unnecessary restores.
- Select the files and folders you want to recover. Prioritize most important data first (documents, irreplaceable photos, databases).
Step 7 — Recover to a safe destination
- Always recover files to a different physical drive than the source to avoid overwriting.
- Right‑click selected files → Recover or use the Recover button; choose an output folder on a healthy disk or external drive.
- Monitor the recovery process for errors. For read errors on the source, UFS Explorer may skip unreadable sectors and restore partial files if possible.
Step 8 — Verify recovered data
- Open a sample of recovered files to ensure integrity: open documents, play videos/audio, view images.
- For critical files (databases, archives), run checksum comparisons if you have original checksums.
- If files are corrupted, note which areas of the disk had read errors and consider additional passes with different imaging parameters or using professional recovery services.
Tips for specific scenarios
- Corrupted partition table: Run partition analysis and allow UFS Explorer to reconstruct partition boundaries; then scan reconstructed partitions.
- Deleted files on NTFS/FAT: Quick scans may find recently deleted items; deep scans increase chance to find older deletions.
- Formatted disk: Use a deep file system scan and file signature search to recover files from formatted volumes.
- RAID or complex storage: UFS Explorer has specialized RAID tools, but Standard Access may be limited — consider UFS Explorer Professional or RAID editions for complex arrays.
When to stop and seek professional help
- Mechanical noises (clicking) from the drive — stop using the device immediately and consult a hardware recovery lab.
- Extensive physical damage or when software attempts cause further data corruption.
- When recovered data is insufficient after multiple careful attempts; professionals may use clean‑room techniques and advanced tools.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Recovering to the same disk — leads to overwrites. Always use a separate destination.
- Running repairs that write to the disk (chkdsk, fsck) before imaging — can destroy data; image first.
- Ignoring drive health — use SMART tools to check for failing hardware and adjust strategy (slower imaging, more retries).
Final checklist
- [ ] Do not write to the damaged drive.
- [ ] Create a disk image when possible.
- [ ] Scan the image or disk with appropriate settings.
- [ ] Preview before recovering.
- [ ] Recover to a different physical drive.
- [ ] Verify recovered files.
UFS Explorer Standard Access is a capable tool for many common recovery tasks. When used carefully — imaging first, scanning thoughtfully, and recovering to a safe destination — it can restore a wide range of lost files from logical damage, accidental deletions, and formatting errors.
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