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Question

How to extract files from .dd image file

May 7, 2012 6:01AM PDT

Trying to recover (rebuild) as much data as it's possible from a damaged 1TB HDD, bought another 1TB for this job. Used RescueData DD software to create an image of that damaged HDD, now I got an image of .dd extension. Question is how do I mount and extract files from that image? What software do I use? And at all, is this the proper way to recover data? maybe there is a better way? Please let me know.

Thanks in advance

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Let's see if RescueData documents this.
May 7, 2012 6:12AM PDT

Not finding any support pages. Let's call this a lost cause.

This is one way of recovery. If you do this long you learn that anyone that thinks there is only one proper way has not been at this long enough.

My thought is that this is some image that you would put onto a good 1TB drive and continue there. The less seasoned tech would think that step would be uncalled for.
Bob

PS. Try http://www.gnu.org/software/ddrescue/ddrescue.html as well as the titles in the CNET Storage forum.

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Is this GNU ddrescue available on windows?
May 7, 2012 8:41PM PDT

yes, I have recovered the whole 1TB image of that drive to another new 1TB HDD. Is this ddrescue software available on windows as I can't figure out how to run it on windows? There's no .exe file or anything like that. All I want is to mount that .dd image and try to get certain files from it. I don't have an extra 1TB HDD to extract the whole .dd

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Sorry but can't help you.
May 8, 2012 7:22AM PDT

After doing this for far too long (data recovery) you know to not let a missing hard drive to restore to stop you. You get the blank drive and restore it so you can continue to the next step(s) of recovery. Then again I did have someone tell me this was too expensive. My thought here was that the files must be worth less than 100 bucks (example at http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST1000DM003/dp/B005T3GRNW/ ) and since they set the price on their files, they have a financial value of what they are worth now.

That is, now they have to decide if it's worth getting the files back.
Bob