Frequently Asked Questions
- I have installed Back2Life plugin. How do I access it?
- I have deleted a file. Why Back2Life does not find it as deleted?
- Why do files with 0% Damage appear unreadable after recovery and why can't I use them?
- Why is my old registration key not accepted by my newer version of Back2Life?
- Why I can't preview (F3) files on some drives?
- What is the difference between Standard and Smart recovery methods?
- Why isn't the Smart recovery method available for NTFS disks?
- What should I do immediatly after accidental erasure to ensure that I can recover those files?
- Can I do something in advance to increase my chances of file recovery?
- Why is recovery to the same disk not possible?
- What can I learn from a file cluster map?
- Can I see my disks properties with Back2Life for TC?
1. I have installed Back2Life plugin. How do I access it?
As all other file system plugins, Back2Life is available under Network Neighborhood of TC. Locate there an entry "Erased files".
2. I have deleted a file. Why Back2Life doesn't find it as deleted?
Deleting a file on NTFS systems does not erase it - instead, it is moved to Recycle bin and renamed there.
To permanently delete a file you need to press Shift-Del combination - then this file can be found by Back2Life as erased.
3. Why do files with 0% Damage appear unreadable after recovery and why can't I use them?
Damage ratio shows the minimum proven damage of a file. The real file condition may be worse, but there's no
technical way to detect it.
4. Why is my old registration key not accepted by my newer version of Back2Life?
By design every new version of Back2Life will require a new registration key. Registered users can get a
free update by request - just sent an e-mail request specifying your registration name.
5. Why I can't preview (F3) files on some drives?
You can't preview (using F3) erased files on a drive where Windows is installed, because Total Commander saves a file before preview into the Windows temporary folder, while recovery to the same drive is not allowed in Back2Life.
6. What is the difference between Standard and Smart recovery methods?
The Standard method reads a continuous sequence of clusters whether they are reused or not, while the Smart
reads only the free clusters of this sequence. The Standard method may be
useful when you are sure that the file was not fragmented. Otherwise, use
the Smart. The Smart method gives the same result as the Standard method for files with 0% damage.
7. Why isn't the Smart recovery method available for NTFS disks?
Since NTFS file system (unlike FAT) keeps the record of file cluster sequence even after deletion, there's no
need to guess about cluster locations. So only one recovery method is available.
8. What should I do immediately after accidental erasure to ensure that I can recover those files?
The most important thing is to prevent the erased file from being rewritten. To do so, avoid any use of the disk
where the file was erased, until after the erased file is recovered. Also,
remember that Back2Life should not be installed to this disk. Install it to
a floppy disk if no other disk is available.
9. Can I do something in advance to increase my chances of file recovery?
Yes, keep your disk in good shape by regularly defragmenting it.
10. Why is recovery to the same disk not possible?
Recovery to the same disk may overwrite the very files you're trying to recover. That will not leave you another recovery chance.
11. What can I learn from a file cluster map?
The Cluster-Use-Map can tell you what parts of a file are damaged. It may help to save at least some of the file contents.
12. Can I see my disks properties with Back2Life for TC?
Yes, right-click the appropriate drive record in Back2Life root directory and choose Properties.