how to recover data from external hard drive linux(MKV recovery)

Part I. Overview of the context in which the document was recovered:

The document you are referring to is about recovering data from an external hard drive on a Linux system, specifically MKV files. MKV is a popular container format for storing video and audio files. It is possible that the external hard drive contains MKV files that have been accidentally deleted, lost due to a system crash, or corrupted.

Part II. Causes of data loss on an external hard drive:

1. Accidental deletion: Sometimes, users unintentionally delete their files or folders from an external hard drive. This can happen due to human error, such as mistakenly selecting and deleting the wrong file.

2. System crash or power failure: A sudden system crash or power failure can cause data loss on an external hard drive. If the drive is not properly ejected or if the write process is interrupted, it can lead to file system corruption or missing files.

3. Virus or malware attack: External hard drives can get infected with viruses or malware, which can result in data loss or data being hidden or encrypted.

Part III. Steps and examples for recovering data from an external hard drive on Linux:

1. Identify the external hard drive: Use the "lsblk" command in the terminal to list all connected storage devices. Look for the external hard drive you want to recover data from. It will be listed as a device under "/dev/".

2. Mount the external hard drive: Create a mount point directory using the "mkdir" command. Then, use the "mount" command to mount the external hard drive to the created directory. For example:

``` sudo mkdir /mnt/external_drive sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/external_drive ```

3. Use data recovery software: Linux provides various data recovery tools and software that can help recover accidentally deleted or lost files from external hard drives. Some popular options include TestDisk, PhotoRec, and Scalpel.

Install and run the data recovery software on your Linux system. Select the external hard drive as the target device and specify the file type you want to recover (in this case, MKV files). The software will scan the drive for recoverable files and present you with a list of recoverable files.

4. Restore the recovered files: Once the data recovery software completes the scan, you can select the MKV files you want to recover and restore them to a location of your choice on your Linux system.

Part IV. Types of other files that can be recovered:

In addition to MKV files, data recovery on a Linux system can recover various other types of files, including but not limited to:

1. Documents: Such as PDFs, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, and text files.

2. Images: Different image file formats like JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and RAW files.

3. Audio files: MP3, WAV, FLAC, and other audio formats.

4. Videos: Not only MKV but also AVI, MP4, MOV, and other video file formats.

5. Archives: ZIP, RAR, and TAR archives can also be recovered.

Part V. Related FAQ:

1. Can data be recovered from a physically damaged external hard drive?

Yes, it is possible to recover data from a physically damaged external hard drive, but it often requires professional assistance. Data recovery services have specialized equipment and expertise to extract data from physically damaged drives.

2. Can data be recovered if the external hard drive is formatted?

Formatting erases the file system structure, but the actual data might still be present on the drive. Data recovery software can scan and recover the data on the formatted drive. However, it is crucial to immediately stop using the drive to prevent overwriting of the data.

3. How successful is data recovery?

The success of data recovery depends on several factors, such as the extent of data damage, the cause of data loss, and the actions taken after data loss. If the data has not been overwritten and the recovery process is done correctly and promptly, the chances of successful data recovery are high.