Restoring data from a compressed backup
Restoring data from a compressed backup
Earlier I faced a situation where my computer crashed because of a failing HDD. I installed Windows using a memory stick and was prompted to back up data from the failing drive during setup. I didn’t dwell much on it and agreed. Later I discovered the files were compressed into an unknown format that wasn’t recognized by the standard Windows recovery tool. Could anyone examine these images and help identify the format? Once understood, I’d like guidance on how to decompress them so the files become usable again. More similar files, you’re not missing much by me not scrolling through the other 7000GB edited May 5, 2021 by KoreRS
A typical ransomware approach often involves replacing every file's extension with random characters like .000 or .pfm. This prevents true encryption, as it wouldn't use the extra space needed for genuine protection. The goal is to ensure the malware can access all files, making it harder to detect. While this method doesn’t guarantee success on every victim, it helps confirm widespread damage. This explanation is based on general ransomware behavior. If your data was handled differently, this won’t work, but both techniques aim to make files unreadable for the operating system. Usually, original extensions are lost, so recovery isn’t possible. You might find some clues in file headers that hint at the original format. If you can identify the encoding used in those headers, you could try retrieving the original data. Most commonly, ransomware changes file names but keeps the underlying content intact. You can look for free tools online to attempt decryption, though each type usually needs its own specific solution. Unfortunately, there isn’t a universal tool that works for all variants, so you may need to consult forums or specialized software. If you want to test, try changing extensions to .jpg or .png and see if opening them reveals anything useful. This process can be tricky, especially with image files that look like photos.
Thank you for your feedback. The situation doesn't necessarily mean the action was malicious—it could reflect a feature introduced during Windows setup. Microsoft may have included it as part of their updates. Regarding the title and content, I'll correct them and review your approach to ensure clarity. Your encryption method is noted; I'll investigate further once you provide the updated details.
I believe the memory stick remains unchanged after the reformat; I could attempt another format and check for more details about its type. It seems to be an older compression technique used by Windows.
Chose to copy a folder manually to check Paragon's compressed version. My eyes don’t show it’s the right program, but updates might have changed things. The backup labels say the files were made in 2009. Does old software handle this? I’ll search online more. Thanks for the support so far. If anyone spots the format in my first message, let me know immediately! I tried opening some small files in Notepad to check for watermarks and found something. Would someone else have written this file type?
Windows recovery tools are stored in the partition from a Windows install... This backup collection likely contains the recovery drive, though it may be outdated from 2009. It's hard to tell exactly what was needed or what was intended for those drives, so it could be irrelevant.