copierge filed large file into small space-block error fix?

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boof
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copierge filed large file into small space-block error fix?

#1 Post by boof »

Xenialpup-7.5
Copied encrypted save file ?GB 1048064 blocks onto sd card as 907MB 231651 blocks. cannot mount file. How to fix pls? need to recover files. using original puppy OS for that savefile.

foxpup
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#2 Post by foxpup »

You "copied"? So you still have the original, no?

boof
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#3 Post by boof »

Sadly no, or I wouldn;t need to do this.

foxpup
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#4 Post by foxpup »

I'm no expert, but shouldn't the number of blocks be the same?
Perhaps it is corrupted.
Is it a file (.sfs) or a map?

Did you try just copying it back to where it was?

boof
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#5 Post by boof »

its a .4sf file and yes the blocks should be the same but the sd card was too smal to fit whole file.

mostly_lurking
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#6 Post by mostly_lurking »

You didn't get an "out of disk space" warning when you put that file on the SD card?

As far as I understand it, there is now only about 1/5 of the file left and the rest hasn't been saved because you ran out of space. And it's encrypted. Even if the truncated file could somehow be restored to a working state - would it even be possible to decrypt it when it's missing about 80% of its data?

Not to mention that the remains of that savefile might no longer contain the files you are looking for.

boof
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#7 Post by boof »

yes, I got the error, ad I just hoped that something could be done, I only need one file, but I might not get it. had to try tho'.

foxpup
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#8 Post by foxpup »

You could try to use a tool to search for deleted files on the disc where the pupsave.4fs was first.
Google to find these tools. (I think I've used recuva or undelete a long time ago. You may have to use a rescue distro like Hiren.)

If you want to do that it is best not to use this disc anymore to avoid overwriting the remainders. So if it is your hard disc the pupsave.4fs was on, you better run from pendrive.

Still, if the pupsave is not found fully intact, it will be difficult to find the file you want in it, because the encryption is another complication.

Can you not trace back the original source of the 'one' fiile?

boof
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#9 Post by boof »

original storage was sda6, which has been removed, reformated and repartitioned. orginal copy is gone forever I'd say. The file was abt 4GB, and I doubt my ability to recover it. It's v expensive to get a tech to recover files They'd have to know an awful lot about puppy. I may be able to copy file to other means, perhaps a forumite could decipher it if I could send it out. I could archive it and post I suppose, though it is a personal file. I would need to post it as an ISO + the save file to have any chance of reading the file. NB it's uefi based, with legacy boot AFAIR,

foxpup
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#10 Post by foxpup »

Looks pretty hopeless to me.

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Mike Walsh
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#11 Post by Mike Walsh »

a) Ext4

b) Encrypted

c) No backup???

Jeez-us H. That's, like, asking for trouble.

One thing to remember for future reference (well, maybe a coupla things.)

Ext3 is better for Puppy. Pup will work with ext4, but just because it's used by all the mainstream distros doesn't make it right for Puppy.

There is absolutely no point faffing around with encryption. What, are ya worried somebody'll brow-beat you around the head with yr family secrets, should they get hold of it? It's more trouble than it's worth, TBH.

Always, always, always back up yr save-file/folder as soon as you get Pup how you want her. A regular repeat of this procedure (say, once a month at least) will keep things fairly 'current'; it's not a bad habit to get into.


Mike. :wink:

boof
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#12 Post by boof »

thx. I needed to hear that again.

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Mike Walsh
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#13 Post by Mike Walsh »

@ Boof:-

Sorry if that sounded as though it came across in an 'I told you so' manner. Quite by accident, though (and I'm equally certain it wasn't intentional on your part) you seem to have stumbled across just about the worst possible combination of elements for a Puppy install. (And it's a mistake that could equally well be made by a long-term Linux user, who's used to the way mainstream Linux functions, and quite naturally assumes that Puppy will behave just the same.....)

I have to agree with foxpup, I'm afraid. From what little I know about encryption (and that isn't a lot!), encryption/decryption tends to rely on the object to be encrypted remaining in a viable state, i.e., as it originally was. You start chopping it in half, stuff like that.....the whole process very quickly goes to hell in a handbasket

Like you, I certainly wouldn't want to be having to resort to data recovery specialists. That process can cost an arm & a leg....

It doesn't look good, does it?


Mike. :wink:

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bigpup
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#14 Post by bigpup »

original storage was sda6, which has been removed, reformated and repartitioned
.

Do not totally give up on this, yet.

If nothing has been written to the new partition, the data may still be on the drive area, the partition used.
DO NOT WRITE TO THE sda6 or whatever partition you made it!!!!!!!!
If possible, DO NOT Write To THE DRIVE sda


So nothing lost by trying to use a file recovery program to maybe get it back.

If you need it to be a Linux program.
There are several out there.
Not sure which one would be best to use.
Testdisk and Photorec may be able to do it.

Photorec is suppose to recover files.
If you’re looking to recover lost files, photos, videos, etc. Photorec is what you want. This tool is part of Testdisk, so once you’ve installed Testdisk, Photorec is ready to serve. This particular tool completely ignores the file system and looks directly at the underlying data. This means, if your file system is damaged, there’s a chance the data can still be recovered.
Here is one that runs in Windows
http://www.eassos.com/blog/how-to-recov ... ard-drive/
Just to show there are options out there.

Remember, these programs need to be installed to something other than sda drive.
Puppy running from a USB drive would be good.
Testdisc & Photorec installed and run from the USB.
Last edited by bigpup on Tue 27 Nov 2018, 19:17, edited 1 time in total.

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Burn_IT
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#15 Post by Burn_IT »

Testdisk and photorec are the same product and runs under pretty much ANY OS.
Most other products will likely be just front-ends to those.

You really should get someone who understands forensic data recovery or has done a lot of it using those tools if you want your data back.
There is a big difference between "seeing" that the data is there and recovering it in a useful form.
"Just think of it as leaving early to avoid the rush" - T Pratchett

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bigpup
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#16 Post by bigpup »

Photorec is nothing but run it and see what it finds.

That will be $10,000 fee for that info!
The things they do not tell you, are usually the clue to solving the problem.
When I was a kid I wanted to be older.... This is not what I expected :shock:
YaPI(any iso installer)

boof
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#17 Post by boof »

thx for trying, but sda6 has been erased, formatted and re-created and populated. I see I have little chance of recovery with my v limited knowledge, and it's not worth the extreme cost of professional recovery. I will just have to proceed without the file. +1 for experience.

end thread pls.

boof
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periodic e-prompter needed

#18 Post by boof »

I have some behaviours to bring into my life as regular events, and need an e-prompter to remind me to do them through each day. I also need the reminder to stay onscreen and my computer be unusable for a period of time to make sure I do them. It needs to be cheatproof and run forever, with display modifications possible as the actions needed change. BTW I have the periodic interrupter with the Lama on screen, but it's useless as it doesn't disable the kbrd/mouse when active and has no timeout. This is my cheap option, because otherwise I'll have to pay someone to contact me and remind me to do these things. Something in my brain refuses to allow me to alter my lifestyle. I know what to do, I know it will improve my life, I just can't do it alone. And I live alone, with little human contact. Going out is difficult due to impairment. I have few friends, who have their own lives to live.

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