Sernat Data Recovery

1) Obtaining the software

Download one of the three versions of the software from the download page

Version one allows you to recover data from a hard disk if you cannot boot your machine from that hard disk; it writes recovered files to (1.4Mb) floppy disks. Restricted to use on W95, W98 and NT (using FAT, not NTFS) machines.

Version two allows you to recover data from a hard disk that you cannot boot from, but allows you to write recovered files to other hard-disks or devices. You need the facility to create a Microsoft bootable floppy. Restricted to use on W95, W98 and NT (using FAT, not NTFS) machines.

Version three allows you to recover data off of a floppy on to a hard disk. Can be used on W95, W98, NT, W2000 machines.

Pick the version of software that suits your requirements.


2) Configuring the software

Version one: recovery of hard disk to (1.4Mb) floppy disks.
This version creates a floppy disk from which you can boot your machine from. For this you need a 1.4Mb (HDDS) floppy disk. Run the downloaded software either by double-clicking BUILD_SN in your download folder from Windows Explorer, or open up a DOS prompt (from the start menu select RUN, and type CMD or COMMAND - depending on version - followed by [ENTER]), change to your download folder using the "CD" command, and type BUILD_SN followed by [ENTER]. Insert the floppy disk when prompted. A bootable floppy will be created.

Version two: recovery of hard disk to floppy/other device.
Generate a Microsoft bootable floppy on a good machine - do not create a recovery disk as this can fill the floppy up on some versions of operating system, instead format a disk, and add the system files. This can be done on W95 and W98 by right-clicking the floppy disk icon in the 'Folder' window of Windows Explorer. Select Format and tick the 'Copy system files' box. You now have a bootable floppy disk. This operation cannot be performed on NT. Add and make changes to batch files, and add additional software that will allow you to access your other devices when you boot from this floppy (this is optional). Copy the downloaded recovery program SERNAT from your download folder to your bootable floppy.

Version three: recovery of a floppy disk.
No configuration required. Run the downloaded executable from the machine that you downloaded to.


3) Running the software

Version one. Insert the bootable floppy that you have created into the machine and switch on. If you have special hard-disk configuration software that is run at boot-up, switch the machine on and do not insert the floppy disk until you are instructed to. You will see the recovery program boot message "Loading Sernat" before the program begins execution. If the machine does not boot from floppy (and subsequently you do not see the "Loading Sernat" message) check the boot sequence in the configuration (BIOS) setup - refer to manufacturers details about how to access the SETUP screen (typically an option when the machine starts up).

Version two. Insert the bootable floppy disk and switch on. If you have special hard-disk configuration software that is run at boot-up, switch the machine on and do not insert the floppy disk until you are instructed to. Your machine should boot from the floppy and finish by displaying the command prompt (typically "A>"). At this prompt type SERNAT followed by [ENTER]. The recovery program starts. If the machine does not boot from floppy (and subsequently you do not see the "Loading Sernat" message) check the boot sequence in the configuration (BIOS) setup - refer to manufacturers details about how to access the SETUP screen (typically an option when the machine starts up).

Version three. Run the downloaded executable - either by double-clicking SERNAT from your download folder in Windows explorer, or by opening up a Dos-prompt box (from the start menu select RUN, and type CMD or COMMAND - depending on version - followed by [ENTER]); change folder to your download folder (with the "CD" command), and type SERNAT followed by [ENTER].


4) Disk choice

Once the SERNAT software is running, you may be asked which disk you want to analyse. If this is not the first time you have run the software, you may be offered a selection of recovery lists (refer to section 14). If you are recovering data from a floppy disk, then you will not be offered a choice of disks - access to the floppy always defaults to the A drive - skip this section and go straight to the navigation screen (section 7).

On Microsoft systems, disk drives and their partitions are conveniently arranged as letters of the alphabet (with C being the first drive). However this feature does not extend to SERNAT data recovery software (this will be a future feature). Thus if you have more than one hard disk installed, you will first be asked what hard disk drive you wish to access. If on that drive you have more than one partition, you will then be asked to select what partition on the disk you wish to access. You will then go to the disk navigation screen.


5) Disk navigation screen
Prior to arriving at this screen, the user will notice many lines of garbled text flash up on the screen. These are disk metrics and can be ignored.

The disk navigation screen consists of two lines of status information at the top of the display. These status lines show amount of data marked for recovery, and the current folder (which starts at the root folder "\"). The body of the display lists all the files in the current folder. Below the body is a summary of the instructions.

Files listed in the body show the file name and its size. A double chevron (>>) pointer to the left of the files acts as a cursor. The user can scroll through the list of files by using the UP/DOWN ARROW keys and the PAGE UP/DOWN keys. Sub-folders are indicated in square-brackets and are followed by the word Folder! Sub-folders can be entered by pressing the RIGHT ARROW key when the cursor points to the folder name. Sub-folders can be exited at any time by pressing the LEFT ARROW key.

From these disk navigation screens, you select files for recovery (section 7 below).


6) Disk access faults

It is possible that the errors on the hard disk may be too severe for the SERNAT software to access. An error message will be displayed and will not allow entry into the disk navigation screen.


7) Marking files for recovery

In the disk navigation screen, pressing R (for recover) marks the file for recovery. Pressing R again removes it for recovery. Pressing A marks all files in the current folder for recovery. Pressing A a second time removes all files for recovery. If a file is marked for recovery the word "Recover" appears to the right of the file name. The top status line gives the total size of all the files marked for recovery.

Files marked for recovery need to be checked before saving your list of selected files.


8) Checking a list of recovery files

Once files have been selected for recovery, they need to be validated for recovery, and then your list of selected files needs to be saved. From the disk navigation screen pressing the C key will step through all the files that you have selected verifying whether they can be recovered or not. If a file cannot be recovered, it is subsequently removed from your selection. Hence you do not get charged for what cannot be recovered.

Checking files on a floppy disk may not be as fast as checking files on a hard disk. This file-checking step can be skipped if required - but this may upset the cost you are charged for.


9) Saving your recovery lists

Once you have a list of files for recovery, save this list by pressing the S key. You will be prompted for a filename before the file is saved to the boot floppy (if you booted from the floppy disk), or to the folder where the floppy recovery program was run from. Once the file-list has been saved you will be given a LOCK code, note this down as you will need this together with your payment to unlock the recovery list and thus allow you to recover your files. Unlock codes are only ever generated against saved recovery lists to stop you subsequently modifying the list. Thus do not lose this recovery list from the floppy. Once the recovery list has been saved, it is cleared from memory allowing the user to generate a new recovery list.


10) Regenerating the LOCK code

If the LOCK code has been lost, the recovery list can be retrieved from disk by pressing the O key in the disk navigation screen, selecting the file from the list (navigate the list with the UP/DOWN ARROW key, press RIGHT ARROW to select the file when the double-chevron cursor points to it). Pressing the G key will regenerate the LOCK code.


11) Obtaining the UNLOCK code

Forward your remittance and your contact information (see below) together with the LOCK code, and we will return to you the UNLOCK code. Refer to the Unlock page.


12) UNLOCKing a recovery list.

Between obtaining the LOCK code and UNLOCK code, it is assumed that the machine has been powered off. Thus restarting the SERNAT recovery program as in section 5 should now display the available recovery lists. If you are still in the disk navigation screen, you can display you recovery lists by pressing the O key. Navigate these recovery lists by pressing UP/DOWN ARROW. Once the cursor (double-chevron at the left of the display) points to the required recovery list, press the RIGHT ARROW key to load up the list. Press the U key to unlock the recovery file. Type in the unlock code obtained from us - see section 13. You are now ready to recover your files.


13) Recovering your files

After loading up your recovery list and unlocking it - see section 14 - press the R key to recover your files. If you are running the Microsoft bootable version (version 2) or the floppy recover version (version 3) you will be asked for the path of the folder to where you want to recover to. Typing in a path allows you to specify where you would like the recovery files to be sent to. It is assumed that if you specify a path, that there will be sufficient space at the target folder to recover all your specified files. Type in a path or leave it blank. If the floppy recover version (version 3) path is left blank, recovered files will be written to the current folder. If you are recovering your files to floppy disk, configuration information is generated before you are prompted to install a formatted floppy disk - use only 1.4Mb floppy disks (HDDS). Note that all existing information on these disks will be overwritten - so don't use the existing boot floppy.

Files will then be recovered, either to the specified path or to 1.4Mb floppy disks. If you are recovering to floppy you will be asked to insert subsequent 1.4Mb floppies as required. You will also be told to label each floppy with an index number - this will aid restoration of the files in the correct order.


14) Restoration of files saved to floppy

Skip this section if you did not recover to floppy disk (i.e. you specified a path to where your recovered files would be sent to).
Once your files have been saved to floppy disk, either rebuild/reconfigure your corrupted hard disk or take your floppies to another (working) machine. Open up a DOS/command prompt screen (from the start menu select RUN, and type CMD or COMMAND - depending on version - followed by [ENTER]), and change folder (using the CD command) to the location where you want to recover your files. Insert the first floppy and type A:RESTORE (where A is your floppy drive). Your files will be recovered from the floppies - you will be prompted for subsequent floppies as required.


15) Recovered files

Your files are now available for immediate use being locates in the folder you restored them to. Note that file names are stored in short-name format (8+3), and that all attributes on these files are set to read/write not hidden, not system. Original folder structures are not stored with the file names thus be cautious of recovering several files with the same name but were originally sourced from different folders.