For an NTFS partition or volume, Master File Table (acronym: MFT) is the most relevant metadata structure that holds information of each and every file and folder that it stores. MFT acts as the control feature of an NTFS partition which keeps all the startup entries that are required to access its data. No data access is possible without a healthy MFT. However, MFT can get corrupt for various reasons such as, unexpected power outage, virus infection, third-party utilities, extensive fragmentation, and others. To prevent complete data loss, another copy of the MFT is also kept as a mirror copy (called 'MFT Mirror') at a defined location on hard disk. But the situation, in which the mirror copy is also affected from corruption, calls for Partition Recovery utilities. Such utilities generally help when there is no or invalid data backup available.
Let's narrow down this problem by citing a suitable example of MFT corruption. A Windows user, lets say a Windows XP user, starts his/her computer, but finds it unable to boot with the following error on screen:
“Corrupt Master File Table”
At startup, Windows runs a boot-time chkdsk if it finds any inconsistency with its partitions or disk and can result in errors such as above. Similar error can also be encountered on running chkdsk manually on a doubted partition, which is not accessible by normal means. The error further states that chkdsk has been aborted.
User Action
If the primary MFT is corrupt, you need to try to sync it with its mirrored copy. Run chkdsk with /f and /r parameters, either from the elevated command prompt or from Windows Recovery Console (when Windows cannot be booted).
In case the damage has been serious, chkdsk fails to fix the corruption. In such circumstances, you need to reformat the hard disk and reinstall Windows. To restore lost partitions' data, you need to use updated data backup. However, as in many cases, if you don't have any valid data backup to restore, you need to opt for a Partition Recovery Software. Designed for recovering lost, missing, corrupted, or inaccessible partitions, these Partition Recovery utilities prove worthy for use in any case of data loss.
Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is one of the finest utilities that can recover lost data with just a few simple clicks. This Partition Recovery Software can be installed on any Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2003, or 2000 computer and allows for complete data recovery after instances like MFT corruption, file system damage, and more.
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