How to recover overwritten files?

[shinystar]

Hi All,

By mistake I've overwritten some of my project files. Is there anyway in ubuntu to recover those files.

Thanks.

[Manko10]

Have you just deleted them or actually overwritten? Overwritten data can't be restored but fortunately the SATA controller decides by its own which blocks to use so even if you've seemingly overwritten your data, there's a (very little) chance of recovering at least parts of it.

Has some application still opened the data? Then you might go with this: Linux.com :: Bring back deleted files with lsof
If not you could try this: http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linuxu...ted-files.html or PhotoRec (PhotoRec - CGSecurity).

But let me warn you: data recovery is very delicate. If your data are absolutely crucial, you ought to shut down your computer and send you hard drive to a professional data rescue company.

[Irithori]

Did you install any backupsystem beforehand
and/or is your project under a version control system (cvs,svn,git,..)?

[elija]

If the files are overwritten with no backup or version control then it is likely to need professional forensic recovery which is usually expensive with no guarantees