data recovery tool, [i]on a network drive[/i]

[Target]

I'm pretty sure I know the answer already, but I'll ask anyway

A colleague made the unfortunate mistake of overwriting an important document that's stored on a (shared) network drive and we need to recover it if at all possible.

any idea's?

[Stoic Joker]

What OSs are being used? Could Previous versions be an option?

[4wd]

Remove the drive from the network and attach it directly, (via SATA or USB), to a computer to do the recovery, (preferably a computer with the software already installed) - this is probably the best course as it removes the possibility of the drive being written to by something else on the network.

You didn't say what type of network drive, eg. your basic single purpose NAS, PC running an OS doing NAS functions, etc.

For a PC based NAS, there are programs that allow recovery from network drives, commercial only I think, eg. R-Studio and NAS Data Recovery.

Personally, (for the free alternative), I'd attach the drive to a computer and try Recuva, if that didn't work on a initial scan I'd try TestDisk/PhotoRec.

[barney]

If this is an IT supported drive - I'm assuming it isn't - you might check with the support folk.  Otherwise, 'bout all ya can do is make a sacrifice to the network gods - oops, you just did.  Not to be flippant, but I've seldom seen recovery in such matters unless on a commercially/business/corporately supported network.  However, if it is a local network drive, you might be able to use a disk recovery tool.  I've had some success with that in the past, if I was quick enough.

Edit
Never mind, you already have better answers.

[Target]

DOH, I never thought much about the OS

We're a MS shop, so Win7 and/or XP (we're in the process of migrating).

It's also a corporate lan so that drive is sitting on a machine 'somewhere' (probably a VM). It could be nearby, but most likely it's 2000km away.  If I could access the drive directly this wouldn't be an issue

I managed to find 'a copy' that might have been the latest version (or not), but it will get us out of trouble.  If nothing else it will motivate me to setup the backup process I've been planning...  

thanks anyway

[NigelH]

Another option I saw quite recently - should you get the option to use it.
http://www.powerdatarecovery.com/
I have not used it though, but I see it was mentioned once by MerleOne here http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=20310.msg181832#msg181832
I think I need to "play" with it for a bit.

I quite like the MiniTool® Partition Wizard from them.