DiskExplorer for NTFS vs. Competitors: Which Tool Is Best?

DiskExplorer for NTFS: Complete Guide to Features & UsageDiskExplorer for NTFS is a specialized forensic and recovery tool designed to inspect, analyze, and recover data from NTFS-formatted volumes. It exposes the NTFS internals—Master File Table (MFT) records, file attributes, resident and non-resident data, timestamps, and metadata—so that system administrators, data recovery specialists, and digital forensics professionals can examine exactly what’s stored on disk and reconstruct lost or hidden files. This guide explains DiskExplorer’s core features, practical workflows, advanced techniques, and common troubleshooting tips.

What DiskExplorer for NTFS Does

DiskExplorer provides a low-level view into NTFS volumes by reading raw disk structures and presenting them in an accessible interface. Key capabilities include:

Viewing the Master File Table (MFT) and individual file records.
Inspecting file attributes such as $STANDARD_INFORMATION, $FILE_NAME, $DATA, $SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR.
Recovering deleted files by examining MFT entries and data runs.
Viewing slack space, unallocated clusters, and raw sectors.
Exporting files, attributes, or raw runs for offline analysis.
Searching for file signatures (carving) and strings in raw data.

Core Features

MFT Browser and Record Viewer

DiskExplorer’s MFT browser lists all MFT records, showing record number, file name (when available), flags (e.g., directory, deleted, system), file size, and timestamps. Selecting a record opens a detailed viewer that displays attributes and their hex/ASCII contents.

You can filter MFT entries by filename patterns, record flags, or deletion status.
The attribute view separates resident attributes (stored inside the MFT) from non-resident attributes (data stored in clusters), and shows data runs for non-resident attributes.

Raw Disk and Sector Viewer

A raw disk viewer displays sector-level content and allows navigation by logical cluster number (LCN) or byte offset. You can jump from an MFT attribute to the actual cluster(s) on disk, inspect slack space, and read sector headers.

File and Attribute Export

DiskExplorer lets you export file contents or any attribute to a file. For non-resident attributes, it reconstructs data from the data runs; for resident attributes, it writes the attribute’s bytes directly.

Deleted File Recovery

Deleted entries often remain in the MFT until the MFT record is reused. DiskExplorer identifies entries marked as deleted and shows their data runs (if intact). Recovery is performed by exporting the attribute data or carving raw clusters when MFT metadata is partially missing.

File Carving and Signature Search

When file metadata is absent or corrupted, DiskExplorer can perform signature-based carving on raw clusters to reconstruct common file types. It also supports searching for textual strings across MFT and raw disk areas to locate fragments relevant to an investigation.

Timestamp and Metadata Analysis

DiskExplorer displays all standard NTFS timestamps (creation, modified, MFT record modified, accessed) and other metadata. Analysts can compare timestamps across records to detect tampering or reconstruct file timelines.

Security Descriptor and ACL Inspection

Forensic examination of access control lists (DACLs, SACLs) is available through the security descriptor attribute. DiskExplorer decodes the SID entries and permission bits so you can see who had access to objects.

Typical Workflows

1) Quick Inventory of an NTFS Volume

Open the target volume (physical disk or image).
Use the MFT browser to list files and filter by directory or pattern.
Sort by record flags to identify deleted or system files.

2) Recovering a Deleted File

Locate the MFT record flagged as deleted.
Confirm data runs are present and point to plausible clusters.
Export the $DATA attribute to recover the file.
If data runs are missing or inconsistent, use signature carving on the raw clusters indicated by nearby metadata.

3) Investigating Suspicious Files

Open the MFT record and examine $STANDARD_INFORMATION and $FILE_NAME attributes.
Check timestamps for anomalies (e.g., older modified time than created time).
Inspect $SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR to see who owned or had permissions.
Export file contents and run antivirus, hashing, or deeper analysis.

4) Timeline Reconstruction

Export timestamps from relevant MFT records.
Combine with log sources (Windows event logs, application logs) to form an incident timeline.

Advanced Techniques

Recovering Fragmented Files

NTFS allows files to be fragmented across non-contiguous clusters. DiskExplorer’s data-run visualization helps map each fragment’s LCNs. When fragments are intact, DiskExplorer will reassemble them during export. If some fragments are overwritten, partial recovery and carving may still yield usable content.

Working with Sparse, Compressed, and Encrypted Files

Sparse files: DiskExplorer reads sparse maplists and reconstructs logical content, filling unallocated sparse ranges as zeros during export.
Compressed files (NTFS compression): Compressed runs are stored with specific flags. DiskExplorer can decompress resident and non-resident compressed data when exporting, if the compression context is intact.
Encrypted files (EFS): Encrypted $DATA attributes remain encrypted; DiskExplorer can export raw encrypted bytes but cannot decrypt without the appropriate user keys.

Handling Alternate Data Streams (ADS)

DiskExplorer lists alternate data streams attached to files as separate $DATA attributes with stream names. You can view and export ADS content, which is useful to find hidden or leftover data.

Parsing $UsnJrnl and Other System Files

DiskExplorer can open NTFS system files (like $UsnJrnl, $Bitmap, $Boot) to extract journal entries, allocation maps, and boot parameters that are valuable in forensic reconstruction.

Practical Tips and Best Practices

Always work from a bit-for-bit image of the original media when doing recovery or forensics. Mount the image read-only.
Document every action: which MFT records were inspected, offsets exported, and timestamps observed.
Use hashing (MD5/SHA256) on exported files to ensure integrity and reproducibility.
If carving results are uncertain, validate recovered files with file-type-specific tools (e.g., PDF parsers, image viewers).
When dealing with EFS-encrypted files, capture relevant user profile and key material from a live system if possible.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

MFT shows truncated or corrupt records: check $Bitmap and $MFT mirror; use sector-level viewer to inspect the MFT area for disk damage.
Exported file is gibberish: verify whether the file was compressed or encrypted; check data-run flags and try decompression if flagged.
Deleted file’s data runs point to zeros or unrelated content: clusters may have been reused—try carving and search for remnants in unallocated space.

Limitations and When to Use Other Tools

DiskExplorer is excellent for deep NTFS inspection and targeted recovery. However:

For large-scale automated recovery across many disks, specialized batch forensic suites might be more efficient.
For encrypted EFS files, DiskExplorer cannot decrypt without keys—use key-recovery techniques or live-system extraction.
If physical disk damage (head crash, bad sectors) is present, hardware-level recovery or lab services may be required before DiskExplorer can read the data reliably.

Comparison (quick):

Task	DiskExplorer Strength
MFT-level inspection	Strong
Deleted file recovery (metadata present)	Strong
Signature carving at scale	Moderate
EFS decryption	Limited (requires keys)
Damaged-physical-disk recovery	Limited (requires prior physical repair)

Example: Recovering a Deleted JPEG Step-by-Step

Open an image of the disk read-only.
Navigate to the MFT browser and filter for deleted entries with likely image extensions or search by known filename fragments.
Select the deleted MFT record and open the $DATA attribute. Examine data runs for contiguous clusters.
If data runs are intact, export the attribute to recover the JPEG. Verify the file header (e.g., FF D8 FF) and open it.
If runs are missing or fragmented, note the LCNs and run a signature search/carving over the indicated clusters to reconstruct the JPEG.

Final Notes

DiskExplorer for NTFS is a precise tool for anyone needing to see what’s really stored on an NTFS volume. Its ability to reveal file system internals—MFT records, attributes, data runs, and system files—makes it invaluable for forensic analysis and targeted data recovery. Use it on images, follow forensic best practices, and combine its output with other analysis tools when decrypting, validating, or scaling recovery efforts.