Practical Guide for Recovering .IMA Files After External Storage Failures

Have files been deleted due to a user’s error or software error? Have you formatted a disk by accident and need to know how to recover the files? Read our .IMA file recovery guide for Windows, MacOS, Android and IOS in 2024.

Practical Guide for Recovering .IMA Files After External Storage Failures
Data Recovery Tool

What is a .IMA file?

An IMA file contains a disk image of a floppy disk, hard drive, CD, or virtual hard drive (VHD). It stores the disk image as raw, unformatted binary data that can be mounted by various disk utility programs, such as WinImage, Nero, UltraISO, and MagicISO, in order for it to be readable by a computer.

What Are Common Causes of ".IMA" Files Lost or Failure?

There can be several common causes for ".IMA" files lost or failure, including:

  1. Accidental deletion: Users may accidentally delete the ".IMA" files while organizing or cleaning up their storage devices.
  2. Formatting or reformatting: Formatting a storage device without proper backup can lead to the loss of ".IMA" files.
  3. File system corruption: File system corruption due to virus or malware infection, improper system shutdown, or hardware issues can result in the loss or failure of ".IMA" files.
  4. Software or hardware issues: Software conflicts, incompatible software, or hardware malfunctions can cause ".IMA" files to become inaccessible or corrupted.
  5. Power failure: Sudden power outages or power surges during the read or write process can lead to data loss or corruption of ".IMA" files.
  6. Improper file transfer: Interrupted or incomplete file transfer processes, such as copying or moving ".IMA" files, can result in their loss or failure.
  7. Disk errors: Bad sectors or physical damage on the storage device can cause ".IMA" files to become unreadable or lost.
  8. Human error: Mistakes made by users, such as accidental formatting, improper handling of storage devices, or improper use of software, can lead to the loss or failure of ".IMA" files.

It is always recommended to regularly back up important ".IMA" files to prevent data loss and to use reliable data recovery tools or services in case of any file loss or failure.

How to recover lost ".IMA" files?

Sometimes while working with a computer, laptop or other stationary or mobile devices, you may encounter various bugs, freezes, hardware or software failures, even in spite of regular updates and junk cleaning. As a result, an important ".IMA" file may be deleted.

Go to view
🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

By no means should you think that the only way to recover a ".IMA" file is always to create it once more.

Use programs for recovering ".IMA" files if a file was lost after accidental or deliberate deleting, formatting the memory card or the internal storage, cleaning the storage device, after a virus attack or a system failure.

Programs to recover ".IMA" files

Looking for a way to get files back? In cases when files were deleted and they cannot be restored by using standard operating system tools, use Hetman Partition Recovery.

Partition Recovery™ 4.9
The tool recovers data from any devices, regardless of the cause of data loss.
Download

Follow the directions below:

  1. Download Hetman Partition Recovery, install and start the program.

  2. The program will automatically scan the computer and display all hard disks and removable drives connected to it, as well as physical and local disks.

    File Recovery Software

  3. Double-click on the disk from which you need to recover ".IMA" files, and select analysis type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Analysis Type

  4. When the scanning is over, you will be shown the files for recovery.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Files that Can be Restored

  5. To find a file you need, use the program’s interface to open the folder it was deleted from, or go to the folder "Content-Aware Analysis" and select the required file type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Deep Scan

  6. Select the files you have been looking for and click "Recovery".

    File Recovery Software - Files List for Recovery

  7. Choose one of the methods for saving the files and recover them.

    Saving recovered files in Hetman Partition Recovery

How to open file with ".IMA" extension?

Looking for how to open a stereo disk Image image file file?

Programs that open ".IMA" files

Windows
WinImage WinImage
Nero 2019 Nero 2019
EZB Systems UltraISO EZB Systems UltraISO
MagicISO MagicISO

Additional Information

  • File type: Disk Image

  • File extension: .IMA

  • Developer: N/A

  • Category: Disk Image Files

  • Format: Binary

  • File types that use the extension .IMA:

    • Disk Image

    • Sage ACT! Email Message

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Comments (1)

  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 18.12.2019 13:33 #
    Leave a comment if you have any questions about Recovering lost .IMA files after deleting, cleaning or formatting!
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Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • How can I create a .IMA backup file for my computer system?

    To create a .IMA backup file for your computer system, you can follow these steps:

    1. Insert a blank floppy disk or USB drive into your computer. Ensure that it has enough storage capacity to hold the backup.
    2. Open the command prompt on your computer. You can do this by pressing the Windows key + R, typing "cmd" in the Run dialog box, and pressing Enter.
    3. In the command prompt, navigate to the directory or folder that you want to create the backup of. For example, if you want to backup the entire C drive, you can type "cd C:" and press Enter.
    4. Once you are in the desired directory, type the following command and press Enter:
    • For floppy disk backup: "ntbackup backup C: /f A:backup.ima" (replace A: with the appropriate drive letter for your floppy disk)
    • For USB drive backup: "ntbackup backup C: /f E:backup.ima" (replace E: with the appropriate drive letter for your USB drive)

    The backup process will start, and it may take some time depending on the size of your data. Once the backup is complete, you will have a .IMA file on your floppy disk or USB drive.

    Note: The "ntbackup" command is specific to Windows operating systems prior to Windows 7. If you are using a newer version of Windows, you may need to use alternative backup tools or software to create a .IMA backup file.

  • What is the purpose of a .IMA backup file and how can it be used to restore data?

    A .IMA backup file is an image file that contains a complete copy of a disk or partition. It is commonly used for backup and restoration purposes. The purpose of creating a .IMA backup file is to ensure that all the data, including the file system structure, files, folders, and metadata, are preserved in a single file.

    To restore data from a .IMA backup file, you would typically use disk imaging software or backup software that supports this file format. The restoration process involves the following steps:

    1. Open the disk imaging software or backup software.
    2. Locate and select the .IMA backup file you want to restore from.
    3. Choose the destination location where you want the restored data to be saved.
    4. Start the restoration process, which may involve extracting the contents of the .IMA file and writing them to the specified destination location.
    5. Once the restoration is complete, you can access the restored data in the destination location.

    It's important to note that the exact steps and options may vary depending on the software you are using to restore the .IMA backup file.

  • Are there any specific software programs or tools that are recommended for opening and accessing .IMA backup files?

    Yes, there are several software programs and tools that are recommended for opening and accessing .IMA backup files. Some of the popular ones include:

    1. WinImage: WinImage is a disk imaging software that can open, create, and extract files from .IMA backup files.
    2. PowerISO: PowerISO is a powerful disk image processing tool that can open, extract, and manipulate .IMA backup files.
    3. 7-Zip: 7-Zip is a free and open-source file archiver that can extract files from .IMA backup files.
    4. UltraISO: UltraISO is a CD/DVD image utility that can open, extract, and convert .IMA backup files.
    5. MagicISO: MagicISO is a CD/DVD image processing tool that can open, extract, and create .IMA backup files.

    It's important to note that the availability and compatibility of these tools may vary depending on the operating system you are using.
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