Different data recovery software has different functions. You need to select a suitable data recovery software before performing MAC data recovery. If MAC partitions all employ HFS+ file system, you can select a data recovery software that simply supports HFS+. But if you have FAT file system, you have to select a data recovery software that supports both HFS+ and FAT file systems. Why some kinds of software cannot support both two file systems at the same time?

The reason is that HSF+ and FAT are totally two different kinds of file systems. HFS+ is specially designed by Apple for MAC. FAT is originally used in Windows operating systems. They have very different data structures so that some MAC data recovery software isn't compatible with FAT and HFS+ at the same time. Let me show you some detailed differences between HFS+ and FAT in data structure:

Data structure of FAT

Reserved area

FAT1

FAT2

DATA

From this form you can see the general disposition of FAT file system. It is made up by four parts: reserved area contains an important data structure - Dos Boot Record. DBR saves important information about file system. Reserved sector of FAT12 and FAT16 is generally one sector while FAT32 has 32 reserved sectors. Besides number 0 saving DBR information, number 6 sector also saves backup information of DBR. FAT is made up by two same file allocation tables. FAT table has two important functions: describes cluster allocation state and indicates the next cluster number of file or content. In general, FAT has two tables, but sometimes it also allows one table to exist. Its number is decided by record that shifts from 0x10 in DBR. At the end is data area that stores data.

Data structure of HFS+

Reserved(1024bytes)

Volume Header

Allocation File

Extent Overflow File

Catalog File

Attributes File

Startup File

Alternate Volume Header

Reserved（512bytes）

This form is the HFS+ file system general disposition. Compared with FAT, HFS+ is much more complex. It is made up by the following parts:
Volume head: every volume has a volume head. It saves multiple pieces of information about volume such as creating time and date, file number in the volume, and location of important data. It is generally located in number 2 sector.
Allocation File: it is used to describe whether one piece of space is occupied or free.
Extent Overflow File: it is used to store redundant domain information files. Redundant domain means other domains except the front 8 domains.
Catalog File: it is used to describe files and content hierarchical structures. It stores all important information of files and contents. B-tree structure of it allows fast and efficiently scanning target file in one level.
Attributes File: it is used to store attribute information about files and contents, and it also uses B-tree structure.
Startup File: it is a special file that starts from HFS+ volume instead of Mac OS.

Through comparison, I believe you have already understood how different HFS+ and FAT are. Thus data recovery software employs different ways to scan these two file systems. MAC data recovery software that supports HFS+ file system doesn't support FAT file system, because it can't scan the partition.

Best tool of MAC data recovery
Though most MAC users employ HFS+ file system, but some still use FAT file system. When choosing a suitable MAC data recovery software, you'd better try one that supports both these two file systems. I recommend MiniTool Mac Data Recovery to you.



This software supports both HFS+ and FAT file systems, and it also has multiple data recovery functions. It helps you recover lost MAC data. From the above picture of main interface, we can see four functional modules. If you encounter accidental deletion, partition damage, or partition loss when using MAC, MiniTool Mac Data Recovery helps you a lot. It is the best choice of MAC data recovery tool. You can get more information about it through visiting official website: http://www.mac-data-recover.com.