Guide to Acquiring Disk Images with FTK Imager

Step-by-Step Guide to Acquiring Disk Images Using FTK

In the digital forensics world, acquiring disk images is a fundamental step in preserving evidence. FTK Imager, a part of the AccessData Forensic Toolkit (Official site), is a powerful tool for this purpose. It allows analysts to capture an entire disk’s data accurately and efficiently, ensuring that the original drive remains unaltered. This guide will walk you through the process of using FTK Imager to acquire disk images, from installation to troubleshooting common issues.

Prerequisites

Access to a computer with administrative privileges.
Latest version of FTK Imager installed. See this guide for installation instructions.
An external storage device for saving the acquired disk images.
Basic understanding of digital forensics.

Step 1: Preparing the Workspace

Before you start, it’s crucial to set up a clean workspace to avoid any risk of contaminating the data. Make sure your computer is free from malware and that your external storage device has enough space to store the disk images.

Step 2: Launching FTK Imager

Open FTK Imager by navigating to your installed programs. Once launched, you’ll be greeted with a clean interface focused on simplicity. Familiarize yourself with the menu options, which you will use throughout the imaging process.

Step 3: Selecting the Source Drive

In FTK Imager, go to File > Add Evidence Item. Choose the Physical Drive option. This selection allows you to capture an entire disk, including all partitions and unallocated space.

Step 4: Configuring the Image

After selecting the drive, proceed to configure the image settings. Choose Create Image, then select the desired format (typically E01, which is an EnCase image file format, is recommended due to its compression and metadata capabilities).

Step 5: Saving the Disk Image

Point the Destination Folder to your external storage device. It’s advisable to create a new folder named after the date and case number to organize multiple images systematically.

Step 6: Commencing the Acquisition Process

Once all settings are configured, click Start to initiate the imaging process. This can take several hours depending on the drive size. FTK Imager provides a progress bar to monitor the process.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If the imaging process fails, ensure that all connections are secure, especially if using USB-based storage devices. Restart FTK Imager and verify that no other programs are attempting to access the drive.

Summary Checklist

Ensure workspace is malware-free.
Open and prepare FTK Imager.
Select and configure the source drive.
Set destination and finalize image settings.
Monitor the acquisition process and troubleshoot as needed.

By following these steps, you can effectively acquire disk images using FTK Imager, securing essential digital evidence for your forensic investigations.