Jump to content

Welcome to Geeks to Go - Register now for FREE

Need help with your computer or device? Want to learn new tech skills? You're in the right place!
Geeks to Go is a friendly community of tech experts who can solve any problem you have. Just create a free account and post your question. Our volunteers will reply quickly and guide you through the steps. Don't let tech troubles stop you. Join Geeks to Go now and get the support you need!

How it Works Create Account
Photo

HELP! I accidently deleted my storage partition!


  • Please log in to reply

#1
Gusterv10

Gusterv10

    Member

  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 30 posts
Alright, here's the deal.. I have two HD on my computer a 250GB I use to boot Windows XP and a 120GB I also have windows on but I do NOT boot from it, I just use it for storage, it has a lot of my important files including source codes, music, websites, etc. I was trying to re-install windows on my 250GB but while delete it's current partition, I accidently deleted the partition on my storage HD! I immediately turned off the computer and unplugged it after I realized what I did so I don't accidently format it when formatting my 250GB. Does anyone know how I can recover files from my storage drive? Any help would be appriciated, this whole affair has got me in a state of depression.

By the way, it is a Maxtor 120GB IDE Drive.

Thanks in advanced to anyone who can help!
  • 0

Advertisements


#2
Murray S.

Murray S.

    Trusted Tech

  • Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 4,513 posts
  • MVP
Howdy:

If you do a google or dogpile search for "recover deleted partition" you will find quite a few programs that say they will do just that.

The downside is you have to purchase the program for it to actually work.

Other than that there is no way to recover the lost data to the best of my knowledge.

Murray
  • 0

#3
diabillic

diabillic

    Member 1K

  • Member
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 1,370 posts
You can try something like Active Undelete or Ontrack Easy Recovery. Both of which you need to pay for, but both will do the job if you havent touched the drive since deleting the partition. I know there are plenty more out there, but those are the 2 I have had experience with and know that work very well.

Easiest way to do it would be to either:

> Create an emergency boot disk and boot to the disc, scan the drive and attempt recovery
> Put the drive in a working machine as a slave drive then install either program in Windows and run the proggy from within Windows

Good luck!
  • 0

#4
computerspecialist101

computerspecialist101

    Member

  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 94 posts
here is a website to a site that works well. it is 79.99 for the software, but it works with NTFS and FAT/ FAT32 files. its very easy to use. here is their site : http://www.data-recovery-software.net/ as cilix said, put the 120gn drive in a working machine as a slave, then install r-studio and run the program. if you need help using it i will be willing to help.
  • 0

#5
Gusterv10

Gusterv10

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 30 posts
Thanks for the advice guys but at this point I'm looking for a free alternative.. I'm searching mininova and other website for similar programs. I've never had an unpartitioned HD in my computer but is it NOT supposed to show up under My COmputer? Because BIOS detects it, but Windows doesn't.
  • 0

#6
computerspecialist101

computerspecialist101

    Member

  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 94 posts
BIOS will detect it, but windows will not unless you go to start, then right click on my computer and select manage. next select disk management and it will show up there in the bottom half pane window. I have been searching for a few hours now and have not been able to find anything for free that will work for what you need. i think the only way would be to pay something as everyone is charging, as respectfully they should as it is a difficult task to do for free.
  • 0

#7
DiggerP

DiggerP

    Member

  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 36 posts
Hi,
You could also try PC Inspector File Recovery free
File Recovery

Also free, TestDisk TestDisk

Another one : UndeletePlus freeware
http://www.undelete-plus.com/


There is also Partitiond Recovery (shareware)
Undelete Partition

Hope this helps.
  • 0

#8
Gusterv10

Gusterv10

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 30 posts
Once again, thanks to everyone who helped. I found a piece of software on Mininova called EasyRestore Pro 6 and it got all my stuff back! What a relief. Is there a way to restore the boot sectors on the HD? I got the bulk of what I needed copied to my current 250GB but I just know I'm going to forget some stuff so I don't want to have to reformat my 120GB.
  • 0

#9
DiggerP

DiggerP

    Member

  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 36 posts
Great that you got your stuff back.For fixing the boot sector:
DiskPatch might do this for you
DiskPatch
Try the demo or since you're quite "resourceful" :whistling: you may even find it
on one of your fave websites :blink:

If, for known or unknown reasons, you have lost access to an entire disk or drive while the physical disk is still detected in the BIOS, then you will often be able to regain access to your data by making in-place repairs using DiskPatch.


Drive Copy 8.5 Pro is another one.
http://www.drive-cop...e_partition.htm

You may also have to run fixmbr in a dos panel.

For a free tool check out TestDisk (I mntioned this one before)
http://www.pcsupport...epartition.html

Edited by DiggerP, 02 June 2007 - 08:53 PM.

  • 0






Similar Topics

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users

As Featured On:

Microsoft Yahoo BBC MSN PC Magazine Washington Post HP