[anarxaki]

I'm using an external disk as back-up in order to format another disk. I was on the procedure of coping the files back on the original disk when I got the message that I cannot delete the back-ups, the disk is write protected.
I opened CMD, DISKPART to remove the protection, the disk was NOT read-only, I went to check the volumes and then [bleep] opened it's gates. Instead of typing "det" I typed "del".

 

 

I opened Computer Management, clicked on something that I don't remember what it said and now I have a completely empty RAW drive that Windows ask me to format it. I didn't press "OK".

 

 

Is there any chance I can bring back my files or should I wave goodbye to them?

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Gday anarxaki.

First, stop using the drive. disable any Auto backup software you may have running.

Download Recuva and save your files, > http://www.piriform.com/recuva

Once you have recovered your Data, use this tool to see if you can undo you delete, > http://www.cgsecurit...g/wiki/TestDisk 

 

Good luck. 

[iammykyl]

Gday anarxaki.

First, stop using the drive. disable any Auto backup software you may have running.

Download Recuva and save your files, > http://www.piriform.com/recuva

Once you have recovered your Data, use this tool to see if you can undo you delete, > http://www.cgsecurit...g/wiki/TestDisk 

 

Good luck. 

[anarxaki]

Gday anarxaki.

First, stop using the drive. disable any Auto backup software you may have running.

Download Recuva and save your files, > http://www.piriform.com/recuva

Once you have recovered your Data, use this tool to see if you can undo you delete, > http://www.cgsecurit...g/wiki/TestDisk 

 

Good luck. 

 

So we meet again... (you've helped me 2 weeks ago with a friend's computer).

I'm not using the drive, I cannot.

Since I was a bit worried, I kept on searching the internet for solutions and I already found out about Recuva. It did find my files on the drive, even gave me a txt with all the filenames but it said that it can recover only 1GB. For the rest I have to buy the pro upgrade. Then I found Paragon Partition Manager. The option "Undelete" was not active, so I deleted the volume and had it search for deleted vol. After 12 hours it only got to 10% scanning and I stopped it.

 

So back to my beloved GreeksToGo. I downloaded the suggested TestDisk, run testdisk_win.exe but I'm not sure what I have to do now.

 

 

It's a single primary partition. The thing it says for any drive that you only connected to your computer and never bothered to do more.

Can you help me with the next step? Or is it better to just buy the upgrade for Recuva?

[iammykyl]

Gday.

 

 

So we meet again... (you've helped me 2 weeks ago with a friend's computer).

Ya, I hope your friend has had no more problems.

 

Surprised with the result from Recuva, unless they have changed their policy, you should be able to recovery your files without paying, did you download the free ver.?   PM the member on this thread to see if the recovery procedures differ, OP was able to recovery nearly all Data, > http://www.geekstogo...va#entry2396000

 

The correct partition table is selected, (Intel) to carry on > Press Enter.

 

Edit.

 

Forgot to mention that many recover tools can seem not to be doing anything, but they nearly always are, so just leave them running.   Try Recuva again using the advanced setting, it could take a long time, i.e. 48 hours. 

[anarxaki]

My mistake is that I keep trying solutions without waiting for your suggestions. I'm extremely impatient. Sorry for that, I'll stop doing it because I know that I only harm myself.

I tried 3 different programs yesterday. They all have different options like "Search for deleted files", "Undelete partition", etc and my memory is a little blurry today. Maybe it wasn't Recuva after all, maybe I did the "wrong" search and I got that message. I tried it again today in order to get a screenshot but it's not working. It says that the drive cannot be accessed.
At the moment I'm scanning with TestDisk, I think I should wait for the results before posting again. I feel like I'm missusing your free time and your will to help and I'm starting to feel bad for that.

*Also English is not my mother tongue, so if my words make no sense, this is to blame. 

[iammykyl]

No problems,     Best practice is to use one tool at a time, and if it fails, try another.

Yes please, post the result winnow when the scan has finished.

There may be some delay for my answers as I am in Australia, so you could be awake when I am asleep.

 

Your English is very good, easy to understand. 

[anarxaki]

No need to explain my friend. I used to offer my knowledge in help fora (completely different field of course) and I was frustrated with the persons that demanded my immediate reply as if I spend my whole day starring at the computer screen, or -even worse- when I told them to do one thing, did something else and then asked for extra help.
And as a saying goes in my country about teachers that teach others but not follow their teaching, the results on my doings:
1. I accidentally deleted a whole disk volume.

2. Went to Computer Management, right-clicked the unallocated drive and selected "make simple volume". Did not format as asked.

3. Run Paragon Partition Manager™ 11 Server, tried to undelete the volume but the option was inactive. Went back and deleted once more the volume.
4. Run again Paragon but aborted it since it took too much time.

5. Re-made simple volume on Computer Magement.

6. Run TestDisk.

 

TestDisk said:

 

Feel free to laugh with all that doing, I am laughing myself. hehe

And if you can still restore it, you will be my hero and my first child will be named after you.   
 

Edited by anarxaki, 09 May 2014 - 05:13 AM.

[iammykyl]

It may still be recoverable, but I think the better option is to try and recover the files.

How much, size, of Data do you think is on the damaged drive?   Do you have another internal HDD to copy to, or is there enough room on you C drive.

 

Please click continue on the Testdisk and post a scrteen shot.

 

The how to use are really not explicit enough for my liking.

> http://www.cgsecurit...S_with_TestDisk

This video is not to bad, note he crates a folder on his desktop prior to running the tool and also mentions **a** to select all files for copying.

Let me know what you think. > 

[anarxaki]

I've already hit "Continue" and it got me back to the previous screen with the * before the name and the options to recover files, make new partition, etc. I closed it since I thought there was nothing more to do.
And since I also thought that it'd be late at night for you, I tried to remember which program asked for money in order to recover my files. It turns out it wasn't Recuva (to set things straight and not wrongfully accuse them). It was "MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition", with some add-on called "Power Data Recovery". This was the program that instantly saw all of my files but asked for money to recover them.
I got myself the professional editions of these programs.
1. "MiniTool Partition Wizard Technician Edition". I'll put a screen for complete info:

 

 

The first partition seems to be the lost one, but when I select it and click Finish I get a warning about losing the other partition and I didn't go any further.

 

2. "Power Data Recovery" which found a lot of stuff. It probably sees any changes I've made in my drives the last 10 years that I have them, haha. I selected the one that looks like the deleted drive. The scan will be completed in 7 hours but it already says that it found 47069 files that also seems correct. I'm expecting to get a full tree view of my folders and the option to select the ones I want to undelete.

 

 

Now, about the drive itself. It's very old and it shouldn't be working. But it does and since I can't trust it, I'm only using it on my media player. 90% of the movies/shows are copies of the original files. Only 100-150GB are really worth of saving since I used it as back up in order to format the good drive. But I wouldn't say no in restoring all files, thank God I have enough free space but scattered on 6 internal and external drives.

[iammykyl]

Re TeskDisk.   You need to keep tapping q until you can click on the "Advanced tab, but mute now as you have found an alternative.

I would still try Recuva after finishing with PDR.

When you know the size of the Data to be recovered, you could move files about on your other drives to make room or, copy to a USB stick.

[anarxaki]

Good morning iammykyl.

 

PDR finished scanning and, as expected, gave me a tree view of my drive with checkboxes next to each file for recovery. I selected one folder and saved it elsewhere. Even though the files have the right size, they all seem corrupt. The srt subtitle file opens but instead of text, it's all blanks. The nfo file (used to host info about the movie like IMDB links and plot summary) opens with nfo viewer but it's also blank. And the avi file, 1.80GB in size cannot play on PotPlayer, "The file has been found but may not one of audio and video files".

 

I also run Recuva since it's such a trusted program, but it says "Failed to scan drive J. Unable to determine file system type".

 

What next, my friend?

Edited by anarxaki, 10 May 2014 - 01:50 AM.

[iammykyl]

Gday.

Not looking to good.   PDR showing the file structure and I don't know why it has not recovered Data.  I have not been able to find any ref on Google to, files and folders recovered but are empty.

If the corrupted file system is seen as raw< Recuva will not be able to see anything.

 

use windows explorer, > right click the external drive, > properties, > general, please post a screenshot. then,

> click Hardware, > Properties, > Volume, > Populate, Please post a screenshot.

 

Funny that TestDisk sees a NTFS.  For reference, > http://html5.litten....nly-became-raw/

> http://www.cgsecurit...g/wiki/PhotoRec

[anarxaki]

First screen

 

 

Then I went to the tab "Hardware", selected the disk from the list, clicked 'Properties" tab "Volumes". There was nothing writen on the list (all entries empty) clicked "Populate" and nothing changed.

 

 

So I start reading the link you gave me and I'm thinking: TestDisk quicksearches your drive and finds the partitions. Using the left/right arrows you can change the characteristics. "*" is Primary Bootable, "P" is Primary, etc. I only get "*", "P" or no letter in the front and the whole line is grey and not green. Does this mean something? Should I start a deep scan?

[anarxaki]

A Deeper scan came back with nothing. Still no files to read. I was starting to get annoyed with this drive and its childish tantrums, my files were valuable but I can live without them, so I opened MiniTool and clicked on Partition Recovery, ignored the two warnings about losing "at least one partition" and in five seconds that seemed like a month in my worried mind, nothing... The drive is not even shown in "My Computer" but in Computer management there is a drive. Nameless, letterless, just sitting there. I gave it a letter and voila! My files are back! All of them! And working!

 

For future reference, the program is "MiniTool Partition Wizard Technician Edition" NOT a freeware.
iammykyl you are still my hero, I only will not name my first kid after you.   
Thank you for your time, your effort, your patience and your kindness. I hope I will not bother you again, or at least not soon. 

[iammykyl]

That is fantastic news, well done for finding the solution and for your perseverance.  

I bookmarked this topic in my solved file.

I am extremely disappointed not to get a future namesake, though that could be awkward for a girl. 

You are most welcome