Hi,

Lately, while defragging a 100GB hard disk
defrag.msc crashed. After reboot this disk had
disappeared. Disk Management reports a
7.87GB 'healthy' disk, but unformated and empty.
I lost 43GB of data "!@#$%&".

Any chance of recovery and how ?

I'm afraid to defrag other disks now.
How can I prevent defrag from crashing ?
The system had no problems so far.

John

"John7" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cqailp$h1f$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> Lately, while defragging a 100GB hard disk
> defrag.msc crashed. After reboot this disk had
> disappeared. Disk Management reports a
> 7.87GB 'healthy' disk, but unformated and empty.
> I lost 43GB of data "!@#$%&".
>
> Any chance of recovery and how ?
>
> I'm afraid to defrag other disks now.
> How can I prevent defrag from crashing ?
> The system had no problems so far.
>
> John

Here are some tools that might help:

http://www.restorer2000.com/r2k.htm (to restore NTFS partitions - seems to
work well)
http://www.hddrecovery.com.au
http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz (has NTFS undelete tools too)
http://www.runtime.org/ (GetDataBack)
www.acronis.com (RecoveryExpert)

In general I think that defragging is unnecessary and potentially
harmful (as you found out). In most cases you would need a
stopwatch in a tightly controlled test to detect a measurable
benefit in performance before and after defragging.

"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "John7" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:cqailp$h1f$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi,
> >
> > Lately, while defragging a 100GB hard disk
> > defrag.msc crashed. After reboot this disk had
> > disappeared. Disk Management reports a
> > 7.87GB 'healthy' disk, but unformated and empty.
> > I lost 43GB of data "!@#$%&".
> >
> > Any chance of recovery and how ?
> >
> > I'm afraid to defrag other disks now.
> > How can I prevent defrag from crashing ?
> > The system had no problems so far.
> >
> > John
>
> Here are some tools that might help:
>
> http://www.restorer2000.com/r2k.htm (to restore NTFS partitions - seems to
> work well)
> http://www.hddrecovery.com.au
> http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz (has NTFS undelete tools too)
> http://www.runtime.org/ (GetDataBack)
> www.acronis.com (RecoveryExpert)
>
> In general I think that defragging is unnecessary and potentially
> harmful (as you found out). In most cases you would need a
> stopwatch in a tightly controlled test to detect a measurable
> benefit in performance before and after defragging.
>
>
Thx,

How to distinguish the good from the bad?
Any experiences / preferences?

John7

"John7" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cqbrnm$knr$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > "John7" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:cqailp$h1f$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > Lately, while defragging a 100GB hard disk
> > > defrag.msc crashed. After reboot this disk had
> > > disappeared. Disk Management reports a
> > > 7.87GB 'healthy' disk, but unformated and empty.
> > > I lost 43GB of data "!@#$%&".
> > >
> > > Any chance of recovery and how ?
> > >
> > > I'm afraid to defrag other disks now.
> > > How can I prevent defrag from crashing ?
> > > The system had no problems so far.
> > >
> > > John
> >
> > Here are some tools that might help:
> >
> > http://www.restorer2000.com/r2k.htm (to restore NTFS partitions - seems
to
> > work well)
> > http://www.hddrecovery.com.au
> > http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz (has NTFS undelete tools too)
> > http://www.runtime.org/ (GetDataBack)
> > www.acronis.com (RecoveryExpert)
> >
> > In general I think that defragging is unnecessary and potentially
> > harmful (as you found out). In most cases you would need a
> > stopwatch in a tightly controlled test to detect a measurable
> > benefit in performance before and after defragging.
> >
> >
> Thx,
>
> How to distinguish the good from the bad?
> Any experiences / preferences?
>
> John7

Sorry, I do not understand your question. Please elaborate.

> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > Lately, while defragging a 100GB hard disk
> > > > defrag.msc crashed. After reboot this disk had
> > > > disappeared. Disk Management reports a
> > > > 7.87GB 'healthy' disk, but unformated and empty.
> > > > I lost 43GB of data "!@#$%&".
> > > >
> > > > Any chance of recovery and how ?
> > > >
> > > > I'm afraid to defrag other disks now.
> > > > How can I prevent defrag from crashing ?
> > > > The system had no problems so far.
> > > >
> > > > John
> > >
> > > Here are some tools that might help:
> > >
> > > http://www.restorer2000.com/r2k.htm (to restore NTFS partitions -
seems
> to
> > > work well)
> > > http://www.hddrecovery.com.au
> > > http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz (has NTFS undelete tools too)
> > > http://www.runtime.org/ (GetDataBack)
> > > www.acronis.com (RecoveryExpert)
> > >
> > > In general I think that defragging is unnecessary and potentially
> > > harmful (as you found out). In most cases you would need a
> > > stopwatch in a tightly controlled test to detect a measurable
> > > benefit in performance before and after defragging.


Sorry, re-phrasing ...

How to distinguish the good from the bad - Tools above?
Any experiences / preferences - Regarding these tools?

John7

> Sorry, I do not understand your question. Please elaborate.
>
>

"John7" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cqbt6g$6tf$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > Hi,
> > > > >
> > > > > Lately, while defragging a 100GB hard disk
> > > > > defrag.msc crashed. After reboot this disk had
> > > > > disappeared. Disk Management reports a
> > > > > 7.87GB 'healthy' disk, but unformated and empty.
> > > > > I lost 43GB of data "!@#$%&".
> > > > >
> > > > > Any chance of recovery and how ?
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm afraid to defrag other disks now.
> > > > > How can I prevent defrag from crashing ?
> > > > > The system had no problems so far.
> > > > >
> > > > > John
> > > >
> > > > Here are some tools that might help:
> > > >
> > > > http://www.restorer2000.com/r2k.htm (to restore NTFS partitions -
> seems
> > to
> > > > work well)
> > > > http://www.hddrecovery.com.au
> > > > http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz (has NTFS undelete tools too)
> > > > http://www.runtime.org/ (GetDataBack)
> > > > www.acronis.com (RecoveryExpert)
> > > >
> > > > In general I think that defragging is unnecessary and potentially
> > > > harmful (as you found out). In most cases you would need a
> > > > stopwatch in a tightly controlled test to detect a measurable
> > > > benefit in performance before and after defragging.
>
>
> Sorry, re-phrasing ...
>
> How to distinguish the good from the bad - Tools above?
> Any experiences / preferences - Regarding these tools?
>
> John7
>
> > Sorry, I do not understand your question. Please elaborate.

I'm pragmatic: I weigh up the benefits against the costs. Defragging
is equivalent to open heart surgery: If the power fails in the middle
of the operation then it's just bad luck for the patient. I used to get
a warm feeling each time I defragged my disk but then I noticed
that it did not appear to improve performance, so I stopped doing it.
Why risk my machine if the benefit is marginal?

"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "John7" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:cqbt6g$6tf$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > > Hi,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Lately, while defragging a 100GB hard disk
> > > > > > defrag.msc crashed. After reboot this disk had
> > > > > > disappeared. Disk Management reports a
> > > > > > 7.87GB 'healthy' disk, but unformated and empty.
> > > > > > I lost 43GB of data "!@#$%&".
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Any chance of recovery and how ?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I'm afraid to defrag other disks now.
> > > > > > How can I prevent defrag from crashing ?
> > > > > > The system had no problems so far.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > John
> > > > >
> > > > > Here are some tools that might help:
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.restorer2000.com/r2k.htm (to restore NTFS partitions -
> > seems
> > > to
> > > > > work well)
> > > > > http://www.hddrecovery.com.au
> > > > > http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz (has NTFS undelete tools too)
> > > > > http://www.runtime.org/ (GetDataBack)
> > > > > www.acronis.com (RecoveryExpert)
> > > > >
> > > > > In general I think that defragging is unnecessary and potentially
> > > > > harmful (as you found out). In most cases you would need a
> > > > > stopwatch in a tightly controlled test to detect a measurable
> > > > > benefit in performance before and after defragging.
> >
> >
> > Sorry, re-phrasing ...
> >
> > How to distinguish the good from the bad - Tools above?
> > Any experiences / preferences - Regarding these tools?
> >
> > John7
> >
> > > Sorry, I do not understand your question. Please elaborate.
>
> I'm pragmatic: I weigh up the benefits against the costs. Defragging
> is equivalent to open heart surgery: If the power fails in the middle
> of the operation then it's just bad luck for the patient. I used to get
> a warm feeling each time I defragged my disk but then I noticed
> that it did not appear to improve performance, so I stopped doing it.
> Why risk my machine if the benefit is marginal?
>
>

True, but unfortunately I'm stuck with my sick patient now.
Any suggestions to my re-phrased 2 questions above ?

"John7" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cqbunv$66l$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > "John7" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:cqbt6g$6tf$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > > > Hi,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Lately, while defragging a 100GB hard disk
> > > > > > > defrag.msc crashed. After reboot this disk had
> > > > > > > disappeared. Disk Management reports a
> > > > > > > 7.87GB 'healthy' disk, but unformated and empty.
> > > > > > > I lost 43GB of data "!@#$%&".
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Any chance of recovery and how ?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I'm afraid to defrag other disks now.
> > > > > > > How can I prevent defrag from crashing ?
> > > > > > > The system had no problems so far.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > John
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Here are some tools that might help:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > http://www.restorer2000.com/r2k.htm (to restore NTFS
partitions -
> > > seems
> > > > to
> > > > > > work well)
> > > > > > http://www.hddrecovery.com.au
> > > > > > http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz (has NTFS undelete tools too)
> > > > > > http://www.runtime.org/ (GetDataBack)
> > > > > > www.acronis.com (RecoveryExpert)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > In general I think that defragging is unnecessary and
potentially
> > > > > > harmful (as you found out). In most cases you would need a
> > > > > > stopwatch in a tightly controlled test to detect a measurable
> > > > > > benefit in performance before and after defragging.
> > >
> > >
> > > Sorry, re-phrasing ...
> > >
> > > How to distinguish the good from the bad - Tools above?
> > > Any experiences / preferences - Regarding these tools?
> > >
> > > John7
> > >
> > > > Sorry, I do not understand your question. Please elaborate.
> >
> > I'm pragmatic: I weigh up the benefits against the costs. Defragging
> > is equivalent to open heart surgery: If the power fails in the middle
> > of the operation then it's just bad luck for the patient. I used to get
> > a warm feeling each time I defragged my disk but then I noticed
> > that it did not appear to improve performance, so I stopped doing it.
> > Why risk my machine if the benefit is marginal?
> >
> >
>
> True, but unfortunately I'm stuck with my sick patient now.
> Any suggestions to my re-phrased 2 questions above ?
>

OK, I now see what you mean. Of these tools -

http://www.restorer2000.com/r2k.htm (to restore NTFS partitions - seems to
work well)
http://www.hddrecovery.com.au
http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz (has NTFS undelete tools too)
http://www.runtime.org/ (GetDataBack)
www.acronis.com (RecoveryExpert)

I have used the Recovery Expert from Acronis to recover
lost partitions. It worked fine. I have also had good newsgroup
feedback for restorer2000.

Many tools let you install a free trial version. It shows you what
it discovers but it won't let you retrieve anything until you pay up.

"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:uRIDk%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "John7" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:cqbunv$66l$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > >
> > > "John7" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > news:cqbt6g$6tf$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > > > > Hi,
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Lately, while defragging a 100GB hard disk
> > > > > > > > defrag.msc crashed. After reboot this disk had
> > > > > > > > disappeared. Disk Management reports a
> > > > > > > > 7.87GB 'healthy' disk, but unformated and empty.
> > > > > > > > I lost 43GB of data "!@#$%&".
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Any chance of recovery and how ?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I'm afraid to defrag other disks now.
> > > > > > > > How can I prevent defrag from crashing ?
> > > > > > > > The system had no problems so far.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > John
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Here are some tools that might help:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > http://www.restorer2000.com/r2k.htm (to restore NTFS
> partitions -
> > > > seems
> > > > > to
> > > > > > > work well)
> > > > > > > http://www.hddrecovery.com.au
> > > > > > > http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz (has NTFS undelete tools
too)
> > > > > > > http://www.runtime.org/ (GetDataBack)
> > > > > > > www.acronis.com (RecoveryExpert)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > In general I think that defragging is unnecessary and
> potentially
> > > > > > > harmful (as you found out). In most cases you would need a
> > > > > > > stopwatch in a tightly controlled test to detect a measurable
> > > > > > > benefit in performance before and after defragging.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Sorry, re-phrasing ...
> > > >
> > > > How to distinguish the good from the bad - Tools above?
> > > > Any experiences / preferences - Regarding these tools?
> > > >
> > > > John7
> > > >
> > > > > Sorry, I do not understand your question. Please elaborate.
> > >
> > > I'm pragmatic: I weigh up the benefits against the costs. Defragging
> > > is equivalent to open heart surgery: If the power fails in the middle
> > > of the operation then it's just bad luck for the patient. I used to
get
> > > a warm feeling each time I defragged my disk but then I noticed
> > > that it did not appear to improve performance, so I stopped doing it.
> > > Why risk my machine if the benefit is marginal?
> > >
> > >
> >
> > True, but unfortunately I'm stuck with my sick patient now.
> > Any suggestions to my re-phrased 2 questions above ?
> >
>
> OK, I now see what you mean. Of these tools -
>
> http://www.restorer2000.com/r2k.htm (to restore NTFS partitions - seems to
> work well)
> http://www.hddrecovery.com.au
> http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz (has NTFS undelete tools too)
> http://www.runtime.org/ (GetDataBack)
> www.acronis.com (RecoveryExpert)
>
> I have used the Recovery Expert from Acronis to recover
> lost partitions. It worked fine. I have also had good newsgroup
> feedback for restorer2000.
>
> Many tools let you install a free trial version. It shows you what
> it discovers but it won't let you retrieve anything until you pay up.
>
>
Thx for the advise.

John7

Hi,

after reading some of the posts I would like to add that I have tried
several tools to recover data in a partition without recognizable file
system and what worked best for me was "Get Data
Back":
http://www.runtime.org/
They have a trial version to download and test what you would recover if you
paid, you can even look at the files.

Regards
Armin

"John7" <(E-Mail Removed)> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:cqailp$h1f$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> Lately, while defragging a 100GB hard disk
> defrag.msc crashed. After reboot this disk had
> disappeared. Disk Management reports a
> 7.87GB 'healthy' disk, but unformated and empty.
> I lost 43GB of data "!@#$%&".
>
> Any chance of recovery and how ?
>
> I'm afraid to defrag other disks now.
> How can I prevent defrag from crashing ?
> The system had no problems so far.
>
> John
>
>