Partition Magic deleted C Drive--Must Restore!

[Inquirer]

Thanks in advance...

a) Computer: Compaq bought new in 2004 from Best Buy
b) Compaqs recovery partition seems to be "before" the C:\ Drive.

1) After installing, updating, registering all software, etc.,
fatigue caused me to misapply Partition Magic 8.0v when creating a
25gig C:\Drive out of 105 available. I DELETED THE C:\ DRIVE!

2) Used PM to un-delete it immediately.
3) Saw it now had 8,xxx+ gigs restored.
4) Would not reboot.
5) PM used to set "Hidden" to "Active" on that drive.
6) Still no reboot.
7) Put Windows XP (SP2) into CD while running...
.....Setup appeared and installed beginning files, progs, etc.
.....without my OK.
** [ At this point, did I ruin my OS or completed Setup of the Drive
** by overwriting files to the OS, etc? ]

7) Used PM...found NO ERRORS

8) Tried Windows Recovery Console:
9) Choose "R" ...
10a) 1 F:\MiniNT
10b) 2 F:\I386
10c) 3 C:\Windows [Which?]
11) I choose 3
12) Got C:\Windows
13) Asked for "Administrative Password"
14) Since I used none...I hit enter (for none)
15) Invalid password...

(NOT SURE IF WHEN "ADM PASS" WAS REQUIRED
DURING THIS WHOLE RECOVERY ATEMPT...]

WHAT CAN I DO TO RESTORE HOURS OF WORK?

Private Answers can be sent to: (e-mail address removed)

 

[Codswallop]

Thanks in advance...

a) Computer: Compaq bought new in 2004 from Best Buy
b) Compaqs recovery partition seems to be "before" the C:\ Drive.

1) After installing, updating, registering all software, etc.,
fatigue caused me to misapply Partition Magic 8.0v when creating a
25gig C:\Drive out of 105 available. I DELETED THE C:\ DRIVE!

2) Used PM to un-delete it immediately.
3) Saw it now had 8,xxx+ gigs restored.
4) Would not reboot.
5) PM used to set "Hidden" to "Active" on that drive.
6) Still no reboot.
7) Put Windows XP (SP2) into CD while running...
....Setup appeared and installed beginning files, progs, etc.
....without my OK.
** [ At this point, did I ruin my OS or completed Setup of the Drive
** by overwriting files to the OS, etc? ]

7) Used PM...found NO ERRORS

8) Tried Windows Recovery Console:
9) Choose "R" ...
10a) 1 F:\MiniNT
10b) 2 F:\I386
10c) 3 C:\Windows [Which?]
11) I choose 3
12) Got C:\Windows
13) Asked for "Administrative Password"
14) Since I used none...I hit enter (for none)
15) Invalid password...

(NOT SURE IF WHEN "ADM PASS" WAS REQUIRED
DURING THIS WHOLE RECOVERY ATEMPT...]

WHAT CAN I DO TO RESTORE HOURS OF WORK?

Private Answers can be sent to: (e-mail address removed)

I don't know whether such a seriously damaged drive can be recovered. You
may need to consider data recovery software or a data recovery service.

 

[DatabaseBen]

yeh, deleting the c drive would not
have been better as splitting it or
resizing it.

possibly, your pm may have an undue feature
that may be detailed at thier website.

or maybe a repair via your win cd might help.
after selecting new install, the setup may find
a o.s. on the hd and ask if you want to repair it.

if it can't be found then you might want to go
ahead and create a secondary partition to
install the o.s. or install it new on the lost drive.

or it may be possible to find the lost/deleted
partition if you can dowload acronis disk director and
let it search for the lost partition and data....

unfortunately, using powerful tools like this
requires absolute attention and understanding
of it/them.

on the bright side, then this is the opportunity
to start from scratch with experience earned...


g.l......


if it can't be found then