Problems after FORMAT c: /fs:NTFS

[SvFor]

Hi there,

Situation:
Two partitions, c and e on one hard disk, another partition d on
another hard disk.
Problems with windows, error error error, so I desided to FORMAT and
reinstall windows xp on the c partition.

FORMAT C: /fs:NTFS
Installation of Windows XP on c:

Problem:
I can not retreive data from the e: partition.
The partition is found, but open or explore give me: "This partition is
not formated. Do you want to format e: ?". No, I don't, because it
contains data valuable to every member in the family.

(translation from dutch may hold mistakes. My apoligies)
Start > Configuration > System managment > Computer Managment > Drive
Managment
The e: drive has a 100% free disk space, but I can't open or explore
the disk.
It is impossible that there is no data on that disk!!

I use GetDataBack (for ntfs). The data appears to be on the disk (I see
the MTF names of all the files), but I encounter some errors.

Hypotheses:
I overwrote something which makes it impossible to open or explore the
e: drive.
The data is still on the disk.
What did I overwrite, and how do I fix the problem?

Maxtor 6Y120P0
114 GB

 

[Tim Judd]

Hi there,

Situation:
Two partitions, c and e on one hard disk, another partition d on
another hard disk.
Problems with windows, error error error, so I desided to FORMAT and
reinstall windows xp on the c partition.

FORMAT C: /fs:NTFS
Installation of Windows XP on c:

Problem:
I can not retreive data from the e: partition.
The partition is found, but open or explore give me: "This partition is
not formated. Do you want to format e: ?". No, I don't, because it
contains data valuable to every member in the family.

(translation from dutch may hold mistakes. My apoligies)
Start > Configuration > System managment > Computer Managment > Drive
Managment
The e: drive has a 100% free disk space, but I can't open or explore
the disk.
It is impossible that there is no data on that disk!!

I use GetDataBack (for ntfs). The data appears to be on the disk (I see
the MTF names of all the files), but I encounter some errors.

Hypotheses:
I overwrote something which makes it impossible to open or explore the
e: drive.
The data is still on the disk.
What did I overwrite, and how do I fix the problem?

Maxtor 6Y120P0
114 GB

sounds like maybe the partition table was wiped. a <format> *ONLY*
shouldn't ever touch the MBR or the already defined partitions.
However, during Windows setup, it DOES prompt for partitioning
information, you may have accidentally wrote to it, essentially ruining
the partition definition.

By using NON-MICROSOFT partitioning tools (and HIGHLY even some
commercial products), will destroy the data further on your precious
partition.

Best bet? I use a software package called DFSee (I use version 3.4.2,
it's the last FREE version of his software, you have to hunt to download
it). DFSee will allow you to create partitions, but no formatting. The
software only touches the partition table. A piece of software like
this MIGHT recover your data, but no guarantees. I repeat, no guarantees.

You'll be absolutely REQUIRED, as a hard-and-fast fact rule, that you
define the partitions exactly as they were before (in terms of partition
sector start and end. If you don't know exactly what they were, you're
likely to destroy your data even more.

In all honesty, I think you're SOL -- replace the data. Get your backup
out and start restoring.

Good luck,

 

[SvFor]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply!
(Again my apologies for certain translation mistakes)

Yesterday:
I used DiskInternals NTFS Recovery 1.5 and it could retreive all data,
but when I clicked to save it to another partition it prompted me and
asked for a $100. (I overlooked the fact that it was not free ...
stupid). Now, we don't have that kind of money, because we're renewing
our house and are on a very tight budget. A samaritan with a serial
code would be welcome, but unfortunately that 's illegal and therefor I
can't ask for that ...

Result of yesterday:
Positive: I know it is possible to get all the files back!
Negative: We don't have a lot of free disk space left, so we would have
to choose which files we save.
Negative: I would therefor rather repair the partition than the
"transfer method".

Wiped partition table:
Sounds very possible, although it's weird that the e: partition is
found. So only a part of the partition table was wiped ...
Now, DiskInternals was useful, because it gave me the start and end of
the partition. Since I can see the partition but cannot open it, I
believe that some further information of that partition was wiped, but
the basic information still exists.

Is the above correct?
Can I use the basic information? (say 55% chance on positive result)

Information:
(c: drive on first partition)
Second partition
Dos Extended LBA
start: cilinder: 1023 / head:0 / sector: 1
end: cilinder: 1023 / head:239 / sector: 63
LBA start: 34821360
-->The following within the extended partition above
"First" partition (e
start: cilinder: 1023 / head: 1 / sector: 1
end: cilinder: 1023 / head: 239/ sector: 63
LBA start: 63
start on drive: 34821423

Thanks,