Unallocated hard drive recovery

How to use TestDisk to recover lost partition
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Message
Author
Elio
Posts: 6
Joined: 09 Apr 2021, 07:47

Unallocated hard drive recovery

#1 Post by Elio »

Hi to everyone. Hope you are having a good day.

I came here because i have a problem with my external hard drive. I am no expert on the matter and searching the web for possible solutions I stumbled on TestDisk which i read to be an awesome tool, so i'm trying to utilise it but without a deep understanding i really don't know what to do.

What happend was that one day I plug in my external hard drive but it won't show up so i could not access it.
No bad sounds or signs of hardware failure, to my eyes at least, so i check disk management and the hard drive is there but it's shown as unallocated space, all of it. I tried some software trial for data recovery, like EaseUs cause i thought that it was my only chance to get my old files.
Then i found information on photorec and testdisk so i thought to give it a try. With qphotorec i managed to scan and retrieve a lot of jpeg and pdf files, my priority, but at the moment i do not have a large enough disk to contain all the recovered materials. So from what i understend there is the possibility with testdisk to recover the partition, file included.
I searched this forum and the information on the wiki pages of testdisk and hoping to make something right i started to analyse the disk. It took a long time to advance but i understand that it is normal, and also it found a lot of partitions when i thought there was just one on the drive. The analysis stopped at 43% saying 'Read error at 52778/32/31 (lba=847880616)' but then i pressed enter and it restarted. Now it reached 88% andstopped, i cannot read the advancing percentage anymore and it asks me to choose a partition.

I wanted to share more info with screenshots of the process but i don't know how to, i read that i do not need to upload my screens on an alternative site, but i need a link in someway or no? also i do not know if i could share the log file while the process is running.

So what i wanted to know from my inexperienced position is:

Could I recover the content of my disk repairing its structure or my only option is recover the data using photorec and buying a large enough drive? and is it necessary that i try to recover the files anyway before using testdisk?
How must i proceed with testdisk at this point? do i need to enter the partition type (which is NTFS i think but it is not listed here) to continue the analysis?

I'm am verry sorry if all this rant is confusing, i'm trying to reorder my thoughts and understand at least a bit of what i'm doing.
Also i'm am very thankful in advance for making and releasing a tool like testdisk and for helping people like me.
Elia

recuperation
Posts: 2718
Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 09:48
Location: Hannover, Deutschland (Germany, Allemagne)

Re: Unallocated hard drive recovery

#2 Post by recuperation »

Elio wrote: 09 Apr 2021, 09:54 The analysis stopped at 43% saying 'Read error at 52778/32/31 (lba=847880616)' but then i pressed enter and it restarted. Now it reached 88% andstopped, i cannot read the advancing percentage anymore and it asks me to choose a partition.
Your drive seems to have one or more broken sectors.

Please post your smartmontools log file:
viewtopic.php?p=33390#p33390

You may have to buy one or two drives, one for the duplicate and the other one for a possible recovery using Photorec.

Next recommended step would be duplicating the drive using ddrescue.
Then you would try to use Testdisk on the duplicate.

In the mean time you could read the manual, the wiki and the site and read across the forum.

Describing your external drive, partitions file systems is helpful.

Elio
Posts: 6
Joined: 09 Apr 2021, 07:47

Re: Unallocated hard drive recovery

#3 Post by Elio »

Hi,
thank you a lot for your reply.

So i'll try to share the info that i have now

this is the first stop in the analysis at 43%:
Image

then i proceeded like i said and this happened:
Image

While i was waiting for the reply i decided to try and select the partition type suggested by the software for each one and i reached the end of the quick analysis with these results:
Image


and this is the testdisk log until now

Code: Select all

Wed Apr  7 10:44:42 2021
Command line: TestDisk

TestDisk 7.2-WIP, Data Recovery Utility, March 2021
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
https://www.cgsecurity.org
OS: Windows 8 (9200)
Compiler: GCC 9.3, Cygwin 3001.4
ext2fs lib: 1.45.3, ntfs lib: 10:0:0, reiserfs lib: none, ewf lib: 20140608, curses lib: ncurses 6.1
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sda)=500107862016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sdb)=1000204886016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive0)=500107862016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive1)=1000204886016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\C:)=499449877504
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 500 GB / 465 GiB - CHS 60801 255 63, sector size=512 - KINGSTON SA2000M8500G, S/N:0026_B768_40BA_1DE5., FW:S5Z42105
Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63, sector size=512 - Samsung M3 Portable, S/N:C01E7E021300005A, FW:1306

Partition table type (auto): EFI GPT
Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - Samsung M3 Portable
Partition table type: EFI GPT

Analyse Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63
hdr_size=92
hdr_lba_self=1
hdr_lba_alt=1953525167 (expected 1953525167)
hdr_lba_start=34
hdr_lba_end=1953525134
hdr_lba_table=2
hdr_entries=128
hdr_entsz=128
check_part_gpt failed for partition
 1 P MS Reserved                   34      32767      32734 [Microsoft reserved partition]
Current partition structure:
No FAT, NTFS, ext2, JFS, Reiser, cramfs or XFS marker
 1 P MS Reserved                   34      32767      32734 [Microsoft reserved partition]
 1 P MS Reserved                   34      32767      32734 [Microsoft reserved partition]

search_part()
Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63

HFS magic value at 10875/8/61
part_size 2883586
     Mac HFS                174707439  177591024    2883586
     HFS blocksize=65536, 1476 MB / 1408 MiB
       0 0000 0000 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
     Unknown                259288491 2092151029 1832862539
     FATX, 938 GB / 873 GiB
       0 0000 0000 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Partition not added.

HFS magic value at 17344/10/49
part_size 2883586
     Mac HFS                278632038  281515623    2883586
     HFS blocksize=65536, 1476 MB / 1408 MiB

LVM magic value at 21394/124/31
FAT12 at 27760/63/48
check_FAT: Unusual media descriptor (0xf8!=0xf0)
FAT1 : 1-4
FAT2 : 5-8
start_rootdir : 9
Data : 41-4924
sectors : 4928
cluster_size : 4
no_of_cluster : 1221 (2 - 1222)
fat_length 4 calculated 4
heads/cylinder 64 (FAT) != 255 (HD)
sect/track 32 (FAT) != 63 (HD)

FAT12 at 27760/63/48
     EFI System             445968416  445973343       4928 [EFI System Partition] [NO NAME]
     FAT12, blocksize=2048, 2523 KB / 2464 KiB

SYSV4 Marker at 35407/19/27

recover_sysv4
       0 0000 0000 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
     Unknown                568814678  568814677          0 [6,Ho߼]
     SysV4, 0 B
       0 0000 0000 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Partition not added.

LVM magic value at 41848/41/62

recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=0/15, s_mnt_count=2/21, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=32384
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 518144
recover_EXT2: part_size 4145152
Last mount time:    Fri Oct 26 10:52:34 2018
     Linux filesys. data    725881672  730026823    4145152 [casper-rw]
     ext2 blocksize=4096 Large_file Sparse_SB, 2122 MB / 2024 MiB
file_pread(5,16,buffer,847880693(52778/33/45)) ReadFile Periodo di timeout del semaforo scaduto.

file_pread(5,1,buffer,847880693(52778/33/45)) ReadFile Periodo di timeout del semaforo scaduto.

file_pread(5,1,buffer,847882664(52778/64/63)) ReadFile Periodo di timeout del semaforo scaduto.

check_FAT: Bad number of sectors per cluster
check_FAT: Bad jump in FAT partition
check_FAT: Bad jump in FAT partition

LVM magic value at 106501/28/21
file_pread(5,2,buffer,1953525759(121601/90/25)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,1953525759(121601/90/25)) lseek err Invalid argument
Search for partition aborted

Results
   P Mac HFS                174707439  177591024    2883586
     HFS blocksize=65536, 1476 MB / 1408 MiB
   P Mac HFS                278632038  281515623    2883586
     HFS blocksize=65536, 1476 MB / 1408 MiB
   P EFI System             445968416  445973343       4928 [EFI System Partition] [NO NAME]
     FAT12, blocksize=2048, 2523 KB / 2464 KiB
   P Linux filesys. data    725881672  730026823    4145152 [casper-rw]
     ext2 blocksize=4096 Large_file Sparse_SB, 2122 MB / 2024 MiB
gpt_change_part_type
Change partition type:
   P Mac HFS                174707439  177591024    2883586
     HFS blocksize=65536, 1476 MB / 1408 MiB
Change partition type:
   P HFS                    174707439  177591024    2883586
     HFS blocksize=65536, 1476 MB / 1408 MiB

   P Mac HFS                174707439  177591024    2883586
     HFS blocksize=65536, 1476 MB / 1408 MiB
Support for this filesystem hasn't been implemented.

   P Mac HFS                278632038  281515623    2883586
     HFS blocksize=65536, 1476 MB / 1408 MiB
Support for this filesystem hasn't been implemented.


dir_partition inode=0
   P EFI System             445968416  445973343       4928 [EFI System Partition] [NO NAME]
     FAT12, blocksize=2048, 2523 KB / 2464 KiB
Directory /
       2 drwxr-xr-x     0      0         0 16-Oct-2018 17:18 EFI


dir_partition inode=2
   P Linux filesys. data    725881672  730026823    4145152 [casper-rw]
     ext2 blocksize=4096 Large_file Sparse_SB, 2122 MB / 2024 MiB
Directory /
       2 drwxrwxrwx     0      0      4096 26-Oct-2018 03:14 .
       2 drwxrwxrwx     0      0      4096 26-Oct-2018 03:14 ..
      11 drwx------     0      0     16384 25-Oct-2018 19:25 lost+found
  453377 drwxr-xr-x     0      0      4096 26-Oct-2018 03:14 upper
  259073 drwxr-xr-x     0      0      4096 26-Oct-2018 10:52 work
      12 -rw-r--r--     0      0       109 26-Oct-2018 03:14 format

interface_write()
 1 P Mac HFS                174707439  177591024    2883586
 2 P Mac HFS                278632038  281515623    2883586
 3 P EFI System             445968416  445973343       4928 [EFI System Partition] [NO NAME]
 4 P Linux filesys. data    725881672  730026823    4145152 [casper-rw]
so in the meantime i started a deep analysis and tried to use smartmontools.
I'm having some issues with smartmontools but i found an alternative, i don't know if it is good enough but it seems to give some additional info so i'm gonna share it, the software is gsmartcontrol (seems to me made by the same smartmontools people)

Code: Select all

smartctl 6.6 2017-11-05 r4594 [x86_64-w64-mingw32-w10-b19042] (sf-6.6-1)
Copyright (C) 2002-17, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Seagate Samsung SpinPoint M8U (USB)
Device Model:     ST1000LM025 HN-M101ABB
Serial Number:    E7162G94AA2QX7
LU WWN Device Id: 0 000000 000000000
Firmware Version: 2BA30003
User Capacity:    1.000.204.886.016 bytes [1,00 TB]
Sector Sizes:     512 bytes logical, 4096 bytes physical
Rotation Rate:    5400 rpm
Form Factor:      2.5 inches
Device is:        In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is:   ATA8-ACS T13/1699-D revision 6
SATA Version is:  SATA 3.0, 3.0 Gb/s (current: 3.0 Gb/s)
Local Time is:    Fri Apr 09 17:31:15 2021 
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled
AAM feature is:   Disabled
APM feature is:   Disabled
Rd look-ahead is: Enabled
Write cache is:   Enabled
DSN feature is:   Unavailable
ATA Security is:  Disabled, NOT FROZEN [SEC1]

=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED

General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status:  (0x00)	Offline data collection activity
					was never started.
					Auto Offline Data Collection: Disabled.
Self-test execution status:      (   0)	The previous self-test routine completed
					without error or no self-test has ever 
					been run.
Total time to complete Offline 
data collection: 		(13200) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities: 			 (0x5b) SMART execute Offline immediate.
					Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
					Suspend Offline collection upon new
					command.
					Offline surface scan supported.
					Self-test supported.
					No Conveyance Self-test supported.
					Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities:            (0x0003)	Saves SMART data before entering
					power-saving mode.
					Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability:        (0x01)	Error logging supported.
					General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine 
recommended polling time: 	 (   2) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time: 	 ( 220) minutes.
SCT capabilities: 	       (0x003f)	SCT Status supported.
					SCT Error Recovery Control supported.
					SCT Feature Control supported.
					SCT Data Table supported.

SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 16
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAGS    VALUE WORST THRESH FAIL RAW_VALUE
  1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate     POSR-K   100   100   051    -    2
  2 Throughput_Performance  -OS--K   252   252   000    -    0
  3 Spin_Up_Time            PO---K   089   089   025    -    3409
  4 Start_Stop_Count        -O--CK   096   096   000    -    4839
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   PO--CK   252   252   010    -    0
  7 Seek_Error_Rate         -OSR-K   252   252   051    -    0
  8 Seek_Time_Performance   --S--K   252   252   015    -    0
  9 Power_On_Hours          -O--CK   100   100   000    -    618
 10 Spin_Retry_Count        -O--CK   252   252   051    -    0
 11 Calibration_Retry_Count -O--CK   100   100   000    -    1
 12 Power_Cycle_Count       -O--CK   099   099   000    -    1583
191 G-Sense_Error_Rate      -O---K   100   100   000    -    6
192 Power-Off_Retract_Count -O---K   100   100   000    -    253
194 Temperature_Celsius     -O----   063   063   000    -    37 (Min/Max 13/43)
195 Hardware_ECC_Recovered  -O-RCK   100   100   000    -    0
196 Reallocated_Event_Count -O--CK   252   252   000    -    0
197 Current_Pending_Sector  -O--CK   252   252   000    -    0
198 Offline_Uncorrectable   ----CK   252   252   000    -    0
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count    -OS-CK   200   200   000    -    0
200 Multi_Zone_Error_Rate   -O-R-K   100   100   000    -    7
223 Load_Retry_Count        -O--CK   100   100   000    -    1
225 Load_Cycle_Count        -O--CK   098   098   000    -    23613
                            ||||||_ K auto-keep
                            |||||__ C event count
                            ||||___ R error rate
                            |||____ S speed/performance
                            ||_____ O updated online
                            |______ P prefailure warning

General Purpose Log Directory Version 1
SMART           Log Directory Version 1 [multi-sector log support]
Address    Access  R/W   Size  Description
0x00       GPL,SL  R/O      1  Log Directory
0x01           SL  R/O      1  Summary SMART error log
0x02           SL  R/O      2  Comprehensive SMART error log
0x03       GPL     R/O      2  Ext. Comprehensive SMART error log
0x06           SL  R/O      1  SMART self-test log
0x07       GPL     R/O      2  Extended self-test log
0x08       GPL     R/O      2  Power Conditions log
0x09           SL  R/W      1  Selective self-test log
0x10       GPL     R/O      1  NCQ Command Error log
0x11       GPL     R/O      1  SATA Phy Event Counters log
0x80-0x9f  GPL,SL  R/W     16  Host vendor specific log
0xc0-0xdf  GPL,SL  VS      16  Device vendor specific log
0xe0       GPL,SL  R/W      1  SCT Command/Status
0xe1       GPL,SL  R/W      1  SCT Data Transfer

SMART Extended Comprehensive Error Log Version: 1 (2 sectors)
No Errors Logged

SMART Extended Self-test Log Version: 1 (2 sectors)
No self-tests have been logged.  [To run self-tests, use: smartctl -t]

SMART Selective self-test log data structure revision number 0
Note: revision number not 1 implies that no selective self-test has ever been run
 SPAN  MIN_LBA  MAX_LBA  CURRENT_TEST_STATUS
    1        0        0  Completed [00% left] (0-65535)
    2        0        0  Not_testing
    3        0        0  Not_testing
    4        0        0  Not_testing
    5        0        0  Not_testing
Selective self-test flags (0x0):
  After scanning selected spans, do NOT read-scan remainder of disk.
If Selective self-test is pending on power-up, resume after 0 minute delay.

SCT Status Version:                  2
SCT Version (vendor specific):       256 (0x0100)
SCT Support Level:                   1
Device State:                        Active (0)
Current Temperature:                    37 Celsius
Power Cycle Min/Max Temperature:     18/37 Celsius
Lifetime    Min/Max Temperature:     12/43 Celsius
Under/Over Temperature Limit Count:   0/0

SCT Temperature History Version:     2
Temperature Sampling Period:         5 minutes
Temperature Logging Interval:        5 minutes
Min/Max recommended Temperature:     -5/80 Celsius
Min/Max Temperature Limit:           -10/85 Celsius
Temperature History Size (Index):    128 (17)

Index    Estimated Time   Temperature Celsius
  18    2021-04-09 06:55    37  ******************
  19    2021-04-09 07:00    35  ****************
 ...    ..( 52 skipped).    ..  ****************
  72    2021-04-09 11:25    35  ****************
  73    2021-04-09 11:30    34  ***************
 ...    ..( 20 skipped).    ..  ***************
  94    2021-04-09 13:15    34  ***************
  95    2021-04-09 13:20    22  ***
  96    2021-04-09 13:25    23  ****
  97    2021-04-09 13:30    23  ****
  98    2021-04-09 13:35    23  ****
  99    2021-04-09 13:40    22  ***
 100    2021-04-09 13:45    24  *****
 101    2021-04-09 13:50    23  ****
 102    2021-04-09 13:55    27  ********
 103    2021-04-09 14:00    29  **********
 104    2021-04-09 14:05    31  ************
 105    2021-04-09 14:10    32  *************
 106    2021-04-09 14:15    33  **************
 107    2021-04-09 14:20    34  ***************
 108    2021-04-09 14:25    34  ***************
 109    2021-04-09 14:30    35  ****************
 110    2021-04-09 14:35    35  ****************
 111    2021-04-09 14:40    36  *****************
 ...    ..(  3 skipped).    ..  *****************
 115    2021-04-09 15:00    36  *****************
 116    2021-04-09 15:05    37  ******************
 117    2021-04-09 15:10    37  ******************
 118    2021-04-09 15:15    37  ******************
 119    2021-04-09 15:20    36  *****************
 ...    ..(  3 skipped).    ..  *****************
 123    2021-04-09 15:40    36  *****************
 124    2021-04-09 15:45    37  ******************
 ...    ..( 20 skipped).    ..  ******************
  17    2021-04-09 17:30    37  ******************

SCT Error Recovery Control:
           Read: Disabled
          Write: Disabled

Device Statistics (GP/SMART Log 0x04) not supported

SATA Phy Event Counters (GP Log 0x11)
ID      Size     Value  Description
0x0001  4            0  Command failed due to ICRC error
0x0002  4            0  R_ERR response for data FIS
0x0003  4            0  R_ERR response for device-to-host data FIS
0x0004  4            0  R_ERR response for host-to-device data FIS
0x0005  4            0  R_ERR response for non-data FIS
0x0006  4            0  R_ERR response for device-to-host non-data FIS
0x0007  4            0  R_ERR response for host-to-device non-data FIS
0x0008  4            0  Device-to-host non-data FIS retries
0x0009  4          111  Transition from drive PhyRdy to drive PhyNRdy
0x000a  4          110  Device-to-host register FISes sent due to a COMRESET
0x000b  4            0  CRC errors within host-to-device FIS
0x000d  4            0  Non-CRC errors within host-to-device FIS
0x000f  4            0  R_ERR response for host-to-device data FIS, CRC
0x0010  4            0  R_ERR response for host-to-device data FIS, non-CRC
0x0012  4            0  R_ERR response for host-to-device non-data FIS, CRC
0x0013  4            0  R_ERR response for host-to-device non-data FIS, non-CRC
0x8e00  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e01  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e02  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e03  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e04  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e05  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e06  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e07  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e08  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e09  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e0a  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e0b  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e0c  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e0d  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e0e  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e0f  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e10  4            0  Vendor specific
0x8e11  4            0  Vendor specific
i do not know if it could be helpful.

In regard to your answers, i don't understand why would i want to make a duplicate of the drive to use testdisk and also recover using photorec? Is it because the drive is probably damaged? But if i could retrieve all the files using photorec and buying just one new drive wouldn't be better?

I'm very very thankful, and in the meantime i'll try to read here and there like you recommended.

Good evening.
Elia

recuperation
Posts: 2718
Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 09:48
Location: Hannover, Deutschland (Germany, Allemagne)

Re: Unallocated hard drive recovery

#4 Post by recuperation »

As opposed to the read error of Testdisk I could not find errors in the report from smartmontools that would suggest duplicating the drive.
I don't know why Testdisk stopped.

Anyway, as always you would just check the result of the quick search selecting each partition, using the "p"-key to check if you can recognize content inside that needs to be recovered. If that does not give the expected results you would continue with deep search and examine the result the same way.

Elio
Posts: 6
Joined: 09 Apr 2021, 07:47

Re: Unallocated hard drive recovery

#5 Post by Elio »

Update on my condition,

the deep analysis ended just now, it gave me other partitions.

Image

Image

In fact in the first one, (ESAMSUNG) all my data are listed.
(The log is to long to paste in here but if necessary i think i could upload it to show.)

After the check up for my files i gave enter end returned to the main screen.
Is it positive that i found all the data?
I read in the forum that i could repair the structure of the drive but do i need to recover them first using photorec anyway or could i just repair this drive?
At the end of the analysis i did not found options to work with the disk so i did not understand if i need an other drive to reallocate the partition or not.

As always thank you a lot for the support.

recuperation
Posts: 2718
Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 09:48
Location: Hannover, Deutschland (Germany, Allemagne)

Re: Unallocated hard drive recovery

#6 Post by recuperation »

Elio wrote: 11 Apr 2021, 15:07 Update on my condition,

the deep analysis ended just now, it gave me other partitions.

Image

Image

In fact in the first one, (ESAMSUNG) all my data are listed.
(The log is to long to paste in here but if necessary i think i could upload it to show.)

After the check up for my files i gave enter end returned to the main screen.
Is it positive that i found all the data?
No, you were supposed to loose everything. :roll:
This question appears kind of weird to me!

I read in the forum that i could repair the structure of the drive but do i need to recover them first using photorec anyway or could i just repair this drive?
I would use the copy function to duplicate all lost files and folders first. Then you could try to set the found partition to "primary" and write the partition table. Photorec is the recoverer of last resort. Testdisk does not require Photorec to work.
At the end of the analysis i did not found options to work with the disk so i did not understand if i need an other drive to reallocate the partition or not.
If you do not change the status of the partitions that you found there is nothing to write at the end.
Please upload your pictures using the attachment tab on the bottom of the page.

Elio
Posts: 6
Joined: 09 Apr 2021, 07:47

Re: Unallocated hard drive recovery

#7 Post by Elio »

Hi,
No, you were supposed to loose everything. :roll:
This question appears kind of weird to me!
I phrased it badly :cry:, i was too happy to see all my files...

So, I'll follow your instructions, I'll buy a new drive and try to copy the content there during the weekend, and then I'll try to repair the partition of this one.
I think i need to redo the analysis on the drive given that i closed the firs one, or am i wrong?

So happy to have found such a good person recuperation, i'll owe you one,many thanks!
When i have some news i'm gonna update the post so, if someone is in the same situation as me, they could benefit of the info.

Elia

recuperation
Posts: 2718
Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 09:48
Location: Hannover, Deutschland (Germany, Allemagne)

Re: Unallocated hard drive recovery

#8 Post by recuperation »

Elio wrote: 12 Apr 2021, 14:16 I think i need to redo the analysis on the drive given that i closed the firs one, or am i wrong?
You can do it this way.

Elio
Posts: 6
Joined: 09 Apr 2021, 07:47

Re: Unallocated hard drive recovery

#9 Post by Elio »

Hi all,
like i previusly said, i don't want to leave an unresolved post, be it a good or bad ending.

That said, a quick update. I run testdisk on my old laptop so that it could run undisturbed for days. I bought a new external drive and after the quick search was done all my files where listed and I managed to copy and salvage them. Now I'm running a deeper search on the drive and after that i plan to format it and try to reallocate it, maybe writing the old drive structure?
An other problem that i came across is all the files that i salvaged are now in the new drive. I can read and copy them no problem but when i try to delete them it says i must have a strange type of permission, like admin but instead there is a long string of numbers and letters. Could be that i did something wrong in the process?

Hoping that you're having a good day everyone.
Elia

recuperation
Posts: 2718
Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 09:48
Location: Hannover, Deutschland (Germany, Allemagne)

Re: Unallocated hard drive recovery

#10 Post by recuperation »

You could just take ownership of your files. The strange number is probably the Windows ID of the file owner.

Locked