Testdisk unmounts drive and gives read error

How to use TestDisk to recover lost partition
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markfree
Posts: 2
Joined: 17 Jul 2021, 12:41

Testdisk unmounts drive and gives read error

#1 Post by markfree »

I got an external USB HD and, while transfering some files, it got frozen. No file transfer nor cancel. After a long time I had to unplug it.
Now, when I plug the drive, Windows detects it but also ask me to format it. If I try to read anything, Windows says the disk is unreadable and the filesystem is undetected.

When I try to open Windows Disk Management, the drive unmounts right away, then I have to unplug and plug it again.
By openning Diskpart the drive unmounts aswell.

Then, I disabled automount and plugged the drive with diskpart already open.
This time diskpart detected the drive and I did the following.

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DISKPART> select disk 3
DISKPART> clean
DISKPART> convert MBR
DISKPART> create partition primary
Then DiskPart gave an error saying the device didn't exist.
Windows event viewer gave me a message saying
I/O operation at logic block 0x0 for disk 3 (name PDO: \Device\0000008e) was repeated
and this error code 800701B1@02070008.


after some swearing...
I tried to use Testdisk.
Testdisk finds the drive but when I proceed, it unmounts again.

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>Disk \\.\PhysicalDrive1 - 2000 GB / 1863 GiB - ST2000LM 024
In Testdisk, I selected disk 1, as shown above, followed by "Intel" partition, then "Analyse".
Testdisk then says "Partition: read error" right away.

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Drive D: - 2000 GB / 1863 GiB - CHS 3907024002 1 1
Current partition structure:
     Partition                  Start        End    Size in sectors

Partition: Read error
Either "quick" or "deeper" search shows "read error" for every cylinder.

My drive is unusable right now. It seems like a physical error. I'm lost, though.
Any suggestion on what to do?

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

Re: Testdisk unmounts drive and gives read error

#2 Post by recuperation »

The commands you ran destroyed data instead of recovering information.

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DISKPART> select disk 3
DISKPART> clean
DISKPART> convert MBR
DISKPART> create partition primary
If possible you can remove the drive from it housing and connect it to your computer using a docking station to see if the problem persists.

If that fails contact a professional recovery service.

markfree
Posts: 2
Joined: 17 Jul 2021, 12:41

Re: Testdisk unmounts drive and gives read error

#3 Post by markfree »

I'm not really worried about data recovery. It's all backed up.

I'm looking to recover the drive usability.

I tried to connect at the motherboard SATA directly, but Testdisk keeps giving read error.

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