Partitions disappear after Quick Search Topic is solved

How to use TestDisk to recover lost partition
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Rebel300r
Posts: 2
Joined: 25 Feb 2012, 20:19

Partitions disappear after Quick Search

#1 Post by Rebel300r »

Testdisk sees the partitions before the quick search but not after quick search or deeper search

Before Quick Search:
Disk /dev/sdb - 160 GB / 149 GiB - CHS 19457 255 63
Current partition structure:
Partition Start End Size in sectors

1 P Dell Utility 0 1 1 3 254 63 64197
Invalid NTFS or EXFAT boot
2 * HPFS - NTFS 4 0 1 19456 253 63 312512382
2 * HPFS - NTFS 4 0 1 19456 253 63 312512382

After Quick Search or Deeper Search:
Disk /dev/sdb - 160 GB / 149 GiB - CHS 19457 255 63
Partition Start End Size in sectors
* FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 3 254 63 64197 [DellUtility]

Does this seem odd? Is there something that I am doing wrong?
Scott

User avatar
Fiona
Posts: 2835
Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 17:19
Location: Ludwigsburg/Stuttgart - Germany

Re: Partitions disappear after Quick Search

#2 Post by Fiona »

If you already made a quick and deeper search with no results, indicates that you have problems with your boot sector, its backup or damaged file system.
Testdisk sees the partitions before the quick search
Before Quick Search displayes only your current partition structur or partition table.
You can see your NTFS-partition two times on your display.
But it doesn't mean that it will be two times in your partition table but once and the second listing refers to an Invalid NTFS or EXFAT boot.
It means your boot sector.
See your message;
Invalid NTFS or EXFAT boot
2 * HPFS - NTFS 4 0 1 19456 253 63 312512382
2 * HPFS - NTFS 4 0 1 19456 253 63 312512382
I would suggest to have try to rebuild your boot sector.

Start TestDisk.
Confirm through until you see the menu Analyse.
Don't confirm at Analyse but Advanced.
Confirm at Boot with enter also.
Highlight Rebuild BS and hit Enter.
Rebuild your BS will be in progress.
Normally, it takes some minutes.
If it's finished, please post the infos or upload a screen.
If you see a menu List, please highlight it and press enter.
Please let us know, do you see your data or an error message.
To get back to the previous screen, easily press q for Quit.

Infos will follow.

Also;
Your partition is not Intel-Standard.
2 * HPFS - NTFS 4 0 1 19456 253 63
Normally should be;
2 * HPFS - NTFS 4 0 1 19456 254 63
Changing the value of your heads per cylinder in menu geometry, might be worth another try.

Rebel300r
Posts: 2
Joined: 25 Feb 2012, 20:19

Re: Partitions disappear after Quick Search

#3 Post by Rebel300r »

Absolutely amazing! It worked perfectly. Thanks so much. I can't believe how quickly you responded. I made a donation and hope I don't need your help again, but it is nice to know you are there!

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