HDD conked out. Partition rec fails: "seems too smal"

How to use TestDisk to recover lost partition
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Author
marc
Posts: 1
Joined: 24 Jul 2015, 08:38

HDD conked out. Partition rec fails: "seems too smal"

#1 Post by marc »

Hi!

A 2TB disk that I use to backup some (fortunately not too important) data broke down during a automated write procedure. I found it unmounted without any partition/partition table.
I cloned the disk using ddrescue and ran testdisk on the copy. It stopped with "The harddisk (2000 GB / 1863 GiB) seems too small! (< 2209 GB / 2057 GiB)...partition can't be recovered".
(I let testdisk run not only once. Since there was no partition I wrote a partition table via testdisk during one of my earlier tries. A single ext4 partition it was. I still have the original broken disk and could clone it again...)

I was able to get the data using photorec. So, it is there...

Why is the disk "too small"?
And, of course: Is there any chance to get the (structured) data back?

Marc

Here is the testdisk log:

Code: Select all

Thu Jul 23 17:27:38 2015
Command line: TestDisk

TestDisk 6.14, Data Recovery Utility, July 2013
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org
OS: Linux, kernel 3.11-2-amd64 (#1 SMP Debian 3.11.8-1 (2013-11-13)) x86_64
Compiler: GCC 4.8
Compilation date: 2013-10-17T13:40:45
ext2fs lib: 1.42.8, ntfs lib: libntfs-3g, reiserfs lib: none, ewf lib: none
/dev/sda: LBA, HPA, LBA48, DCO support
/dev/sda: size       976773168 sectors
/dev/sda: user_max   976773168 sectors
/dev/sda: native_max 976773168 sectors
/dev/sdb: LBA, HPA, LBA48, DCO support
/dev/sdb: size       3907029168 sectors
/dev/sdb: user_max   3907029168 sectors
/dev/sdb: native_max 3907029168 sectors
/dev/sdc: LBA, HPA, LBA48, DCO support
/dev/sdc: size       3907029168 sectors
/dev/sdc: user_max   3907029168 sectors
/dev/sdc: native_max 3907029168 sectors
Warning: can't get size for Disk /dev/mapper/control - 0 B - 1 sectors, sector size=512
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 500 GB / 465 GiB - CHS 60801 255 63, sector size=512 - WDC WD5000AAKX-00ERMA0, S/N:WD-WCC2EF474817, FW:15.01H15
Disk /dev/sdb - 2000 GB / 1863 GiB - CHS 243201 255 63, sector size=512 - ST2000DM001-1CH164, S/N:W2F0NVG8, FW:CC24
Disk /dev/sdc - 2000 GB / 1863 GiB - CHS 243201 255 63, sector size=512 - ST2000DM001-1CH164, S/N:W2F0NVB6, FW:CC24

Partition table type (auto): Intel
Disk /dev/sdc - 2000 GB / 1863 GiB - ST2000DM001-1CH164
Partition table type: Intel

Analyse Disk /dev/sdc - 2000 GB / 1863 GiB - CHS 243201 255 63
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63
check_part_i386 failed for partition type 83
Current partition structure:
No ext2, JFS, Reiser, cramfs or XFS marker
 1 P Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944
 1 P Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944
No partition is bootable

search_part()
Disk /dev/sdc - 2000 GB / 1863 GiB - CHS 243201 255 63

block_group_nr 1

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 32768 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=1/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

Results
   * Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

interface_write()
 1 P Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]

search_part()
Disk /dev/sdc - 2000 GB / 1863 GiB - CHS 243201 255 63

block_group_nr 1

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 32768 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=1/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 3

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 98304 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=3/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 5

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 163840 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=5/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 7

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 229376 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=7/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 9

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 294912 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=9/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 25

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 819200 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=25/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 27

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 884736 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=27/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 49

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 1605632 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=49/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 81

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 2654208 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=81/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 125

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 4096000 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=125/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 243

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 7962624 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=243/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB
BAD_RS LBA=3768620075 8241850
check_part_i386 failed for partition type 0B
     FAT32                234585 191 18 268567  99 52  545915069
This partition ends after the disk limits. (start=3768620075, size=545915069, end=4314535143, disk end=3907029168)

block_group_nr 343

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 11239424 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=343/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 625

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 20480000 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=625/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 729

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 23887872 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=729/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 2187

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 71663616 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=2187/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 2401

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 78675968 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=2401/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 3125

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 102400000 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=3125/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB

block_group_nr 6561

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 214990848 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=6561/14904, s_mnt_count=0/4294967295, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 488378368
recover_EXT2: part_size 3907026944
     Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB
Disk /dev/sdc - 2000 GB / 1863 GiB - CHS 243201 255 63
Check the harddisk size: HD jumpers settings, BIOS detection...
The harddisk (2000 GB / 1863 GiB) seems too small! (< 2209 GB / 2057 GiB)
The following partition can't be recovered:
     FAT32                234585 191 18 268567  99 52  545915069

Results
   * Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB


dir_partition inode=2
   * Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
     ext4 blocksize=4096 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB
ext2fs_dir_iterate failed with error 2133571387.
Directory /

interface_write()
 1 P Linux                    0  32 33 243201  78 13 3907026944 [scratch1]
simulate write!

write_mbr_i386: starting...
write_all_log_i386: starting...
No extended partition

TestDisk exited normally.

Locked