Harddisk size too small, cannot recover partition

How to use TestDisk to recover lost partition
Forum rules
When asking for technical support:
- Search for posts on the same topic before posting a new question.
- Give clear, specific information in the title of your post.
- Include as many details as you can, MOST POSTS WILL GET ONLY ONE OR TWO ANSWERS.
- Post a follow up with a "Thank you" or "This worked!"
- When you learn something, use that knowledge to HELP ANOTHER USER LATER.
Before posting, please read https://www.cgsecurity.org/testdisk.pdf
Locked
Message
Author
sloshedeviloven
Posts: 2
Joined: 09 Jan 2018, 06:11

Harddisk size too small, cannot recover partition

#1 Post by sloshedeviloven »

Hey guys, I'm really illiterate when it comes to using TestDisk, and I was hoping someone could help me out here. I'm trying to recover my drive's FAT16 partition that was formatted by accident when making a win10 bootable USB. I have followed the steps given to me in both youtube videos and the official TestDisk wiki, but I continually get the same error after TestDisk finds my partition. It always says the hard disk is too small for the files and that the partition cannot be recovered. This is very frustrating and I would appreciate any help I can get, I can't seem to figure out what I'm doing wrong. Here's my logfile -

Code: Select all

Tue Jan  9 22:36:56 2018
Command line: TestDisk

TestDisk 7.1-WIP, Data Recovery Utility, November 2017
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
https://www.cgsecurity.org
OS: Windows 8 (9200)
Compiler: GCC 5.4, Cygwin32 2005.2
ext2fs lib: 1.43.1, ntfs lib: 10:0:0, reiserfs lib: none, ewf lib: 20140608, curses lib: ncurses 6.0
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sda)=2000398934016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sdb)=256060514304
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sdc)=1000204885504
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sdd)=1000204885504
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive0)=2000398934016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive1)=256060514304
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive2)=1000204885504
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive3)=1000204885504
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\C:)=241012980736
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\D:)=2000263577600
filewin32_getfilesize(\\.\E:) GetFileSize err Incorrect function.

filewin32_setfilepointer(\\.\E:) SetFilePointer err Incorrect function.

Warning: can't get size for \\.\E:
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\F:)=1000202043392
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\G:)=1000202043392
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 2000 GB / 1863 GiB - CHS 243201 255 63, sector size=512 - ST2000DM001-1ER164, S/N:Z4Z70VEM, FW:CC27
Disk /dev/sdb - 256 GB / 238 GiB - CHS 31130 255 63, sector size=512 - NVMe CX2-8B256-Q11 NV, S/N:659B_0210_5603_2300., FW:4881
Disk /dev/sdc - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63, sector size=512 - Seagate Backup+ BK, S/N:NA52F5WH, FW:0409
Disk /dev/sdd - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63, sector size=512 - Seagate BUP Slim BK, S/N:NA98KTK0, FW:0304

Partition table type (auto): Intel
Disk /dev/sdc - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - Seagate Backup+ BK
Partition table type: Intel
New options :
 Dump : No
 Align partition: Yes
 Expert mode : No

Interface Advanced
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63


test_FAT()
 1 P FAT16 >32M               0  32 33 121601  25 24 1953519616
sector_size  0
cluster_size 0
reserved     0
fats         0
dir_entries  0
sectors      0
media        00
fat_length   0
secs_track   0
heads        0
hidden       0
total_sect   0
check_part_i386 failed for partition type 06
 1 P FAT16 >32M               0  32 33 121601  25 24 1953519616

FAT: Can't list files, bad cluster size.
Directory /

Analyse Disk /dev/sdc - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63


test_FAT()
 1 P FAT16 >32M               0  32 33 121601  25 24 1953519616
sector_size  0
cluster_size 0
reserved     0
fats         0
dir_entries  0
sectors      0
media        00
fat_length   0
secs_track   0
heads        0
hidden       0
total_sect   0
check_part_i386 failed for partition type 06
Current partition structure:
Invalid FAT boot sector
 1 P FAT16 >32M               0  32 33 121601  25 24 1953519616
 1 P FAT16 >32M               0  32 33 121601  25 24 1953519616
No partition is bootable

search_part()
Disk /dev/sdc - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63
BAD_RS LBA=1343454108 2317430
check_part_i386 failed for partition type 0E
     FAT16 LBA            83626  38 25 335906 162  5 4052885993
This partition ends after the disk limits. (start=1343454108, size=4052885993, end=5396340100, disk end=1953525167)
file_pread(6,2,buffer,1953525759(121601/90/25)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(6,1,buffer,1953525759(121601/90/25)) lseek err Invalid argument
Search for partition aborted
Disk /dev/sdc - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63
Check the harddisk size: HD jumper settings, BIOS detection...
The harddisk (1000 GB / 931 GiB) seems too small! (< 2762 GB / 2573 GiB)
The following partition can't be recovered:
     FAT16 LBA            83626  38 25 335906 162  5 4052885993

Results

interface_write()
Someone please help me get my data back, It's racking my nerves, thank you.

User avatar
cgrenier
Site Admin
Posts: 5432
Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 15:08
Location: Le Perreux Sur Marne, France
Contact:

Re: Harddisk size too small, cannot recover partition

#2 Post by cgrenier »

FAT16 is for media smaller than 2GB. Your disk is 1 TB, so it's very unlikely you had FAT16 filesystem.
As TestDisk didn't find your partition, try PhotoRec to recover your data.

sloshedeviloven
Posts: 2
Joined: 09 Jan 2018, 06:11

Re: Harddisk size too small, cannot recover partition

#3 Post by sloshedeviloven »

cgrenier wrote: 10 Jan 2018, 12:15 FAT16 is for media smaller than 2GB. Your disk is 1 TB, so it's very unlikely you had FAT16 filesystem.
As TestDisk didn't find your partition, try PhotoRec to recover your data.
Actually, the FAT16 partition is the correct one. I had this drive formatted for a very specific use and just never bothered to take the time to reformat it as i had files on it. I know it is the correct one because photorec is able to pull the files from it, I would understandably just rather get the partition back in its entirety, and need to know what I'm doing wrong that's stopping that from happening, thanks

User avatar
cgrenier
Site Admin
Posts: 5432
Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 15:08
Location: Le Perreux Sur Marne, France
Contact:

Re: Harddisk size too small, cannot recover partition

#4 Post by cgrenier »

Run TestDisk, Advanced, select your FAT partition, choose Boot, RebuidBS. If you can see your files, choose Write, confirm, Quit and restart your computer.
If it doesn't work, please copy/paste the testdisk.log file.

Locked