Lost partition after usb->sata converter usage

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
Speeddragon
Posts: 3
Joined: 06 Jun 2018, 16:34

Lost partition after usb->sata converter usage

#1 Post by Speeddragon »

Hee guys,

I had a 1tb hdd in my old computer (just 1 partion) with some folders in it.
After selling my computer i connected it to an usb-Sata converter, and back than I did not know that could give you problems with sectorsize.

So I tought, I lost my partition and used Testdisk.
Testdisk found the partition in a quick search and saw the full folder structure.

Since I didn't had an other 1tb hdd in reach I just pressed write to write the new partion table.
restarted my pc and reconnected my drive. Windows gave the drive a drive letter E: But in diskmanagement it was still shown as RAW

And a quicksearch with Testdisk still gave me a few folders (not all anymore).

Then i used this function: https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/Menu_MBRCode (i know it's really stupid since it has no use for my purpose, but I had a desperate moment).

From that moment on I can't see my folder structure.

The drive select screen from testdisk even shows the drive a few times (I can't remember if Testdisk did that from the beginning)

Code: Select all

>Disk /dev/sda - 500 GB / 465 GiB - HGST HTS725050A7E630
[b]Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - WDC WD10 EZEX-00M2NA0
Disk \\.\PhysicalDrive1 - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - WDC WD10 EZEX-00M2NA0[/b]
Drive D: - 693 MB / 661 MiB - hp DVDRAM GU90N
[b]Drive E: - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - WDC WD10 EZEX-00M2NA0[/b]
The bold drives are the same ones, depending on the disk I choose I see the following partions

Image
Image


After all the only problem was using a sata-usb converter instead of direct sata...

But have I just messed up? or is there something I can do to still fix it?

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

Re: Lost partition after usb->sata converter usage

#2 Post by cgrenier »

It's useless to search partitions inside the partition E:.
Select PhysicalDrive1, Advanced, Boot, RebuildBS, List. If you can see your files, choose Write, confirm, Quit and restart your computer.
If it doesn't work, it's always possible to use PhotoRec to recover your data.

Speeddragon
Posts: 3
Joined: 06 Jun 2018, 16:34

Re: Lost partition after usb->sata converter usage

#3 Post by Speeddragon »

It worked, thanks for your reply!

Speeddragon
Posts: 3
Joined: 06 Jun 2018, 16:34

Re: Lost partition after usb->sata converter usage

#4 Post by Speeddragon »

For the future, if I come to a situation where my sharkoon drive link has problems with the sector size, and I don't have a sata connection available.

What are the best steps to undertake with Testdisk?

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

Re: Lost partition after usb->sata converter usage

#5 Post by cgrenier »

In your case, you have nothing to do anymore (except backup ;-) but in the general case, if the sector size changed, it may have been necessary to rewrite the partition table.

Locked