Possibly a simple problem?

Using TestDisk to repair the filesystem
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Author
Stargirl
Posts: 10
Joined: 01 Jan 2014, 20:04

Possibly a simple problem?

#1 Post by Stargirl »

Hi,

I accidentally plugged out my external hard drive too soon, without safely disconnecting it first and the next time i plugged it in, i was asked to format it.

I had never partitioned it and just moved lots of files onto it so i could delete them from my laptop.

At first, boot sectors were not identical, but i think i fixed that with orgBS. I restarted everything, but was still asked to format it.

I can see all of my files in list, so i don't think anything is lost, i just don't know how to access it anymore!
(There are A LOT of files though, so i couldn't just copy them back onto my laptop.)

Any idea where the problem may lie and how to fix it? :/
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Fiona
Posts: 2835
Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 17:19
Location: Ludwigsburg/Stuttgart - Germany

Re: Possibly a simple problem?

#2 Post by Fiona »

Possibly a simple problem?
It's probably not as simple.
At first, boot sectors were not identical, but i think i fixed that with orgBS. I restarted everything, but was still asked to format it.
To sync the backup of a boot sector it's not as much helpful and often indicates a faulty file system.
If testdisk lists your data you should copy/backup them first.
At the bottom of the screen, you'll find all the copy commands.
After backing up your data you can have a try to repair your file system running:
chkdsk driveletter: /r
within your command prompt with administrator privileges.

Stargirl
Posts: 10
Joined: 01 Jan 2014, 20:04

Re: Possibly a simple problem?

#3 Post by Stargirl »

But that's the problem, i don't have enough space to back it all up!
I would then need to buy another hard drive to move it all to and then i could just format this one, but i want to see if it's possible to fix it before i have to do that.

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

Re: Possibly a simple problem?

#4 Post by Fiona »

Might be possible to run chkdsk without any parameters.
So nothing will be changed nor modified.
Easily run chkdsk driveletter:
Chkdsk should display any errors found.
You should run it with administrator priveleges within your command prompt.
Type into Search "cmd" and press Ctrl/shift and enter to execute chkdsk with admin privileges.
Trying to repair your file system might be:
chkdsk driveletter: /r
It takes a while.
Use it at your own risk, if you have no backup.

Stargirl
Posts: 10
Joined: 01 Jan 2014, 20:04

Re: Possibly a simple problem?

#5 Post by Stargirl »

I ran it and all i got was:
"The type of the file system is FAT32.
Cannot read boot sector."

So it is the boot sector that is the problem. I think making them identical did not quite fix the problem. All i did was orgBS (as previously advised by someone here) but maybe there was something else i had to do?

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

Re: Possibly a simple problem?

#6 Post by Fiona »

Might be possible to run testdisk / advanced / boot and RebuildBS.
Are the boot sector and its backup are identical?
Can you list your files?
Please don't use the menu "WRITE" and repair FAT.
Repair FAT is only intended in conjuction with chkdsk if chkdsk doesn't work.
Repair FAT could modify your file system and should be avoided.

Stargirl
Posts: 10
Joined: 01 Jan 2014, 20:04

Re: Possibly a simple problem?

#7 Post by Stargirl »

I ran RebuildBS and got this (see attachment below).

And yes, i can list all files and it does say that boots are ok and are identical, but they clearly must not be? :s

Should i dump it? Or write?
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Fiona
Posts: 2835
Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 17:19
Location: Ludwigsburg/Stuttgart - Germany

Re: Possibly a simple problem?

#8 Post by Fiona »

Extrapolated boot sector and your boot sector are different.
That's why it's an idea to write your boot sector to to have a try to get access to your files.
You must restart windows after changes.
But if your file syestem is still faulty/dirty it might be possible that windows hangs, if windows tries to access your disk
In case you can still access it through testdisk.
Also, it might be possible to repeat a chkdsk diagnose without parameters, to get info about your file system.

Stargirl
Posts: 10
Joined: 01 Jan 2014, 20:04

Re: Possibly a simple problem?

#9 Post by Stargirl »

How do i make the boot sectors the same?

I ran RebuildBS, then Write. Restarted my computer. Did chkdsk g: and got the same:
"The type of the file system is FAT32.
Cannot read boot sector."


:(

Nothing works!

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

Re: Possibly a simple problem?

#10 Post by Fiona »

Did you already write your boot sector after RebuildBS?
This boot sector is different to your current one.
So it might be possible that you can access your data and if your file system is still faulty to run chkdsk.
It's something to try!
It's not important that your boot sector and it's backup are the same and synced
It's important that your boot sector is repaired and valid!

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