Master File Table messed up

Using TestDisk to repair the filesystem
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Author
Hercules
Posts: 1
Joined: 12 Feb 2019, 21:39

Master File Table messed up

#1 Post by Hercules »

Hello,

I tried using TestDisk to recover my files from a damaged HDD. I managed to have TestDisk analyse and detect all the partitions in the disk. I found my files, recovered the boot sector, rebooted, but the computer still wouldn't let me mount the windows partition of the drive (only the EFI one). I ran TestDisk once more, and this time I tried to repair the MFT. TestDisk "repaired" the MFT, but now my files are gone. The old Windows partition only has an HP directory instead of my old directory structure.

What can I do to try and recover my files in this case?

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cgrenier
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Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 15:08
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Re: Master File Table messed up

#2 Post by cgrenier »

Do you reboot as instructed after rewriting the boot sector and before using Repair MFT ?

What message do you had ?
- Both MFT seems ok but they don't match, use chkdsk.
- Fix MFT using its mirror ? (Y/N) - DANGEROUS NON REVERSIBLE OPERATION. Use it ONLY IF Windows failed to access this filesystem.
- Fix MFT mirror using MFT ? (Y/N)

Try TestDisk, Advanced, Undelete.
If you don't see your files, use PhotoRec. It should recover your files but unfortunately without the original filenames.

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