TestDisk partition write made my system unbootable

How to use TestDisk to recover lost partition
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waqaszed
Posts: 1
Joined: 25 Feb 2014, 07:38

TestDisk partition write made my system unbootable

#1 Post by waqaszed »

Hellow all,


I lost my second partition due to changes made by partition magic on windows 7, after searching long and hard on different forums i found out testdisk to be the best utility and I tried my luck with it, I followed all the steps provided and able to copy some data from my inaccessible/hidden/missing drive then I tried my luck to recover my partition I tried this step:
(TestDisk Step By Step - CGSecurity) please look at the Partition table recovery segment where it says "It's now possible to write the new partition structure.
Note: The extended partition is automatically set. TestDisk recognizes this using the different partition structure.
menu write
If all partitions are listed and only in this case, confirm at Write with Enter, y and OK.
Now, the partitions are registered in the partition table."

i simply selected write and entered testdisk asked me to restart for changes and when I restarted I got this message
"No Bootable Device -- Insert boot disk and press any key" and now I dont know what to do :(
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Alphonse68
Posts: 6
Joined: 04 Feb 2014, 05:55

Re: TestDisk partition write made my system unbootable

#2 Post by Alphonse68 »

Hi,
I don't know what options you have available in TestDisk once it reads the partitions, but after a Deep Search I had these:

Keys A: add partition, L: load backup, T: change type, P: list files,
Enter: to continue _

where I tried "P" and was able to access my files. I then got myself a large HD, installed Win7 and TestDisk in it, and copied EveryThing into it. (It took a long time, but it was well worth it.)
Once I recovered everything, I simply re-installed the drive in the laptop and re-installed Win7, erasing ALL partitions first and then letting Win re-partition the drive as it needed. Now my old drive is back into action, and my new large capacity drive, with bare Win7 installed, is my backup drive.
Hope this works for you.
Cheers.
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