Hi, first time here thank you for having me
Story
I wiped my Windows server (NTFS) with Linux (and lazily told Linux to claim all disk space) and lost some extremely important files which I now need to recover - the disk size is 140GB.
Here are the steps I took
1- Use latest Ubuntu live cd and install testdisk, photorec
2- Use testdisk instructions here TestDisk step by step
3- Changed the partition type from Linux LVM to NTFS
4- TestDisk gave an error "Filesystem seems damaged"
5- Run PhotoRec, using instruction here in post #6 by Fiona Filesystem seems damaged
6- PhotoRec has been running for 40+ hours now
Problems I have
1- The files I need to recover are 7+ GB in size, but so far the files recovered are on average under 10mb
2- PhotoRec sometimes seems to create large files (10+GB) but these files disappear?
3- PhotoRec is on pass 0 and for the last 10 hours has been cycling over sectors - it gets to for example sector 280,000,000 and after a brief pause resets to 200,000,000 every 30 mins or so
I have now created a disk image using TestDisk but left the scan running on the main drive.
Can someone please help answer my questions. Is there a better way to recover my data? Did I do any steps wrong?
Thank you
Data recovery continuous loop
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
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
- cgrenier
- Site Admin
- Posts: 5432
- Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 15:08
- Location: Le Perreux Sur Marne, France
- Contact:
Re: Data recovery continuous loop
If your disk was NTFS, TestDisk should be able to find the NTFS partition when running TestDisk, Analyse, Quick Search, Deeper Search. It's better to find the correct NTFS partition than changing the type of another partition hpoing it's at the same location.
If the correct NTFS partition is found, set this partition as P(rimary), the other as D(eleted) if not needed, on next screen, choose Write, confirm. If asked, choose BackupBS and confirm. Quit and reboot your computer.
If the correct NTFS partition is found, set this partition as P(rimary), the other as D(eleted) if not needed, on next screen, choose Write, confirm. If asked, choose BackupBS and confirm. Quit and reboot your computer.