Testdisk finds partition, writes, but nothing happens

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
Message
Author
trozos
Posts: 6
Joined: 21 May 2014, 13:42

Testdisk finds partition, writes, but nothing happens

#1 Post by trozos »

Hi, I've trying to recover an external hitachi 1tb usb3 hard disk.

It just shows the drive letter, lost the drive name, capacity info, and at disk management appears as Raw.

Testdisk via windows shows my only partition on that disk, and a limited list of the files
(i saw in the manual that the list testdisk shows is just a preview, so all the files should be recover)
I select write, and reboot.. but nothing has changed.

On Testdisk via usb linux boot, exactly the same results..

Please, what should I do??

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

Re: Testdisk finds partition, writes, but nothing happens

#2 Post by Fiona »

Actually, there should be for all versions the same results?
Did you scroll through your data using the up and down arrow keys and page up and down?
(i saw in the manual that the list testdisk shows is just a preview, so all the files should be recover)
It's an old relict and only Fat32-partitions were affected.
Today you should be able to list all files?

Fiona

trozos
Posts: 6
Joined: 21 May 2014, 13:42

Re: Testdisk finds partition, writes, but nothing happens

#3 Post by trozos »

I'm using Testdisk 7.0 on windows 7 x64.
The hard disk was ntfs, i think.. (testdisk says hpfs - ntfs)
Via windows or linux, going down with arrow key, Testdisk shows
the same incomplete file list.. maybe half of the folders.
I tried to copy some of those listed files and it worked..

So, if the write could work, i would only recover the file list i see?

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

Re: Testdisk finds partition, writes, but nothing happens

#4 Post by Fiona »

Any background process like antivirus etc.. can prevent testdisk from writing your MBR and partition table.
In case, check your BIOS that any antivirus and write protection is disabled.

Test it again.

Fiona

trozos
Posts: 6
Joined: 21 May 2014, 13:42

Re: Testdisk finds partition, writes, but nothing happens

#5 Post by trozos »

thanks, as soon as i get home i'll check it on bios
but about the list.. will i recover all the files though
the file list testdisk shows is incomplete?

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

Re: Testdisk finds partition, writes, but nothing happens

#6 Post by Fiona »

If you mark that single dot in the upper area of your testdisk display, you'll mark the whole drive to copy all data off.
If copy process is complete you can check the content of your copied files.
Please don't copy any file to your affected disk but to a healthy partition or disk.

Fiona

trozos
Posts: 6
Joined: 21 May 2014, 13:42

Re: Testdisk finds partition, writes, but nothing happens

#7 Post by trozos »

Thanks Fiona, but i did'nt see no dot to be marked in the upper area on Testdisk..

I used, pressing 'a' to select all the files and then 'C' to copy all selected files
to a new 1Tb hard disk.. after hours it finally just copied the incomplete list it showed..

Please, where is that dot that would select all the drive, not just the listed files..

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

Re: Testdisk finds partition, writes, but nothing happens

#8 Post by Fiona »

sry for your inconvenience!
Newer version, you can press a to select all files.
Previous or pretty old versions it was possible to select all files using that one dot!
testdiskcopy.png
testdiskcopy.png (19.48 KiB) Viewed 6808 times
Like on my picture and the highlighted line.
Pressing a to select all files is more clearly!

Fiona

trozos
Posts: 6
Joined: 21 May 2014, 13:42

Re: Testdisk finds partition, writes, but nothing happens

#9 Post by trozos »

I'm using testdisk 7.0.
I might be doing something wrong..
Why the file list it shows its so incomplete ?? ( i use arrow keys up and down )

Summing up:
- deep scan
- 'a' to select all files
- 'C' to copy to a new drive

The lost partition has about 800 gb of content, testdisk recover about 150 gb.

The drive seems to have bad sectors, so I might not recover all the content.

I've been testing few different softwares as recuva, active partition recover, stellar phoenix..
Most of them list all my content; even copy to a new drive, without errors, a 50 gb single folder testdisk doesn't show..

I would like to be able to 'write' and recover the hard disk partition if it's possible
should I post some pics?
Please, what should i do?

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

Re: Testdisk finds partition, writes, but nothing happens

#10 Post by Fiona »

If testdisk doesn't list all files, might be related to a damaged file system or bad sectors?
In case, datrecovery software can help.
PhotoRec would be worth a try.
It doesn't keep directories, folder and file names.
Would be a good idea if you'd like to recover pictures, mp3 etc..
Information here;
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec
You can determine which filetypes you'd like to recover using "FileOpt"
Pressing s deselects all filetypes and you can check only these filetypes where you'd like to recover.

Fiona

Locked