External HDD with an strange partition and data starting at 0-1-2??

How to use TestDisk to recover lost partition
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gutisg
Posts: 3
Joined: 05 Apr 2018, 20:23

External HDD with an strange partition and data starting at 0-1-2??

#1 Post by gutisg »

Hello all,

I have an external HDD that has been with me for years with no issue. Suddenly I got the message from Windows of "Please format..." and so on... I had only one partition on it, I used it as a huge pen-drive, that simple.

I run TestDisk-Analyze and I got these 2 partitions:
Partition Start End Size in sectors
1 E extended LBA 0 1 1 182400 254 63 2930272002
No partition is bootable
5 L HPFS - NTFS 0 1 2 182400 254 63 2930272001 [guTi]

I read the manuals and tried to follow the indications: [guTi] partition, which is the "windows name" of the HDD looked fine. I entered the partition and I could list my files. I selected Write and reboot my computer, but nothing happened. I tried it several times without success.

I am quite new on this HDD issues, and I have some questions:
- What is this "E extended LBA" partition? It is 1 byte bigger than the partition that has my files. Is it correct?
- Is it normal that my partition starts at 0-1-2? Shouldn't be other files in first positions of the disk?
- Do you have any suggestion on how to recover the data? It is quite frustrating to be able to see my files and not be able to do anything.


Thanks in advance for your help!
Anyway, great SW :)

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cgrenier
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Re: External HDD with an strange partition and data starting at 0-1-2??

#2 Post by cgrenier »

Run TestDisk 7.1-WIP, Advanced, select your logical partition, Boot, RebuildBS, List. If you can see your files, choose Write, confirm, Quit and restart your computer.

gutisg
Posts: 3
Joined: 05 Apr 2018, 20:23

Re: External HDD with an strange partition and data starting at 0-1-2??

#3 Post by gutisg »

I will try that this weekend, thanks :)
Anyway, the data starting at 0/1/2 is ok?

gutisg
Posts: 3
Joined: 05 Apr 2018, 20:23

Re: External HDD with an strange partition and data starting at 0-1-2??

#4 Post by gutisg »

Hi!
I tested it but got the same result.... Anyway, I could list my files and copy them, so I connected another external HDD and I am moving ALL data.
It is not the "best" solution, and it is taking long time, but I'll be able to recover all my files :) :)

Thanks to the developers :) :) :) :) :)

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