WD 2TB external drive unrecoverable

How to use TestDisk to recover lost partition
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vektrex
Posts: 5
Joined: 26 May 2012, 12:50

WD 2TB external drive unrecoverable

#1 Post by vektrex »

Hi all, I have a problem with external 2TB Western Digital drive.
I was coping one file when it stopped and doesn't mount either in windows and in mac os.
I analyzed unsuccessfully 2 times, this is the message.
I changed the geometry of heads and sectors.
What you suggest?
Thank you.
Christian.
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message after 10 hours on deep search
message after 10 hours on deep search
Screen Shot 2012-05-26 at 11.07.49 AM.png (31.15 KiB) Viewed 5179 times

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remy
Posts: 457
Joined: 25 Mar 2012, 10:21
Location: Strasbourg, France.
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Re: WD 2TB external drive unrecoverable

#2 Post by remy »

Did you select intel or EFI ?
What's on the next screen (after continue ?)

vektrex
Posts: 5
Joined: 26 May 2012, 12:50

Re: WD 2TB external drive unrecoverable

#3 Post by vektrex »

Yes I selected intel, cause it's formatted ntfs.
When I continue it says it's too damaged.
Do you think it's possible to recover files using photorec?
I tried but stopped due to the very long process.
Thank you.

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

Re: WD 2TB external drive unrecoverable

#4 Post by Fiona »

Yes of course, if a file system is seriously damaged, you can use PhotoRec to recover files.
But your message or screen only displays an unrecoverable FAT16 partition.
It looks wrong and has no significance.
Probably you should run Deeper Search?
What geometry did you have before you changed it?

Fiona

vektrex
Posts: 5
Joined: 26 May 2012, 12:50

Re: WD 2TB external drive unrecoverable

#5 Post by vektrex »

Hi Fiona, it seems strange to me too.
I changed geometry from 1 to 255 and from 16 to 63.
This was the status before I changed.
I launched 2 times deeper search with the same result.
I thought I could try with photorec, but I need another drive to copy such big files.
What do you suggest ti do before?
Thank you.
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Screen Shot 2012-06-11 at 5.45.08 PM.png
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remy
Posts: 457
Joined: 25 Mar 2012, 10:21
Location: Strasbourg, France.
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Re: WD 2TB external drive unrecoverable

#6 Post by remy »

Would it be possible to try with testdisk windows or linux to compare results on that geometry detection ?

vektrex
Posts: 5
Joined: 26 May 2012, 12:50

Re: WD 2TB external drive unrecoverable

#7 Post by vektrex »

Already tried in windows with same results.
Do you think I have to change again the geometry?

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remy
Posts: 457
Joined: 25 Mar 2012, 10:21
Location: Strasbourg, France.
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Re: WD 2TB external drive unrecoverable

#8 Post by remy »

I'm not sure i understand well your problem : did you tried to list the files of this partition with testdisk (P key) ? Weren't you able to access files ?

vektrex
Posts: 5
Joined: 26 May 2012, 12:50

Re: WD 2TB external drive unrecoverable

#9 Post by vektrex »

yes I tried to list files but without result.
I launched partitionrecovery in windows environment and it found 10 partitions with all files and folders tree but it was impossible to recover them.
What can I do to at least see and copy the files?

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