FAT32 partition -- harddisk seems too small

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
Locked
Message
Author
ericjung
Posts: 1
Joined: 21 May 2020, 19:06

FAT32 partition -- harddisk seems too small

#1 Post by ericjung »

Hi,

I have a 4 GB disk with a single FAT32 partition (trying to recover). The drive was never bootable as far as I remember; it was always external USB. I get "harddisk seems too small". I don't have a 26 TB drive :D

Screenshot
Image

When I try to manually create the partition, TestDisk CHS limits prevent me from entering the CHS provided by TestDisk quick search - the ending cylinder value (396645) is too high for TestDisk and it wants to start at cylinder 0.

Log

Code: Select all

Wed May 20 13:34:02 2020
Command line: TestDisk

TestDisk 7.0, Data Recovery Utility, April 2015
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org
OS: Linux, kernel 4.15.0-96-generic (#97-Ubuntu SMP Wed Apr 1 03:25:46 UTC 2020) x86_64
Compiler: GCC 7.2
ext2fs lib: 1.44.1, ntfs lib: libntfs-3g, reiserfs lib: none, ewf lib: none, curses lib: ncurses 6.0
/dev/sda: LBA, HPA, LBA48, DCO support
/dev/sda: size       976773168 sectors
/dev/sda: user_max   976773168 sectors
/dev/sda: native_max 976773168 sectors
/dev/sda: dco        976773168 sectors
Warning: can't get size for Disk /dev/mapper/control - 0 B - 0 sectors, sector size=512
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 500 GB / 465 GiB - CHS 60801 255 63, sector size=512 - TOSHIBA MQ01ACF050, S/N:58QQT5IXT, FW:AV003D
Disk /dev/sdb - 4000 GB / 3726 GiB - CHS 60800 255 63, sector size=4096, FW:4101

Partition table type (auto): Intel
Disk /dev/sdb - 4000 GB / 3726 GiB
Partition table type: Intel

Analyse Disk /dev/sdb - 4000 GB / 3726 GiB - CHS 60800 255 63
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63
BAD_RS LBA=1 0
check_part_i386 1 type EE: no test
Current partition structure:
 1 P EFI GPT                  0   0  2 267349  89  4 4294967295

Bad relative sector.
No partition is bootable

search_part()
Disk /dev/sdb - 4000 GB / 3726 GiB - CHS 60800 255 63
BAD_RS LBA=2484066679 12080435
check_FAT: can't read FAT boot sector
check_part_i386 failed for partition type 0C
     FAT32 LBA            154625 254 53 396645 240 50 3888050416
This partition ends after the disk limits. (start=2484066679, size=3888050416, end=6372117094, disk end=976754646)
Disk /dev/sdb - 4000 GB / 3726 GiB - CHS 60800 255 63
Check the harddisk size: HD jumpers settings, BIOS detection...
The harddisk (4000 GB / 3726 GiB) seems too small! (< 26 TB / 23 TiB)
The following partition can't be recovered:
     FAT32 LBA            154625 254 53 396645 240 50 3888050416
Top
User avatar
cgrenier
Site Admin
Posts: 5432
Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 15:08
Location: Le Perreux Sur Marne, France
Contact:
Contact cgrenier

Re: FAT32 partition -- harddisk seems too small

#2 Post by cgrenier »

Use EFI GPT instead of PC Intel.
Top
PassNGrin
Posts: 32
Joined: 23 May 2020, 23:56

Re: FAT32 partition -- harddisk seems too small

#3 Post by PassNGrin »

Did it work? It sounds similar to my problem: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10145

In my case I did select the GPT type, but I safely exited the program before I could write the partition.

In my case, I only need to write the partition right? Then do BackupBS if the Boot sector is bad and the backup is ok or do rebuildBS if the backup boot sector is also bad?
Top
Locked

Return to “Partition Recovery”