External hard drive mistakenly formatted while creating a bootable key

Using TestDisk to undelete files
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Author
vince99
Posts: 5
Joined: 26 Jul 2023, 17:25

External hard drive mistakenly formatted while creating a bootable key

#1 Post by vince99 »

"Hello,

I created a bootable key to install the latest Linux Mint, and by mistake (in haste), I created the "bootable key" on the 1.5TB HD where I kept my backups. As a result, I lost all my data.

I ran TestDisk, but it couldn't find any partitions initially. Then, while trying to go back (pressing 'q'), it started a 'cylinder analysis'.

The result of this analysis is as follows:

TestDisk 7.1, Data Recovery Utility, July 2019
Christophe GRENIER grenier@cgsecurity.org
https://www.cgsecurity.org

Disk /dev/sda - 1500 GB / 1397 GiB - CHS 182397 255 63

The harddisk (1500 GB / 1397 GiB) seems too small! (< 3000 GB / 2794 GiB)
Check the harddisk size: HD jumper settings, BIOS detection...

The following partition can't be recovered:
Partition Start End Size in sectors

It's better to see it in an image:
Image
testdisk
testdisk
Capture d’écran du 2023-07-26 18-08-41 cadre.png (52.61 KiB) Viewed 16570 times
Does anyone have an idea of what this means?

Could creating a 'bootable key' on my HD interfere with TestDisk's analysis of the disk?

Would it be better for me to remove the Linux installation files from the disk to have a greater chance of data recovery?

Or any other suggestions, of course.

Thank you for your responses.
Last edited by vince99 on 27 Jul 2023, 22:54, edited 1 time in total.

recuperation
Posts: 2737
Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 09:48
Location: Hannover, Deutschland (Germany, Allemagne)

Re: External hard drive mistakenly formatted while creating a bootable key

#2 Post by recuperation »

Please upload your picture on this website using the attachments tab to the left on the bottom of this page.

vince99
Posts: 5
Joined: 26 Jul 2023, 17:25

Re: External hard drive mistakenly formatted while creating a bootable key

#3 Post by vince99 »

I tried a new search by selecting 'EF GPT' and I got the following message:
Capture d’écran du 2023-07-29 13-12-59.png
Capture d’écran du 2023-07-29 13-12-59.png (35.99 KiB) Viewed 16459 times
Should I try selecting other options?

Does anyone have any other ideas?

Thank you.

recuperation
Posts: 2737
Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 09:48
Location: Hannover, Deutschland (Germany, Allemagne)

Re: External hard drive mistakenly formatted while creating a bootable key

#4 Post by recuperation »

vince99 wrote: 27 Jul 2023, 11:43 "Hello,

I created a bootable key to install the latest Linux Mint, and by mistake (in haste), I created the "bootable key" on the 1.5TB HD where I kept my backups. As a result, I lost all my data.

I ran TestDisk, but it couldn't find any partitions initially. Then, while trying to go back (pressing 'q'), it started a 'cylinder analysis'.

The result of this analysis is as follows:

TestDisk 7.1, Data Recovery Utility, July 2019
Christophe GRENIER grenier@cgsecurity.org
https://www.cgsecurity.org

Disk /dev/sda - 1500 GB / 1397 GiB - CHS 182397 255 63

The harddisk (1500 GB / 1397 GiB) seems too small! (< 3000 GB / 2794 GiB)
Check the harddisk size: HD jumper settings, BIOS detection...

The following partition can't be recovered:
Partition Start End Size in sectors

It's better to see it in an image:
Image
Capture d’écran du 2023-07-26 18-08-41 cadre.png
Does anyone have an idea of what this means?
There is a small partition at the end of the disk.

Could creating a 'bootable key' on my HD interfere with TestDisk's analysis of the disk?
You should not create another one before having finished all your recovery efforts.

Would it be better for me to remove the Linux installation files from the disk to have a greater chance of data recovery?
Do not alter the crime scene unless being in certain corner cases where Testdisk is awakening the death.

vince99
Posts: 5
Joined: 26 Jul 2023, 17:25

Re: External hard drive mistakenly formatted while creating a bootable key

#5 Post by vince99 »

Thank you recuperation.
Could creating a 'bootable key' on my HD interfere with TestDisk's analysis of the disk?

You should not create another one before having finished all your recovery efforts.
"Oh no, I don't want to create anything more :? , I just wanted to know if creating the bootable key beforehand could hinder TestDisk's analysis when it is searching for partition table.
I must have made a poor translation.

While searching on this forum, I found Jamsah's case and I was wondering if I could try this solution?
Screenshot 2023-07-29 at 21-00-22 the following partition can't be recovered_ filesystem damaged - cgsecurity.org.png
Screenshot 2023-07-29 at 21-00-22 the following partition can't be recovered_ filesystem damaged - cgsecurity.org.png (114.48 KiB) Viewed 16419 times

Is it dangerous for the data? Should I create an image of the disk first?"

Thank you.

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