Repairing a dual-partitioned drive

[ff1blackmage14]

Hello all. This is my first time posting, so I hope it's okay that I start off with a dire plea for help. And I apologize in advance: I'm no idiot around computers, but I'm also nowhere near an expert at this stuff. I'll try to be as specific as I can.

See, I have this external drive that I got a couple years ago, and it's served me quite well up 'til about last month. I keep most things, including music, sound FX archives, raw footage (I'm a sometime filmmaker), etc. on here, and since I'm switching back and forth between types of computers, I found it useful to have two partitions on the drive: the first PC (FAT32 I believe?) and the other Mac Journaled. I must have disconnected it from my computer without ejecting it a few months ago, because every time I would load it back up, my Windows machine would kind of flip out and say that it was damaged, giving me the option of attempting to repair the disk or ignore it and keep working. I ignored it for a while, because it didn't seem to affect anything, but one day I had a bunch of time on my hands, so I figured - what the heck, let the system try to repair it, right? And yeah, sure, attempt recovery of bad sectors. All of that, just do whatcha gotta do, Windows 7.

Lo and behold, when it's all done with, Windows tries to load it for a while - like a good 15 minutes - until just giving up and saying there's nothing there and telling me I need to format the disk. Luckily I'm not dumb enough to do that, at least not yet. Anyway, this is what it does every time I try to load it back up.

I came upon TestDisk, and I've gone through all the menus, and I feel like I'm doing everything right (I'll post the info file for ya just in case, though I have no idea how that helps) -- I've even gone so far as to accept that it doesn't like my Mac partition, as it considers it a Bad Sector that can only be D (Deleted); I've focused mostly on the Windows half -- but when it asks me to reboot my computer and I do restart, it doesn't seem to do anything after that. What am I doing wrong? I'm running it as an administrator; I'm not sure what else it needs after I restart the system.

Also, I can't clone the drive/copy all the files over (not that I really understand how to do that either), as the drive is 1TB and my computer's HD has about 28 GB free.

HELP ME TESTDISK FORUMITES, YOU'RE MY ONLY HOPE

[Fiona]

I'd need infos in TestDisk from Analyse and Quick Search.
Your affected disk must be selected.
You'll find in your TestDisk folder a file called testdisk.log.
Can you open it using Wordpad and copy and paste the content here?

Fiona

[ff1blackmage14]

Here's the log file. I do hope this helps - thank you so much!

Wed Mar 14 14:21:28 2012
Command line: TestDisk

TestDisk 6.13, Data Recovery Utility, November 2011
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org
OS: Windows 7 (7601) SP1
Compiler: GCC 4.3, Cygwin 1007.7
Compilation date: 2011-11-15T08:36:54
ext2fs lib: 1.41.8, ntfs lib: 10:0:0, reiserfs lib: 0.3.1-rc8, ewf lib: 20100226
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sda)=120034123776
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sdb)=1000204886016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive0)=120034123776
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive1)=1000204886016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\C:)=80773106688
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\D:)=7526936576
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\G:)=678083825664
file_pread(4,1,buffer,234452609(14593/254/63)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,1953536129(121601/254/63)) lseek err Invalid argument
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 120 GB / 111 GiB - CHS 14593 255 63, sector size=512 - WDC WD1200BB-22CAA0, S/N:4457572d414d4338353135393437 035 0 0 0 0, FW:16.06V16
Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63, sector size=512 - Ext Hard Disk
Drive D: - 7526 MB / 7178 MiB - CHS 1794 64 32, sector size=2048 - SONY DVD RW DRU-810A, FW:1.0e

Partition table type (auto): Intel
Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - Ext Hard Disk
Partition table type: Intel
file_pread(5,1,buffer,1953536129(121601/254/63)) lseek err Invalid argument

Analyse Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63
check_FAT: Unusual media descriptor (0xf0!=0xf8)
FAT32 at 0/1/1
Info: size boot_sector 1324379568, partition 1324382472
FAT1 : 32-161659
FAT2 : 161660-323287
start_rootdir : 323288 root cluster : 2
Data : 323288-1324379543
sectors : 1324379568
cluster_size : 64
no_of_cluster : 20688379 (2 - 20688380)
fat_length 161628 calculated 161628
sect/track 32 (FAT) != 63 (HD)
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=2
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=2
Current partition structure:
check_FAT: Unusual media descriptor (0xf0!=0xf8)
Warning: Incorrect number of sectors per track 32 (FAT) != 63 (HD)
1 P FAT32 LBA 0 1 1 82438 254 63 1324382472 [R2D2]
No partition is bootable
Ask the user for vista mode
Computes LBA from CHS for Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121602 255 63
Allow partial last cylinder : Yes
search_vista_part: 1

search_part()
Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121602 255 63
check_FAT: Unusual media descriptor (0xf0!=0xf8)
FAT32 at 0/1/1
FAT1 : 32-161659
FAT2 : 161660-323287
start_rootdir : 323288 root cluster : 2
Data : 323288-1324379543
sectors : 1324379568
cluster_size : 64
no_of_cluster : 20688379 (2 - 20688380)
fat_length 161628 calculated 161628
sect/track 32 (FAT) != 63 (HD)

FAT32 at 0/1/1
FAT32 LBA 0 1 1 82438 208 57 1324379568 [R2D2]
FAT32, 678 GB / 631 GiB

HFS+ magic value at 82438/209/1
part_size 629145528
HFS 82438 209 1 121601 80 60 629145528
HFS+, 322 GB / 299 GiB
file_pread(5,8,buffer,1953525173(121601/81/6)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,1953525181(121601/81/14)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,1953525228(121601/81/61)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,8,buffer,1953525244(121601/82/14)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,11,buffer,1953525291(121601/82/61)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,2,buffer,1953527213(121601/113/30)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,7,buffer,1953525169(121601/81/2)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,1953525184(121601/81/17)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,1953525231(121601/82/1)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,1953525252(121601/82/22)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,1953525302(121601/83/9)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,2,buffer,1953527216(121601/113/33)) lseek err Invalid argument
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=1

Results
FAT32 LBA 0 1 1 82438 254 63 1324382472 [R2D2]
FAT32, 678 GB / 631 GiB
HFS 82438 209 1 121601 254 63 629156493
HFS+, 322 GB / 300 GiB

interface_write()
1 P FAT32 LBA 0 1 1 82438 254 63 1324382472 [R2D2]



Wed Mar 14 15:06:47 2012
Command line: TestDisk

TestDisk 6.13, Data Recovery Utility, November 2011
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org
OS: Windows 7 (7601) SP1
Compiler: GCC 4.3, Cygwin 1007.7
Compilation date: 2011-11-15T08:36:54
ext2fs lib: 1.41.8, ntfs lib: 10:0:0, reiserfs lib: 0.3.1-rc8, ewf lib: 20100226
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sda)=120034123776
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sdb)=1000204886016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive0)=120034123776
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive1)=1000204886016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\C:)=80773106688
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\D:)=7526936576
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\G:)=678083825664
file_pread(4,1,buffer,234452609(14593/254/63)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,1953536129(121601/254/63)) lseek err Invalid argument
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 120 GB / 111 GiB - CHS 14593 255 63, sector size=512 - WDC WD1200BB-22CAA0, S/N:4457572d414d4338353135393437 035 0 0 0 0, FW:16.06V16
Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63, sector size=512 - Ext Hard Disk
Drive D: - 7526 MB / 7178 MiB - CHS 1794 64 32, sector size=2048 - SONY DVD RW DRU-810A, FW:1.0e

Partition table type (auto): Intel
Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - Ext Hard Disk
Partition table type: Intel
file_pread(5,1,buffer,1953536129(121601/254/63)) lseek err Invalid argument

Analyse Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63
check_FAT: Unusual media descriptor (0xf0!=0xf8)
FAT32 at 0/1/1
Info: size boot_sector 1324379568, partition 1324382472
FAT1 : 32-161659
FAT2 : 161660-323287
start_rootdir : 323288 root cluster : 2
Data : 323288-1324379543
sectors : 1324379568
cluster_size : 64
no_of_cluster : 20688379 (2 - 20688380)
fat_length 161628 calculated 161628
sect/track 32 (FAT) != 63 (HD)
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=2
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=2
Current partition structure:
check_FAT: Unusual media descriptor (0xf0!=0xf8)
Warning: Incorrect number of sectors per track 32 (FAT) != 63 (HD)
1 P FAT32 LBA 0 1 1 82438 254 63 1324382472 [R2D2]
No partition is bootable
Ask the user for vista mode
Computes LBA from CHS for Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121602 255 63
Allow partial last cylinder : Yes
search_vista_part: 1

search_part()
Disk /dev/sdb - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121602 255 63
check_FAT: Unusual media descriptor (0xf0!=0xf8)
FAT32 at 0/1/1
FAT1 : 32-161659
FAT2 : 161660-323287
start_rootdir : 323288 root cluster : 2
Data : 323288-1324379543
sectors : 1324379568
cluster_size : 64
no_of_cluster : 20688379 (2 - 20688380)
fat_length 161628 calculated 161628
sect/track 32 (FAT) != 63 (HD)

FAT32 at 0/1/1
FAT32 LBA 0 1 1 82438 208 57 1324379568 [R2D2]
FAT32, 678 GB / 631 GiB

HFS+ magic value at 82438/209/1
part_size 629145528
HFS 82438 209 1 121601 80 60 629145528
HFS+, 322 GB / 299 GiB
file_pread(5,8,buffer,1953525173(121601/81/6)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,1953525181(121601/81/14)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,1953525228(121601/81/61)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,8,buffer,1953525244(121601/82/14)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,11,buffer,1953525291(121601/82/61)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,2,buffer,1953527213(121601/113/30)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,7,buffer,1953525169(121601/81/2)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,1953525184(121601/81/17)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,1953525231(121601/82/1)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,1953525252(121601/82/22)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,1953525302(121601/83/9)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,2,buffer,1953527216(121601/113/33)) lseek err Invalid argument
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=1

Results
FAT32 LBA 0 1 1 82438 254 63 1324382472 [R2D2]
FAT32, 678 GB / 631 GiB
HFS 82438 209 1 121601 254 63 629156493
HFS+, 322 GB / 300 GiB

interface_write()
1 P FAT32 LBA 0 1 1 82438 254 63 1324382472 [R2D2]

[ff1blackmage14]

And here's the Analyze window:

Analyze window 1 (3-16-12).jpg (72.72 KiB) Viewed 14246 times

The Quick Search window shows this:

After quick search 1 (3-16-12).jpg (75.93 KiB) Viewed 14246 times

I do this, and then press Enter:

After quick search 2 (3-16-12).jpg (77.05 KiB) Viewed 14246 times

It asks me to Reboot. I do. When Windows comes back, nothing happens, and I don't know why.

[cgrenier]

In the Options menu, set align partition to no, ANalyse, Quick Search and this time, you should be able to recover both partitions, they shouldn't overlap anymore.

[ff1blackmage14]

Awesome, yeah changing the Options worked; both drives are now recognized.

But the problem still persists: TestDisk still asks me to reboot in order for the changes to take effect (for it to write the new partition structure I assume), but when I reboot, it does nothing. The drive still isn't recognized by Windows; no new structure has been written. Is there something else I am supposed to do, like have TestDisk run at start-up, or something weird like that?

(Also, on a side note, I am not sure which type I am supposed to make each partition. For now, I'm making them both P [Primary], but it seems to want to make the Mac partition L [Logical] and the PC partition * [bootable]. Not sure what difference this makes.)

Once again, thank you thank you thank you!!!

[Fiona]

Looks like that your partitions overlap.
You can try to recover your partitions separately.
First recover your FAT32 partition.
Leave yor HFS+-partition as D for deleted.
Shrink your FAT32 about 8 MB using gparted or EASUS partition manager if you use Win7.
But it's advisable to backup your data before you touch your FAT32-partition.
But be careful not to increase your size, only decrease.
Otherwise you'll write into your HFS+-partition and make it unrecoverable.
Afterwards use TestDisk to recover your HFS+-partition also.
Set it to P for primary.
Then, write both partitions to your partition table.
You must always write all partition to your partition table.
If not, that partition will be not available after recovery.

Fiona

[ff1blackmage14]

Thanks again Fiona. Looks like Monsieur Grenier already spotted that problem and fixed it for me, but I do appreciate it all the same!

My problem now is that nothing writes when I restart my computer. In fact, nothing happens at all. TestDisk promises that the changes will be applied when I reboot, and then it doesn't do anything when I reboot.

[Fiona]

Don't use any antivirus, security suite, norton go back or norton sonar.
Open msconfig.
Disable everything at Start.
Go to services.
Check/ activate "hide microsoft services".
Disable the rest.

Restart your PC.
Try it again.