120GB Seagate IDE drv reporting as 31GB

How to use TestDisk to recover lost partition
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kbarb
Posts: 12
Joined: 13 Mar 2012, 01:28

120GB Seagate IDE drv reporting as 31GB

#1 Post by kbarb »

This is not particularly important as I'm just trying to wipe a drive to donate or recycle it.

But I have a 120GB Seagate IDE drive that's reporting as only 31GB.
Reporting, that is, by Testdisk and any Windows program or Linux partitioning app I've tried.

I think the problem has to do with a time when I formatted it to HFS+, although I don't remember under which OS, possibly a Mac (which I wouldn't have any more.)

I tried writing a regular Intel/PC MBR to it with TestDisk, deleting and recreating partitions, to no avail.

I only want to restore access to the full drive so I can wipe it.

Any ideas how to approach it ?

Thanks !

Kent
San Francisco
Last edited by kbarb on 04 Feb 2021, 07:27, edited 1 time in total.
recuperation
Posts: 3026
Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 09:48
Location: Hannover, Deutschland (Germany, Allemagne)

Re: 120GB Seagate IDE drv reporting as 31GB

#2 Post by recuperation »

Kent, please consult another forum for this question as it's not a Testdisk related question - thank you.
kbarb
Posts: 12
Joined: 13 Mar 2012, 01:28

Re: 120GB Seagate IDE drv reporting as 31GB

#3 Post by kbarb »

Hmm, Ok.
I'm thinking the problem has something to do with MBR or partition tables, or disk geometry.
I thought perhaps TestDisk, being what it is, could find what's wrong with those areas of the disk, and perhaps reset and write correct information.
It does have way to input disk geometry, but that's a bit beyond my level of expertise.
Anyway, you're thinking it's not TestDisk's bailiwick ?
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