found partition using table type "none" but can't write Topic is solved

How to use TestDisk to recover lost partition
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jrt1001
Posts: 4
Joined: 28 Apr 2014, 04:50

found partition using table type "none" but can't write

#1 Post by jrt1001 »

Hello.

I am trying to recover a corrupted external hard drive. I have booted testdisk from CD, and setting the partition table type to "none", I am able to see my files. However, the software says that I can't write the partition table when the type is set to "none."

Any idea on what to do?

Thanks a lot,

Jon
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cgrenier
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Re: found partition using table type "none" but can't write

#2 Post by cgrenier »

Please send the testdisk.log file.
If the filesystem isn't located at the first sector, it's a partition. For a partition, you need a partition table, so do not choose None for the partition table type.
jrt1001
Posts: 4
Joined: 28 Apr 2014, 04:50

Re: found partition using table type "none" but can't write

#3 Post by jrt1001 »

Thanks.

I've pasted log file below.

Just fyi, it is a bit of a fancy drive... it has hardware encryption with built in finger-print authentication (MXI Stealth HDBio). There is a "read-only application partition" (~200 MB) and this seems to be working ok as I can load the applications from this part. It is the other part of the drive (~250 GB) with all of the documents etc... that is not working.

Tue Apr 29 01:56:30 2014
Command line: TestDisk

TestDisk 6.14, Data Recovery Utility, July 2013
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org
OS: Linux, kernel 3.10.4-pmagic (#1 SMP Tue Jul 30 10:38:31 CDT 2013) i686
Compiler: GCC 4.8
Compilation date: 2013-07-30T16:08:31
ext2fs lib: 1.42.8, ntfs lib: libntfs-3g, reiserfs lib: 0.3.0.5, ewf lib: none
/dev/sda: LBA, HPA, LBA48, DCO support
/dev/sda: size 490234752 sectors
/dev/sda: user_max 490234752 sectors
/dev/sda: native_max 490234752 sectors
/dev/sda: dco 490234752 sectors
Warning: can't get size for Disk /dev/mapper/control - 0 B - 1 sectors, sector size=512
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 251 GB / 233 GiB - CHS 30515 255 63, sector size=512 - APPLE SSD TS256C, S/N:31IS10I2TLNZ, FW:CJAA0201
Disk /dev/sdb - 249 GB / 232 GiB - CHS 30344 255 63, sector size=512 - McAfee Private, FW:0001
Disk /dev/sr1 - 209 MB / 200 MiB - 102401 sectors (RO), sector size=2048 - McAfee Application, FW:0001

Partition table type (auto): None
Disk /dev/sdb - 249 GB / 232 GiB - McAfee Private
Partition table type: None

Analyse Disk /dev/sdb - 249 GB / 232 GiB - CHS 30344 255 63
FAT32 at 0/0/7
FAT1 : 32-29782
FAT2 : 29783-59533
start_rootdir : 59534 root cluster : 2
Data : 59534-487489421
sectors : 487489536
cluster_size : 128
no_of_cluster : 3808046 (2 - 3808047)
fat_length 29751 calculated 29751
heads/cylinder 1 (FAT) != 255 (HD)
sect/track 1 (FAT) != 63 (HD)
set_FAT_info: name from BS used

FAT32 at 0/0/7


test_FAT()
P FAT32 0 0 1 30344 209 9 487489536 [PRIVATE]
FAT32, blocksize=65536, 249 GB / 232 GiB
sector_size 0
cluster_size 0
reserved 0
fats 0
dir_entries 0
sectors 0
media 00
fat_length 0
secs_track 0
heads 0
hidden 0
total_sect 0
fat32_length 0
flags 0000
version 0.0
root_cluster 0
info_sector 0
backup_boot 0
free_count 2991154
next_free 18736
Current partition structure:
P FAT32 0 0 1 30344 209 9 487489536 [PRIVATE]

search_part()
Disk /dev/sdb - 249 GB / 232 GiB - CHS 30344 255 63
FAT32 at 0/0/7
FAT1 : 32-29782
FAT2 : 29783-59533
start_rootdir : 59534 root cluster : 2
Data : 59534-487489421
sectors : 487489536
cluster_size : 128
no_of_cluster : 3808046 (2 - 3808047)
fat_length 29751 calculated 29751
heads/cylinder 1 (FAT) != 255 (HD)
sect/track 1 (FAT) != 63 (HD)
set_FAT_info: name from BS used

FAT32 at 0/0/7
FAT32 0 0 1 30344 209 9 487489536 [PRIVATE]
FAT32, blocksize=65536, 249 GB / 232 GiB

Results
P FAT32 0 0 1 30344 209 9 487489536 [PRIVATE]
FAT32, blocksize=65536, 249 GB / 232 GiB

interface_write()
P FAT32 0 0 1 30344 209 9 487489536 [PRIVATE]

Write isn't available because the partition table type "None" has been selected.

TestDisk exited normally.

Tue Apr 29 02:02:18 2014
Command line: TestDisk

TestDisk 6.14, Data Recovery Utility, July 2013
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org
OS: Linux, kernel 3.10.4-pmagic (#1 SMP Tue Jul 30 10:38:31 CDT 2013) i686
Compiler: GCC 4.8
Compilation date: 2013-07-30T16:08:31
ext2fs lib: 1.42.8, ntfs lib: libntfs-3g, reiserfs lib: 0.3.0.5, ewf lib: none
/dev/sda: LBA, HPA, LBA48, DCO support
/dev/sda: size 490234752 sectors
/dev/sda: user_max 490234752 sectors
/dev/sda: native_max 490234752 sectors
/dev/sda: dco 490234752 sectors
Warning: can't get size for Disk /dev/mapper/control - 0 B - 1 sectors, sector size=512
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 251 GB / 233 GiB - CHS 30515 255 63, sector size=512 - APPLE SSD TS256C, S/N:31IS10I2TLNZ, FW:CJAA0201
Disk /dev/sdb - 249 GB / 232 GiB - CHS 30344 255 63, sector size=512 - McAfee Private, FW:0001
Disk /dev/sr1 - 209 MB / 200 MiB - 102401 sectors (RO), sector size=2048 - McAfee Application, FW:0001

Partition table type (auto): None
Media is opened in read-only.
Disk /dev/sr1 - 209 MB / 200 MiB (RO) - McAfee Application
Partition table type: None

Analyse Disk /dev/sr1 - 209 MB / 200 MiB - 102401 sectors (RO)
Current partition structure:
P ISO 0 102400 102401 [Application]

search_part()
Disk /dev/sr1 - 209 MB / 200 MiB - 102401 sectors (RO)
file_pread(6,1,buffer,102400(102400/0/1)) read err: Input/output error
file_pread(6,5,buffer,102396(102396/0/1)) read err: Partial read
file_pread(6,2,buffer,102399(102399/0/1)) read err: Partial read
file_pread(6,2,buffer,102399(102399/0/1)) read err: Partial read
file_pread(6,5,buffer,102396(102396/0/1)) read err: Partial read
file_pread(6,1,buffer,102400(102400/0/1)) read err: Input/output error
file_pread(6,1,buffer,102400(102400/0/1)) read err: Input/output error
file_pread(6,2,buffer,102399(102399/0/1)) read err: Partial read

Results

interface_write()

No partition found or selected for recovery

TestDisk exited normally.
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cgrenier
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Re: found partition using table type "none" but can't write

#4 Post by cgrenier »

If you select /dev/sdb, None, Advanced, Boot, List, do you see your files ?
jrt1001
Posts: 4
Joined: 28 Apr 2014, 04:50

Re: found partition using table type "none" but can't write

#5 Post by jrt1001 »

Thanks.
When I do that, I get several error messages (listed below), but I am able to see my files.
What next?

_____________________
Boot sector
Bad

Backup boot sector
Warning: number of heads/cylinder mismatches 1 (FAT) != 255 (HD)
Warning: number of sectors per track mismatches 1 (FAT) != 63 (HD)
OK

First sectors (Boot code and partition information) are not identical.

A valid FAT Boot sector must be present in order to access any data; even if the partition is not bootable.
jrt1001
Posts: 4
Joined: 28 Apr 2014, 04:50

Re: found partition using table type "none" but can't write

#6 Post by jrt1001 »

Christoph, you saved my drive!! Hours and hours of work fully recovered. Thank you SO MUCH!!!!!
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