Please Help! Lost Partition!

brenryan · 10-05-2006, 08:01 PM

Hi everybody, first time poster sorry no hello/introduction, just gonna jump in. Hopefully somebody will be able to help me, I tried to search to see if this problem has been addressed before, no luck...

Anyway I lost power to my USB 2.0 external 80GB HD (pulled the wrong cord from the tangle beneath my desk, DOH!). So now when I connect the drive and try to access it, My Computer tells me the drive is not formatted, would I like to format it now (NO!!!). I had an old copy of PQ Partition Magic 7 full lying about so I installed it and had a look at the drive. I thought PQ might be able to do something for me, by the way of restoring the partition, no luck there

<img src="http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/5800/screenshotew2.jpg" border="0" alt="/>

As you can see, it says 34,700 is unformatted and about 40 is unallocated, I'm not entirely sure which one holds all my precious files as I was copying stuff to it all day without paying attention, so it could be either.

I've downloaded several programs to help me restore the partition, and they can find all my files just fine, but thats all they've done, if I want to restore them I need a full version of the program. I see them ranging from $29.99 to €99.99, I'm a student and I had beans for dinner so that just isn't an option.

If anybody knows of another way to restore the partition, or of a free utility that will let me, or help me 'aquire' program that will help, I would be very appreciative, many thanks for your time and for reading...

**Cellus** · 10-06-2006, 08:20 PM

Unfortunately because the drive was not properly powered down due to improper disconnection/shutdown, it's possible the File Allocation Table or MFT was damaged. There are programs out there that cost money, as you've seen, that could possibly recover the information, but I am not aware of any free utility that can. If anyone does that's great, but as far as I know there isn't one for Windows that I know of.

**Terrister** · 10-07-2006, 09:28 AM

Try this. http://www.sofotex.com/Partition-Tab...ad_L17602.html

It is not free, but it will tell you if it will work or not before you buy it.

brenryan · 10-08-2006, 09:09 PM

Cheers guys, I have seen already with several programs that all my files are safe, all right where I left them. Then they all ask for a registeration code just when their about to become useful. I think I might have to bite the bullet and actually pay for the software......

I'm sure there used to be some way to remount the partition, I just can't remember it. How was it done in the old days?? There must be some old DOS program somewhere out there.. but maybe if there is, it probably wouldn't work with a drive this big anyway.

I'll keep my hope up for a free solution for another day or so, after that I guess I'll have to try scrape up some cash. Thanks for having a look anyway..,

10-05-2006, 08:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
brenryan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2 OS: XP	Please Help! Lost Partition! Hi everybody, first time poster sorry no hello/introduction, just gonna jump in. Hopefully somebody will be able to help me, I tried to search to see if this problem has been addressed before, no luck... Anyway I lost power to my USB 2.0 external 80GB HD (pulled the wrong cord from the tangle beneath my desk, DOH!). So now when I connect the drive and try to access it, My Computer tells me the drive is not formatted, would I like to format it now (NO!!!). I had an old copy of PQ Partition Magic 7 full lying about so I installed it and had a look at the drive. I thought PQ might be able to do something for me, by the way of restoring the partition, no luck there <img src="http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/5800/screenshotew2.jpg" border="0" alt="/> As you can see, it says 34,700 is unformatted and about 40 is unallocated, I'm not entirely sure which one holds all my precious files as I was copying stuff to it all day without paying attention, so it could be either. I've downloaded several programs to help me restore the partition, and they can find all my files just fine, but thats all they've done, if I want to restore them I need a full version of the program. I see them ranging from $29.99 to €99.99, I'm a student and I had beans for dinner so that just isn't an option. If anybody knows of another way to restore the partition, or of a free utility that will let me, or help me 'aquire' program that will help, I would be very appreciative, many thanks for your time and for reading... Last edited by brenryan; 10-05-2006 at 08:09 PM.

10-06-2006, 08:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,664 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	Unfortunately because the drive was not properly powered down due to improper disconnection/shutdown, it's possible the File Allocation Table or MFT was damaged. There are programs out there that cost money, as you've seen, that could possibly recover the information, but I am not aware of any free utility that can. If anyone does that's great, but as far as I know there isn't one for Windows that I know of. __________________ TSF Networking Team Virus/Trojan/Spyware Removal Help Donate!

10-07-2006, 09:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Try this. http://www.sofotex.com/Partition-Tab...ad_L17602.html It is not free, but it will tell you if it will work or not before you buy it. __________________

10-08-2006, 09:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
brenryan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2 OS: XP	Cheers guys, I have seen already with several programs that all my files are safe, all right where I left them. Then they all ask for a registeration code just when their about to become useful. I think I might have to bite the bullet and actually pay for the software...... I'm sure there used to be some way to remount the partition, I just can't remember it. How was it done in the old days?? There must be some old DOS program somewhere out there.. but maybe if there is, it probably wouldn't work with a drive this big anyway. I'll keep my hope up for a free solution for another day or so, after that I guess I'll have to try scrape up some cash. Thanks for having a look anyway..,