Lost 10GB of data, lost for good?

katchin · 05-13-2008, 05:26 PM

hi, i bought a new 750G WD WD7500AACS EcoGreen HD today and installed it, I could see it in bios, but not fully in windows,I was informed I had to initiate the drive and partition/format it.

I did this by start/run then typing cmd
then typing diskmgmt

the missing drive showed here, but as inactive. I right clicked it and initiated it, then formatted it (NTFS).

All seemed good, as it now showed fully and read correct sizes and so on in windows. So I went ahead and transferred a large folder to the new drive, when it completed I fired up BF2142 for a hours carnage.

After an hour / 90mins, I was about to do more transfers/installs when I noticed no directory on E drive called Transfer (the previous name). I had a look on D drive where it had been, no folder there either.

So I did a search, I found the correct file names listed under recently modified, but showing properties on these files showed the previous location on D drive, and attempting to do anything other with the files bring up an error message saying not a valid location.

So...........Are these files lost for good?
If so, how did this happen?

Jack.Sparrow · 05-13-2008, 07:38 PM

Hello.

I'm guessing the files got deleted when you formatted the drive.

They may not be lost for good, you could trying using a data decovery program, such as testdisk - http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk to see if you can get your data back.

When you download the files, you'll get a program called PhotoRec, I'd suggest using that :)
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step is a step by step guide.

Post back if you need more info or help with certain steps. I'm still learning how to use the program myself but there are more 'qualified' people here that should be able to help you out

katchin · 05-13-2008, 07:47 PM

hi, the files were not transferred onto the drive until after the format.

Jack.Sparrow · 05-13-2008, 07:51 PM

Oh, sorry. I didn't read your post correctly

.

I don't have any ideas about if you can or can not get the lost files back. Hang around till the hardware guys get back

If there's an answer, they'll have it.

**eneles** · 05-13-2008, 10:34 PM

Hi,

Download the Windows version of TestDisk.
Unzip the downloaded file to your C: drive.
Open C:\testdisk-6.9\win > double click the "testdisk_win" icon.

The program runs in a command window and doesn't have to be installed.

Each of the steps (A, B, C etc) below corresponds to a new TestDisk window.
Use the keyboard's arrow keys to navigate.

A. At the first window, select “No Log” and press the <Enter> key.
B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>.
C. Select partition type – Intel if it’s a PC then <Enter>.
D. Select “Analyse” then <Enter>. The drive will be analysed.
E. Select “Backup” at the next screen, then <Enter>.
F. Press “Y” if the partitions were created under Vista – “N” if not.
G. Select which partition to analyse and press <P> to list any files in the partition.

Can you see the "Transfer" folder?

katchin · 05-14-2008, 02:50 AM

ok, done that, the folder is not listed anywhere on E drive where it should be. I ran the program on D drive though, and the folder is listed there as a .lnk file. I'm guessing this is bad?

**eneles** · 05-14-2008, 05:12 AM

It doesn't look too good.

Try GetDataBack.
See if it finds the folder/files, but don't buy the program yet.

05-13-2008, 05:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
katchin Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 72 OS: Vista 64 My System	Lost 10GB of data, lost for good? hi, i bought a new 750G WD WD7500AACS EcoGreen HD today and installed it, I could see it in bios, but not fully in windows,I was informed I had to initiate the drive and partition/format it. I did this by start/run then typing cmd then typing diskmgmt the missing drive showed here, but as inactive. I right clicked it and initiated it, then formatted it (NTFS). All seemed good, as it now showed fully and read correct sizes and so on in windows. So I went ahead and transferred a large folder to the new drive, when it completed I fired up BF2142 for a hours carnage. After an hour / 90mins, I was about to do more transfers/installs when I noticed no directory on E drive called Transfer (the previous name). I had a look on D drive where it had been, no folder there either. So I did a search, I found the correct file names listed under recently modified, but showing properties on these files showed the previous location on D drive, and attempting to do anything other with the files bring up an error message saying not a valid location. So...........Are these files lost for good? If so, how did this happen?

05-13-2008, 07:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jack.Sparrow Resident Pirate Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Qld, Aus Posts: 15,609 OS: XP SP2/Vista SP1 My System Blog Entries: 6	Re: Lost 10GB of data, lost for good? Hello. I'm guessing the files got deleted when you formatted the drive. They may not be lost for good, you could trying using a data decovery program, such as testdisk - http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk to see if you can get your data back. When you download the files, you'll get a program called PhotoRec, I'd suggest using that :) http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step is a step by step guide. Post back if you need more info or help with certain steps. I'm still learning how to use the program myself but there are more 'qualified' people here that should be able to help you out __________________ The Joker: I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you... stranger.

05-13-2008, 07:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
katchin Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 72 OS: Vista 64 My System	Re: Lost 10GB of data, lost for good? hi, the files were not transferred onto the drive until after the format.

05-13-2008, 07:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jack.Sparrow Resident Pirate Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Qld, Aus Posts: 15,609 OS: XP SP2/Vista SP1 My System Blog Entries: 6	Re: Lost 10GB of data, lost for good? Oh, sorry. I didn't read your post correctly . I don't have any ideas about if you can or can not get the lost files back. Hang around till the hardware guys get back If there's an answer, they'll have it. __________________ The Joker: I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you... stranger.

05-13-2008, 10:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
eneles Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sweden/Denmark Posts: 21,209 OS: 98SE/XP SP3/Vista SP1/Ubuntu 8.04 My System	Re: Lost 10GB of data, lost for good? Hi, Download the Windows version of TestDisk. Unzip the downloaded file to your C: drive. Open C:\testdisk-6.9\win > double click the "testdisk_win" icon. The program runs in a command window and doesn't have to be installed. Each of the steps (A, B, C etc) below corresponds to a new TestDisk window. Use the keyboard's arrow keys to navigate. A. At the first window, select “No Log” and press the <Enter> key. B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>. C. Select partition type – Intel if it’s a PC then <Enter>. D. Select “Analyse” then <Enter>. The drive will be analysed. E. Select “Backup” at the next screen, then <Enter>. F. Press “Y” if the partitions were created under Vista – “N” if not. G. Select which partition to analyse and press <P> to list any files in the partition. Can you see the "Transfer" folder? __________________ Click the banner for links

05-14-2008, 02:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
katchin Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 72 OS: Vista 64 My System	Re: Lost 10GB of data, lost for good? ok, done that, the folder is not listed anywhere on E drive where it should be. I ran the program on D drive though, and the folder is listed there as a .lnk file. I'm guessing this is bad?

05-14-2008, 05:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
eneles Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sweden/Denmark Posts: 21,209 OS: 98SE/XP SP3/Vista SP1/Ubuntu 8.04 My System	Re: Lost 10GB of data, lost for good? It doesn't look too good. Try GetDataBack. See if it finds the folder/files, but don't buy the program yet. __________________ Click the banner for links