Partition disappeared!

Tigon_3rd · 06-01-2009, 03:21 AM

I have read the thread about TestDisk and was happy to learn that it might be able to get my data back

Then I run TestDisk and when I choose [Analyse] there is a Warning.
Warning: Incorrect number of heads/cylinder 255 (NTFS) ! = 240 (HD) above each partition.

Then I select [Quick Search] and another Warning pops up.
Warning: the correct number of heads per cylinder is 240 but the correct value may be 255.
You can use the Geometry menu to change this value.
It's something to try if
- some partitions are not found by TestDisk
- or the partition table can not be written because partitions overlaps.

The partition I have are my C and D and Windows Vista starts up fine although I don't have any desktop because my user folders are located on my data partition.

I read that maybe I could loose data if you fiddle with cylinders and such, so now I just though that I might as well ask in here first and since one of the partitions is my OS partition should I run TestDisk from a bootable disk like the Ultimate Boot CD.

**raptor_pa** · 06-01-2009, 05:26 AM

More information about your drive please.. make and model? It sounds like you may have installed the drive using the manufacturer's supplied disk and it may have installed a DCO on the drive to remap cylinders so a large capacity drive is recognized by older BIOS. What is the motherboard/procesor in your system, or if it is a branded PC make and model# of PC?

Tigon_3rd · 06-01-2009, 05:48 AM

My drive is a Western Digital WD5000AAKS-00A7B.
My PC is something I've put together myself.
Motherboard: XFX nForce 780i
CPU: Intel Core2 Extreme X9650 @ 3.00GHz

The thing is it's my own fault because I was the one fiddling with the boot up trying to get Windows 7 RC to Dual boot with my Vista, but now I've learned from the mistakes that I made trying to get it to work.

My MBR and apparently my partition table was compromised during my procedure and at first I couldn't boot anything up. (Windows 7 was installed on a clean new drive, but again my mistake, alone in the PC without any of my other HDD connected.)

I boot'ed and did a system recovery from my Vista disc and that's how I got it running but apparently without the data partition on that drive.

Edit: oh forgot, I used Paragon Partition Manager 9.0 to try and get the dual boot to work and I'm pretty sure that's the thing that messed it up.

**raptor_pa** · 06-01-2009, 07:15 AM

It sounds like you can boot to ista, - post a screen cap from disk management

Tigon_3rd · 06-02-2009, 11:33 AM

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...nagement-1.jpg

**raptor_pa** · 06-02-2009, 12:02 PM

Try right clicking on the partition in Disk management and assign a drive letter from there...

Tigon_3rd · 06-02-2009, 02:10 PM

Are you sure that I don't loose all the data that was on there if I do that?

**raptor_pa** · 06-02-2009, 02:17 PM

ALl you will do is assign the drive letter, should be able to reassign D: if the data is there now, it will be there after you assign a letter. The partition looks intact. it's marked as a primary partition.

Tigon_3rd · 06-02-2009, 03:03 PM

Can't do that it's grey'd out.

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...Assignment.jpg

**raptor_pa** · 06-02-2009, 04:32 PM

Did you set this drive up witht he WD disk that came with it originally? It's starting to look like recovery is about the only option. You can try recuva ( free ) or the demos of r-studio or getdataback and see what files they can find.

Tigon_3rd · 06-02-2009, 06:42 PM

I actually don't care about my Vista install so if I had to do a clean install that'll be fine, that's partly why I've placed it on it's own partition.

Why shouldn't I try TestDisk? Because I actually think it could pull it of.

Or maybe I should try and quick format my Vista install and then try and install Windows 7 again on my new drive but keep the old drives in so that I might be able to see the data that way or???

**raptor_pa** · 06-02-2009, 07:09 PM

Probably won't pick up the partition. If the data is not critical, then give test_disk a shot.

Tigon_3rd · 06-03-2009, 05:38 AM

Here is some pics of what TestDisk is saying:

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w.../TestDisk1.jpg

and this picture of TestDisk is finding the drive and all the files on it:

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w.../TestDisk2.jpg

If I try and do a Recovery with the software that you mentioned, can I then after I've recovered my files still try and fix the problem with TestDisk?

You know all my document folders and such, I've relocated to the now missing partition and that is why things are still f**ked up. So I probably still need to do a clean install of windows anyway.

06-01-2009, 03:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
Tigon_3rd Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Denmark Posts: 7 OS: Vista SP1	Partition disappeared! I have read the thread about TestDisk and was happy to learn that it might be able to get my data back Then I run TestDisk and when I choose [Analyse] there is a Warning. Warning: Incorrect number of heads/cylinder 255 (NTFS) ! = 240 (HD) above each partition. Then I select [Quick Search] and another Warning pops up. Warning: the correct number of heads per cylinder is 240 but the correct value may be 255. You can use the Geometry menu to change this value. It's something to try if - some partitions are not found by TestDisk - or the partition table can not be written because partitions overlaps. The partition I have are my C and D and Windows Vista starts up fine although I don't have any desktop because my user folders are located on my data partition. I read that maybe I could loose data if you fiddle with cylinders and such, so now I just though that I might as well ask in here first and since one of the partitions is my OS partition should I run TestDisk from a bootable disk like the Ultimate Boot CD.

06-01-2009, 05:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,859 OS: XP	Re: Partition disappeared! More information about your drive please.. make and model? It sounds like you may have installed the drive using the manufacturer's supplied disk and it may have installed a DCO on the drive to remap cylinders so a large capacity drive is recognized by older BIOS. What is the motherboard/procesor in your system, or if it is a branded PC make and model# of PC? __________________

06-01-2009, 05:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tigon_3rd Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Denmark Posts: 7 OS: Vista SP1	Re: Partition disappeared! My drive is a Western Digital WD5000AAKS-00A7B. My PC is something I've put together myself. Motherboard: XFX nForce 780i CPU: Intel Core2 Extreme X9650 @ 3.00GHz The thing is it's my own fault because I was the one fiddling with the boot up trying to get Windows 7 RC to Dual boot with my Vista, but now I've learned from the mistakes that I made trying to get it to work. My MBR and apparently my partition table was compromised during my procedure and at first I couldn't boot anything up. (Windows 7 was installed on a clean new drive, but again my mistake, alone in the PC without any of my other HDD connected.) I boot'ed and did a system recovery from my Vista disc and that's how I got it running but apparently without the data partition on that drive. Edit: oh forgot, I used Paragon Partition Manager 9.0 to try and get the dual boot to work and I'm pretty sure that's the thing that messed it up. Last edited by Tigon_3rd; 06-01-2009 at 05:50 AM.

06-01-2009, 07:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,859 OS: XP	Re: Partition disappeared! It sounds like you can boot to ista, - post a screen cap from disk management __________________

06-02-2009, 11:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tigon_3rd Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Denmark Posts: 7 OS: Vista SP1	Re: Partition disappeared! http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...nagement-1.jpg Last edited by Tigon_3rd; 06-02-2009 at 11:38 AM.

06-02-2009, 12:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,859 OS: XP	Re: Partition disappeared! Try right clicking on the partition in Disk management and assign a drive letter from there... __________________

06-02-2009, 02:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tigon_3rd Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Denmark Posts: 7 OS: Vista SP1	Re: Partition disappeared! Are you sure that I don't loose all the data that was on there if I do that?

06-02-2009, 02:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,859 OS: XP	Re: Partition disappeared! ALl you will do is assign the drive letter, should be able to reassign D: if the data is there now, it will be there after you assign a letter. The partition looks intact. it's marked as a primary partition. __________________

06-02-2009, 03:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tigon_3rd Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Denmark Posts: 7 OS: Vista SP1	Re: Partition disappeared! Can't do that it's grey'd out. http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...Assignment.jpg

06-02-2009, 04:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,859 OS: XP	Re: Partition disappeared! Did you set this drive up witht he WD disk that came with it originally? It's starting to look like recovery is about the only option. You can try recuva ( free ) or the demos of r-studio or getdataback and see what files they can find. __________________

06-02-2009, 06:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tigon_3rd Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Denmark Posts: 7 OS: Vista SP1	Re: Partition disappeared! I actually don't care about my Vista install so if I had to do a clean install that'll be fine, that's partly why I've placed it on it's own partition. Why shouldn't I try TestDisk? Because I actually think it could pull it of. Or maybe I should try and quick format my Vista install and then try and install Windows 7 again on my new drive but keep the old drives in so that I might be able to see the data that way or???

06-02-2009, 07:09 PM	#12 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,859 OS: XP	Re: Partition disappeared! Probably won't pick up the partition. If the data is not critical, then give test_disk a shot. __________________

06-03-2009, 05:38 AM	#13 (permalink)
Tigon_3rd Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Denmark Posts: 7 OS: Vista SP1	Re: Partition disappeared! Here is some pics of what TestDisk is saying: http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w.../TestDisk1.jpg and this picture of TestDisk is finding the drive and all the files on it: http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w.../TestDisk2.jpg If I try and do a Recovery with the software that you mentioned, can I then after I've recovered my files still try and fix the problem with TestDisk? You know all my document folders and such, I've relocated to the now missing partition and that is why things are still f**ked up. So I probably still need to do a clean install of windows anyway.