How to recover whole harddisk data after clean installation

Hello everyone,

I did clean install and deleted all partition during setup as I have all data backed up in external HD ; the installation ends up with system reserved partition and primary partition C.

Grievously, i could not open the external HD as there is error massage "you need to format disk E (external HD) before you use it" i couldn't , since all data is in there. The external HD perfectly works recently (within 24 hours) tried checking with other machine also shown the same error massage.

I have not installed any program yet as concerning about over written. The previous 500 GB HD before clean install contained C , D , E , F , G , H , I , J partition . I need to recover the data from F , G , H , I , J partition.

What should I do to safely recover the whole HD data from previous partition mentioned above to the same HD (as I have no more external drive supported) and how could I safely access to external HD without formatting , please?

Additionally, I have full version of recovery my files . It helps a lot on recover the formatted partition yet current situation is different , i have never tried recovery the whole formatted HD and have no idea how to use it securely ; therefore, anyone who familiar with this software , please kindly help.

I desperately need assistance and would appreciate all recommendation,

Thank you,

What software did you use to backup your drive?

Does the Linux boot cd for your software recognizes the external drive?

Are the external drives formatted in FAT32 while the system is formatted in NTFS?

Have you tried changing where you plugged in through usb ports? Had that experience but was relieved when I unplugged it from port 1 then plugged it to another. I marked that port for my external as it will not be recognized using other ports. Don't know why though....

You can try to run the free Easeus Partition Master and see if the Partition Recovery Wizard option can access and move the files that you need. Or EaseUS Partition Recovery


Paragon has a good alternative Paragon Partition Manager 11 Personal also if you wanna check it out. Paragon Rescue Kit 11 Free Edition is there but I have not used that(but the info in the website may help you). You'd have to ask SIW2 for that. He might have a couple of tips for your dilemma.

I hope this may help you in any small way.

Goodluck :)

Hello damein76 , thank you for your help

I normally backup OS partition with Acronis true image 2011 and normal syncing to external HD using allwaysync on xp whilst using goodsync on window 7 , the external hard drive is FreeAgent Go™ 500-GB USB 2.0 Drive , i tried checking spec on the website yet i still have no idea what type of the format is , I just did one time format on xp at the first use and have done
normal syncing since then never reformat again.

furthermore, i would prefer recovery from HD first since i didn't complete syncing before external HD problematic incident , please advise the most secure way to do it.

damien76 said:

Does the Linux boot cd for your software recognizes the external drive?

I have no idea what it means , i have never used Linux boot cd

tried changing the USB port yet show the same error massage.

some neccessary applications are installed now (antivirus , firefox , recover my files) hopefully, this does not effect much for recovery.

Thank you for good software suggestion ; however previously (before this incident) , i have tried freeware and trial of EaseUS Partition Recovery , recuva , recover my files (kernell i am not pretty sure since i accidentally deleted recovered folder; therfore, i couldn't compare the files) and i would most prefer recover my files and use this software since then , the most considerable is i already have full version.

I have never tried paragon before ; if there is confirmation that paragon would resolve my difficulty situation , i might try. yet still hope that i could recovery by recover my files.

My problems are

1. I don't know weather the files could recovered from (deleted all partition ) clean install HD since i still do not see the files (i'm recovering now ) from previous partition before clean install

2. I have no more external drive supported, recover my files could be able to recover formatted external HD (in case i did really have to, wish it would not happen) , yet the data on the laptop is more up-to- date that was why i need the first choise and need seggest and confirmation from anyone whoever have had the same incident (and which software is used).

If anyone have another way out or know the free online storage website which offer big enough storage space , please kindly advise,

wishfully i will be lucky enough,

@damien76,

I normally reco ver OS system using bootable media or F11 hot key. Moreover, i tried restoration from external HD (before external HD problematic incident) yet unsuccessful that might because of other factor (which out of the topic) and now i have no more .TIB since all them are in the laptop and external HD which i attempt to recover now.

However from your provided as well as other relevant links suggest me to do as following eventually if i am not mistaken.

- FreeAgent should be reformatted to NTFS
- There should be portable antivirus enventhough external HD is just connected to home systems.
- The system should be altered to AHCI mode for HD performance and wear reduction of the devices.
- Hotswap software had better been used instead of safely remove (weather i am not pretty sure ) yet i tried but still have error massage " FreeAgent cannot be stop because a program is still accessing it" inspite of no error massage previously (before external HD error massage format issue)

edit : use sync and work perfectly now.

Thank you for your recommendation. :)