Recover deleted partition table

I have two hard disk in my computer, Disk0 (500gb) and Disk1 (150gb). Problem is with disk1. 1st it was being used for Windows 7 (EFI, one main primary partition and Windows hidden system partitions) then I formatted it as FAT32 and used for backup and data.

During Windows 8.1 installation, when I was erasing partition on Disk0, accidentally / mistakenly deleted all small partitions on Disk1, didn't touch the bigger main partition of 149gb where the data is stored, now the situation is that in Windows Storage Management it's showing that partition as healthy partition but not as FAT32 but as 'Other' and I can not assign drive latter to it as all options are grayed out.

Tried some data recovery tools, can recover data using some of them but it's messed up, no folder hierarchy, no proper file names, very difficult to sort out, would you please suggest any better option, any way to recover partition to working state, or any data recovery with proper folders hierarchy?

If a partition is deleted but not formatted then it can be recovered using Partition Wizard Partition Recovery Wizard - Video Help.

Try also using PW to assign a drive letter to the data partition. How to Change Letter with partition manager - Partition Wizard Video Help.

If that fails try using Diskpart to assign a drive letter from booted Win7 installer System Recovery Options Command Line: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...=ws.10%29.aspx

A failed partition which cannot be assigned a letter using steps above can sometimes have its table restored using DiskGenius trial.

Once you can assign a letter I'd back up your data which should have already been backed up if it has any value to it, then run Disk Check or Partition Wizard Check File System

gregrocker said:

If all you did is delete the partition then you should be able to recover it with Partition Wizard Partition Recovery Wizard - Video Help.

But if it's formatted then it's lost, and the data may not be recoverable except through expensive forensics-type methods.

Thanks Gregrocker, gonna try this tool. Partition is not formatted and other data recovery can recover data as I wrote above, trying to find some way to restore this partition as FAT32 with folders hierarchy.

Please re-read the thread as a I added more options.

Why did you format FAT32 instead of NTFS? Might make it harder.

gregrocker said:

Please re-read the thread as a I added more options.

Why did you format FAT32 instead of NTFS? Might make it harder.

Actually I was using it on OS X and Windows dual boot setup, OS X cannot write to NTFS, that's why I formatted it as FAT32.

I have EaseUS Partition Recovery Pro, tried it, it shows 6-7 old deleted partition, there's no time or date info about their deletion, no label or any other identification, as I remember there were total three partition on disk, two small hidden and one bigger main partition, so not sure what partitions should I try to restore :)

I have no experience with that Easeus program since we use PW CD here which has never failed while Easeus and all others (besides Disk mgmt) can and will fail with data loss.

If you didn't physically delete the partition then the Partition recovery - which is an undelete function - probably cannot help. I would try the other options to repair the Partition table, then force a drive letter on it to gain access to your data by one of the methods I gave you.

Then wipe the HD and repartition NTFS in Disk Mgmt or during booted Win7 install, being sure to delete all partitions to unallocated space before creating and formatting New.

gregrocker said:

I have no experience with that Easeus program since we use PW CD here which has never failed while Easeus and all others (besides Disk mgmt) can and will fail with data loss.

If you didn't physically delete the partition then the Partition recovery - which is an undelete function - probably cannot help. I would try the other options to repair the Partition table, then force a drive letter on it to gain access to your data by one of the methods I gave you.

Then wipe the HD and repartition NTFS in Disk Mgmt or during booted Win7 install, being sure to delete all partitions to unallocated space before creating and formatting New.

Thanks Rocker, I will try what you suggest, I have PW 7.8, will report you about it.

Power Data Recovery solved my problem. Thanks a lot Gregrocker for your help :)

Did you use Partition Wizard or Power Data Recovery?

The free version of MiniTool Power Data Recovery can only recover 1GB of data. More than that you have to get a license (of course you have to pay for it)

So please clarify exactly what you did and how many GB of data you recovered so that others are not mislead.

Please clarify what exactly solved your problem so it will help others.