Lost EVERYTHING by using 'diskpart - clear'. Help??

MrJay7891 · 23 Mar 2014

Hi guys,

I am pretty sure I have lost everything and there is no way of getting back, but still I am reaching out to you all as a last resort. I am so depressed right now, I have lost so many important documents, along with pics and videos of my son. I know it's my own stupid fault though.

Long story short, I was preparing to install Windows 8 and decided to put all my data on a separate partition. I already had 2 other separate partitions filled with other data too. So I got to the start of the installation when I got the error message 'Windows cannot be installed on this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style'. I then looked up how to resolve this and mistakenly chose the method of using the Command Prompt and typing 'diskpart' > list disk > select disk 0 > clean. (I now know I should have entered convert mbr). After that I saw all the partitions I had created had disappeared, I tried to restart my computer but I can only assume my installation of windows 7 had gone too because it wouldn't start up, I got an error saying the was no boot disk or something like that. So I had to do a clean install of Windows 8.

I have tried using TestDisk and Find and Mount but with no luck. I'm pretty sure your replies are going to confirm my worst fears but I want to be absolutely sure there is nothing else I can do to recover what has been lost.

Thanks all.

SIW2 · 23 Mar 2014

You could try partition recovery module on the free Home version of partition wizard ( PW). If you can't get into windows, use the PW boot disc.

Best Free Partition Manager Freeware and free partition magic for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition.

whs · 23 Mar 2014

Sad story that proves again how important backups and images are. If those files were precious for you and you did not back them up, you did it to yourself, The OS is easy to replace, but personal files are not.

Try the program SIW2 suggested. There is also Recuva. That may work because you did only a clean and not a clean all. That means all the data is still on the disk but the control records are wiped. That's where Recuva comes in.

Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File and Disk Recovery - Free Download

jumanji · 24 Mar 2014

This is what I will do. :)

Doing diskpart clean only writes zeros in the first sector ( more conventionally called as Sector 0)

In the case of a GPT disk sector 0 contains Protective MBR. And all GPT disks whether single partition or multiple partitions contain only the data highlighted in the following screenshot. ( Taken with Bootice Sector Edit.)

Lost EVERYTHING by using 'diskpart - clear'. Help??-24-03-2014-11-57-45.jpg

On a four partition GPT disk, I deliberately wrote all zeros in the first sector (as the OP did mistakenly) and lost my drive. Not initialised, online, Unallocated. Unfazed, Using bootice, Sector Edit I wrote the relevant data in the correct fields and saved it to the first Sector.

Populating the relevant fields:

Lost EVERYTHING by using 'diskpart - clear'. Help??-24-03-2014-12-26-35.jpg

Voila, I got back my disk. Doesn't take much time. Very few characters (28 to be specific) to type in and then hit save.

(Note: In OP's case he has to attach the drive as a second drive on a PC or put it inside an HDD enclosure and recover.He also says that he had gone ahead and installed Windows 8. What he did to install Windows 8 ( on the same drive ?) is not known. So I would think that taking out the drive and trying data recovery whether he wants to go with Partition Wizard/Recuva or this method is the best option. I only wish he had come here before installing Windows 8. May be I hurried to present this method :), but this should be of help to anyone who has done this on an external drive.)

gregrocker · 24 Mar 2014

Partition Wizard Partition Recovery Wizard - Video Help.

This will always work if you only ran Diskpart CLEAN command, as long as you didn't format.

Not having files backed up is reckless.

MrJay7891 · 24 Mar 2014

SUCCESS!!!

I can't tell you how relieved I am to have found everything again. I used a recovery software called EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. I did a partition recovery scan and there they were, all my old partitions containing all the files I thought were gone for good. Phew!! I've definitely learnt my lesson now, I'm planning on purchasing an external hard drive to back up everything, just to be on the safe side, I'm not risking that again.

Thanks to those who replied. :)