Should I remake the D: drive?


  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #1

    Should I remake the D: drive?


    Two days ago I accidently formatted my D: drive when trying to format a USB drive. I never used the D: drive for my important folders, so I haven't lost anything I use daily. However, I read that the D: drive usually contains the System Restore information and other back-up data. Should I make a partition for the D drive, and if so, how do I set it up to function automatically as before?
    Thanks for any advice.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,261
    Windows 7 Professional X64
       #2

    Macrium Software

    Once you formatted the D partition, you erased the recovery info.


    Make a backup image now.

    Make a restore CD - instructions on main page.

    If you get a virus, hdd failure, etc, you will restore the image to you C drive and be ready to go in 20 minutes.

    After you create the image , close the box and click Restore and point to where the image is and click Verify.

    This will assure you of having a good backup, should you need it.

    Keep the image on a separate hdd.

    I always make 2 copies ( in case of failure of one of the hdds) and also use internal hdds as I don't trust externals.

    GOOD LUCK.

    BTW - this is a much better solution anyway.

    If you ever had to use the Recovery partition, you would lose all the info on your C drive - programs, data, updates, etc.

    This restored image ( and you should make them often to be current) copies eveything on the hdd.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4,049
    W7 Ultimate SP1, LM19.2 MATE, W10 Home 1703, W10 Pro 1703 VM, #All 64 bit
       #3

    Recuva


    A standard Quick Format won't erase the actual files, only the file index/table.

    You could try using a recovery program like Recuva.
    Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File and Disk Recovery - Free Download

    I used it on one of my external HDDs last week.
    A few minutes after running a Check Disk, which said there were no issues, Windows suddenly claimed that it had no file system.
    Recuva was able to locate almost every file (i.e. only a few were unrecoverable).
      My Computer


  4. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #4

    I would also support the imaging route. Here is how. Recovering the D partition may be possible - I think. But I never had a lot of luck with Recuva. Try AOMEI recovery instead.

    How to Recover Partition with Partition Recovery Wizard in AOMEI Partition Assistant?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thank you all! I tried Recuva, it's found ~10,000 files from "Recovery (//?/)" which I think is the lost drive. I will make an image anyway to prepare for any future bad luck. Do I make a partition and restore these files, or just restore them?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 4,049
    W7 Ultimate SP1, LM19.2 MATE, W10 Home 1703, W10 Pro 1703 VM, #All 64 bit
       #6

    Making a backup image before ...


    Making a backup image before attempting any restore operations is the best course of action.

    I'm not sure how other imaging programs work, but Macrium Reflect lets you:

    • Mount the image as a drive in Windows Explorer
    • Copy files from a back up image (once it's mounted)

    I assume other imaging programs will also allow this.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    That is an excellent point. :) I'll give an update when I make the image tomorrow. Thank you for all your help, PSCO2007, whs, and lehnerus2000!
      My Computer


 

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