EMpty partition after redistributing free space with paragon manager

[hefestos]

Hi, I´m about to commite suicide so I just wanted to make a final query before I do it.

I have a 320 GB western digital HD, it has windows 7 (x64) in one partition and data in the other.
I used paragon partiton manager to redistribute the free space (don´t ask me why didn´t I use the W7 features please). It did, but the partition with all the data was "not formatted". It showed the exact used and free space (so no data loss) but I couldn´t have acces to it. I manged to convert it to NTFS... still showed the right used and free space, but no luck having acces to the files.

So I used the W7 function to check the disk... and after it finishes it the partition with the data is empty, the OS partition is intact, but the other one is empty.

I tried everything, so I´m not actually asking for a solution, my question is:
Given the fact that I haven´t erased the partition or deteled it or have done anything other than redistribute the free space... will a professional HD recovery be able to restore the filesystem or the files?

Thanks in advance.

 

[gregrocker]

Use free Partition Wizard bootable CD which has helped with hundreds of complicated partitioning operations here without a single failure. Partition Wizard

First from the Wizards tab, run Partition Recovery Wizard to see what it finds. When you identify the lost partition by size and space usage, tick the box next to it and restore it.

If this fails, use the Data Recovery Wizard or Recuva data Recovery software.

In the future, always keep your files backed up externally and ask here for exact steps to repartition or "redistribute free space" (whatever that means).

 

[SIW2]

Might have been a good idea to post screenshots of Paragon and Disk Management windows - before doing anything.

How did you "convert" unformatted partition to ntfs?

Partition managers are powerful tools - best to ask advice before attempting anything.

Certainly worth trying partition undelete - Paragon has that function.

 

[hefestos]

Thanks for the answers.... I did something really stupid I´m aware of that. I was extremely lucky... I managed to recover all the important files with a data recovery soft.
I sure learned something from this:
I WILL NEVER EVER AGAIN MESS WITH HARD DRIVES WITHOUT HAVING A BACKUP!!!!
Really appreciate your advices and comments, I´ll make good use of them right after I back up these precious, heavenly files I recovered.
Thanks a lot.

 

[MilesAhead]

If you use a backup image program I would caution against relying on a "backup capsule" type that stores the backup on a HD special partition. I used this feature quite successfully with Paragon Drive Backup in XP. But I had partition table problems on 2 different Vista machines after creating backup capsules. The Vista NTFS isn't exactly the same as the version used on XP NTFS partitions.

I moved to Macrium Reflect due to another issue, and I got lucky. Doing the restore it gave the option to copy from the backup MBR. It fixed the glitch in my partition table.

Best to use something like an external USB drive.

 

[hefestos]

I´m definitely getting a Usb external drive. Ufff that was close
Thanks.

 

[MilesAhead]

I´m definitely getting a Usb external drive. Ufff that was close
Thanks.

If I can make one more suggestion. Check out some of the docking stations. You can get USB 2.0 docks pretty cheap since USB 3.0 has come online. You can buy a cheap large WD or other internal bare drive, and just plug it into the dock instead of paying for the enclosure. At Walmart you can get a plastic stack of drawers perfect for storing drives while they're not in the dock. The drawer thing costs about $8. Also if you want to be cautious you can get some anti-static bags. But when you buy a bare drive mail-order it usually comes in an anti-static bag anyway. It's a lot more convenient to slide a drive out and put another in than to do all that unplugging and store the external in the box etc.. I know. I had 2 USB externals. Every time I did a backup to the one I kept in storage I had to hook up wires and plug in the power. A pita. With the dock I slide open a drawer and pull a drive out if I have to switch drives.

Swapping external drives with the dock turns an annoying thing into a fun thing. Only thing is most docks don't come with fans so the drive can be a tad hot when you pull it out of the dock. I like the SIIG USB 3.0 docks. They have cooling fans. The drive never gets past blood warm.

Just watch out for some of the online stores. The USB 2.0 docking stations are pretty much obsolete now that USB 3.0 is the new order of the day. But some stores will try to charge the same old price when they should really be dumping the USB 2.0 stuff. They depend on the customer not knowing the difference. USB 3.0 is like 4 or 5 times faster so if you get a USB 2.0 dock make sure you really get a deal on it.

 

[hefestos]

Wowwww, what a great and detailed advice.
I´m from Argentina, so things get a "little" expensive down here, but certainly I will write down the things yo said to have a reference (I know very little about external drives actually).
Really appreciate the time you took and the great advices.
Thanks.

 

[MilesAhead]

No problem. Glad I could be helpful.