Solved External USB HDD changed from NTFS to RAW

[WinDozeUser]

I have a:
Seagate BarraCuda Green ST1500DL003 1.5TB
5900 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s
3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive


It was formatted as NTFS and partitioned. One partition does not show up at all, a second one shows up as Unallocated with no drive letter, and a third partition shows up as having a drive letter, but with the RAW file system/not NTFS. Below is a "Computer Management" view:



DISK 2 is the drive in question...

View attachment 401901

Some posts here on this topic mentioned possible ways to recover these partitions.
I have Partition Wizard 10.2 with Partition Recovery options. So I opened it up and started a quick scan.
The image below is what I remember the Drive partitions to be except the "Unallocated 472.3GB" Drive should be labeled SOFTWARE.

View attachment 401902

Should I select "Apply" to start this recovery??? Don't want to mess this up. Or should I run the advanced scan first?

Thanks


Wanted to check here before I run this software for a fix.

 

[Megahertz07]

Don't use external links to post images. Use the paper clip on the top right menu.

Don't try to fix it.
First post an full image of Disk management Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[jumanji]

I shall await for a proper Windows Disk Management screenshot.

How to post a proper screen capture image of your Disk Management screen

Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Help Forums

Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums - Windows 7 Help Forums

Next uninstall Partition Wizard Free 10.2. Partition Recovery is not free from ver 10.0 and above. Download and install version 9.1 from MiniTool Partition Wizard Free 10.2.2 Download for Windows / Old Versions / FileHorse.com

Run it and post a screenshot of how your problem drive looks in it - the very first screen when you launch it.(Please remove all other external drives and flash drives. Have only the problem drive plugged in when you take the above screenshots)

Do not attempt any data recovery on your own.You will be doing so at your own risk.

 

[WinDozeUser]

Disregard the previous img posts. I am moving this operation to my fastest computer.
The Partition Wizard version I have is 1.2.2 Pro, so it has no restrictions.
Will post pics as soon as I do a scan.

 

[WinDozeUser]

Computer Management(Windows)(Disk 6 is the drive in question)


Here are some images from PW scans...

Partition Wizard - Overview (Disk 3 is the Drive in question)


Partition Wizard - Simple Scan - full disk

Things look pretty good here. The "Unallocated" space(472.3GB) should be the partition labeled SOFTWARE.

Partition Wizard - Full Scan - full disk
coming shortly...well not exactly!

In progress(Full Scan)

The Lost/Deleted listing occurs a lot in FULL SCAN Mode as I was scanning last night. Each Lost/Delete listing seems to be the same...Label/Used Size/Size - Boot/2.45MB/3.01MB

Q: Do I really need a full scan? @ current rate the FULL SCAN may take up to 20hrs to complete.

Q: Would making a image of this disk insure no data loss prior to making any "fixes?" (Backup software like Acronis True Image) In other words, If the attempt to rebuild partition info fails, restoring an image to the drive could be restored to pre fix state. Or will the MBR be messed up after restore?

Appreciate the help Megahertz07 & jumanji

 

[jumanji]

Edit: You can quit full scan. No use of it.

"It was formatted as NTFS and partitioned. One partition does not show up at all, a second one shows up as Unallocated with no drive letter, and a third partition shows up as having a drive letter, but with the RAW file system/not NTFS. Below is a "Computer Management" view:"

Your above description in the first post does not match fully with the screenshot of Windows Disk Management. Never mind.

1. In the PW searched partitions list where you have put a tick mark, double click on each partition and see whether it shows all your files ( It is clearly mentioned there. and if you aren't a "junior Windows user" you shouldn't have clearly missed it )

2. At the moment I don't think you need to image your whole drive. If at all I would take an image of sector 0 MBR + Partition tables) and keep it. If during fixing it up we botch it,we can restore it from the backup. Again if you aren't a "junior Windows user" you shouldn't have clearly missed it ) Don't take it seriously. Just pulling your legs .

3. Quick Scan did not find the volume boot record of your 472.3 GB Software partition and that is why it remains unallocated. I would rather try to find out if it is really missing or corrupted and if so what is the status of the backup boot sector, using TestDisk for Windows. If you are going to jump at it and download TestDisk, download the stable version 7.0 and not the beta 7.1. If you are going to experiment with it, go ahead and do but do not give any write command to write the partition table.

4. Already bedtime for me. So wait till my tom morning to give further instructions.

 

[jumanji]

OK, go with my post #8 here error on new Samsung 850 EVO NAND SSD Solved - Windows 7 Help Forums and post the screen #5. I shall see it tom morning.

 

[WinDozeUser]

OK, here are some images of TestDisk 7.0





Performed a QuickSearch

Had the above errors and decided not to "Continue"
The computer is idle with TestDisk still at the previous screen. I now consider myself a novice when it comes to MBR repair!! Waiting for reply before proceeding.

FYI:
Had run a "Surface Test" with Partition Wizard yesterday which revealed 3000+ errors, but did not fix them.
...in case this is of value.

View attachment testdisk.log

 

[jumanji]

You can close TestDisk anytime by clicking on the X in the top right of Title bar. Close it now.

Are you following the exact sequence as in my post error on new Samsung 850 EVO NAND SSD Solved - Windows 7 Help Forums

Please run TestDisk again, take a screenshot of each and every screen as you proceed and post it in sequence ( Take the screenshot before you hit enter on each screen). Otherwise I won't be able to determine whether you are on the right course - given your screenshots vary from what I expect.

 

[WinDozeUser]

You can close TestDisk anytime by clicking on the X in the top right of Title bar. Close it now.

Are you following the exact sequence as in my post error on new Samsung 850 EVO NAND SSD Solved - Windows 7 Help Forums

Please run TestDisk again, take a screenshot of each and every screen as you proceed and post it in sequence. Otherwise I won't be able to determine whether you are on the right course.

Working on it right now...

 

[WinDozeUser]

1


2

Drive C, D, & K are on the computer I am using... F is the drive in question, thought the size is way off

3


4


5

There is no "List" option Partition list does not look right at all.

 

[jumanji]

OK. It detects only the first 32GB partition. No use.

Is your drive deteriorating??????????

Go back to PW, do a Quick Scan again and post a screenshot of partitions found Window. ( You can tick all the partitions and take the screenshot but do not APPLY) I have noted that you have the Pro version. So yes, no restrictions.

Double click on all the partitions ticked and check whether the explorer shows all your files and report.

If you want you may go to sleep now and do it in the morning. ( I presume the local time indicated is correct)

 

[WinDozeUser]

PW Quick Scan


Files look OK

Funny thing...I scanned the drive with Partition Guru and it showed only the "Software" partition and files were accessible for viewing! All the partitions and file seen in the PW Scan did not show up!


Partition Size of the "Software" Partition was far greater than 32GB, 742.3GB as seen in the Unallocated PW Scan.

 

[jumanji]

"I scanned the drive with Partition Guru and it showed only the "Software" partition and files were accessible for viewing! All the partitions and file seen in the PW Scan did not show up!"

OK, how important are those files in Software partition for you? I am not conversant with Partition Guru and so cannot advise you anything on it. (Actually Partition Guru shows you only the 32GB partition and not the 472.3GB Software partition.)

SIW2 is the Partition Guru. May be he can help you on it if he is looking into this thread.

On my part I would like to restore all the other partitions except that unallocated partition but not before I capture and save sector 0 before I order you to APPLY it with PW. (FYI Sector 0 contains the MBR code and Partition table/s. PW will write the new partition table/s into it.)

To save sector 0, you have to use bootice. Download x64 or x86 as per your system Windows bit version and save sector 0 . Help: Post #7 here Lost partitions! Solved - Windows 7 Help Forums Also save sector 63

Post the screenshots of Sector 0 and sector 63 for the record and my perusal.

( Make sure those are backed up. By default it is saved in the bootice folder. File size: 512 bytes)

Once you have saved sector 0 and sector 63, you can run PW Quickscan and APPLY to write the partition tables in sector 0. You may need to assign drive letters. After applying, right click on the partitions without drive letters and assign a drive letter/s.

Once the process is complete we may turn our attention to the Unallocated Software partition and try to recover it if possible.

 

[jumanji]

I also need some clarifications:

Were the 32GB partition and the adjacent 472.3 GB partiiion ( now showing unallocated) existing before when the drive was working properly? Did those have distinct and seperate drive letters?

In all how many partitions were there when it was working normally?

Was there any extended partition and logical partitions in it?

You say it is a bare internal drive Seagate Barracuda. How come it is a USB external drive? Was this drive working properly in that external enclosure before?

Is it still in that external enclosure?

Answer these questions before you run Quick Scan and apply.

If it was being used as an internal drive before, it will be worthwhile to put it back as as an internal drive in its original location and check whether everything is alright.

 

[WinDozeUser]

I also need some clarifications:

[I]"Were the 32GB partition and the adjacent 472.3 GB partition ( now showing unallocated) existing before when the drive was working properly? Did those have distinct and separate drive letters?"
[/I]
I honestly don't remember a 32GB partition It could be valid, but am not sure

[I]"In all how many partitions were there when it was working normally?"
Partitions were(to the best of my knowledge):
1 SOFTWARE (Likely 742GB)
2 MUSIC 797GB
3 EBOOKS 74GB
4 MY-DATA 31GB

"Was there any extended partition and logical partitions in it?"
It was never a Primary drive, so I am thinking they are all Logical Drives. Not sure if any were extended

You say it is a bare internal drive Seagate Barracuda. How come it is a USB external drive? Was this drive working properly in that external enclosure before?
This drive is sold as a bare Internal HDD. I bought an external case and used it exclusively as a USB attached external drive. It was working perfect in the external enclosure.


"Is it still in that external enclosure?"
Yes


Answer these questions before you run Quick Scan and apply.

If it was being used as an internal drive before, it will be worthwhile to put it back as as an internal drive in its original location and check whether everything is alright.

The trouble is that the cable has gotten bumped many times and this is what I believe preceded the failure, possible while in the write/read state.

Our time schedules are quite off. Do you have "best hours" when you are able to help. I am able to stay up to as late as 1AM, my time, but generally am not available before 10AM my time.
Thanks

 

[jumanji]

OK, you have answered all the questions. I would think that the 32GB partition is an anamoly. That plus the adjoining 472.3GB must have been one single partition before.

Now go ahead using bootice post the screenshots of sector 0 and sector 63 and save those.

Once done run Quickscan, put a tick mark on all partitions in the list view the disk map below the list and if it is the same as before, go ahead and Apply. Should there be any error or cautionary message capture it and post. (I would believe that there will be none). Then assign drive letters where necessary.

After that post a screenshot of Windows Disk Management and also PW.

After analysing sector 0 and sector 63 screenshots we shall decide what further should be done. I may take sometime to mull over it and crystallise my ideas.

Now let me hear some music and refresh myself.

 

[WinDozeUser]

Images:
Overview


MBR Sector 0


Sector 63


Not sure why these images are not viewable on post..?

Before I physically change anything...The backup of sector 0 & sector 63 will enable me to restore to pre-altered state??

 

[WinDozeUser]

Also:


"Make sure those are backed up. By default it is saved in the bootice folder. File size: 512 bytes"
This does not appear to be the case...

Sweet Dreams, jumanji
I am going to use Partition Guru to copy all file in the Unallocated space(742.3GB) to a 4TB drive via the PG interface. It seems to be working great, so maybe we can ignore the partition when making changes with PW. Am waiting for an educated guess on weather the backups of the MBR 0 & Sector 63 via BootIce is reasonable before proceeding. I'll update this reply when the "Unallocated (SOFTWARE)" data is complete.

really appreciate your help.

NOTE: All files from the "unallocated" partition (the folder called SOFTWARE) are not copied to a 4TB dive successfully. Total real-estate was 468GB. I no longer have to worry about these files.

 

[jumanji]

Glad you are able to copy all files in the Unallocated space(742.3GB) with PG EDIT: Or was it not?

Now go ahead with partition recovery with Partition Wizard. That should write the three 16 byte partition tables in sector 0 ( which is missing now)

After that post the screenshot of Windows Disk Management. That should tell us whether we can make the whole 32GB + 472.3GB into unallocated so that we can format it as one single partition without taking recourse to bootice..

.........shall continue after a short break.