Drive C partition unallocated

jumanji · 13 Feb 2013

jumanji said:

Instead of Recuva - which can run only with Windows and that is closed for you :) - you may go with a live Linux CD/pendrive........

Hi Zirch,

I already told you that Recuva can run only with Windows.

The other thing is that Recuva, if it can, can recover all sorts files. Sameway, even PhotoRec can recover a wide gamut of Archive, Multimedia, Office, and other files. File Formats Recovered By PhotoRec - CGSecurity

Next, there is no paid version of Recuva.

Now don't be in a haste to remove the drive and pluck it into another system.

You can still run Recuva in-situ. Recovering files using Recuva from the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows (UBCD4Win) - myfixlog.com

( I generally don't look into programs that may deviate from what I feel is right.)

sdowney717 · 13 Feb 2013

A testdisk photorec forum

cgsecurity.org • Index page

zirch · 13 Feb 2013

I ran TestDisk another time, did a deep search, and this time it showed all my partitions, including the lost one!

I booted into Linux Mint from a USB drive and I am able to access the files on the C drive. I have already copied the files which I want for backup.

However, Windows 7 would not boot still. I'm thinking that the boot sector is damaged? How can I fix this?

Kaktussoft · 13 Feb 2013

zirch said:

I ran TestDisk another time, did a deep search, and this time it showed all my partitions, including the lost one!

I booted into Linux Mint from a USB drive and I am able to access the files on the C drive. I have already copied the files which I want for backup.

However, Windows 7 would not boot still. I'm thinking that the boot sector is damaged? How can I fix this?

Sure all is back?

Boot from partition wizard CD and make recovered partition primary and then active.
How to set partition as Primary with partition manager?
of course apply the changes. Boot normally. What error do you get now?

zirch · 13 Feb 2013

Kaktussoft said:

zirch said:

I ran TestDisk another time, did a deep search, and this time it showed all my partitions, including the lost one!

I booted into Linux Mint from a USB drive and I am able to access the files on the C drive. I have already copied the files which I want for backup.

However, Windows 7 would not boot still. I'm thinking that the boot sector is damaged? How can I fix this?

Sure all is back?

Boot from partition wizard CD and make recovered partition primary and then active.
How to set partition as Primary with partition manager?
of course apply the changes. Boot normally. What error do you get now?

Yes, all is back.

The partition ACER is both primary and active. When I tried to boot, it shows only a blank screen with a blinking cursor.

There are 4 primary partitions and 1 logical partition. There should not be more than 3 partitions when there is a logical partition?

Drive C partition unallocated-image-5.jpg

Kaktussoft · 13 Feb 2013

If not booting... then boot from win7 install dvd or system repair cd and enter command prompt
Command Prompt at Startup

Code:

dir c:\
dir d:\
dir e:\

What drive letter has your win7 partition? I use K in this example

Code:

bootsect/nt60  K: /force

Now the volume boot sector has been rewritten

Code:

chkdsk/f  K:

any errors? all repaired? If errors... run it again to prove no more errors

Kaktussoft · 13 Feb 2013

zirch said:

Kaktussoft said:

zirch said:

I ran TestDisk another time, did a deep search, and this time it showed all my partitions, including the lost one!

I booted into Linux Mint from a USB drive and I am able to access the files on the C drive. I have already copied the files which I want for backup.

However, Windows 7 would not boot still. I'm thinking that the boot sector is damaged? How can I fix this?

Sure all is back?

Boot from partition wizard CD and make recovered partition primary and then active.
How to set partition as Primary with partition manager?
of course apply the changes. Boot normally. What error do you get now?

Yes, all is back.

The partition ACER is both primary and active. When I tried to boot, it shows only a blank screen with a blinking cursor.

There are 4 primary partitions and 1 logical partition. There should not be more than 3 partitions when there is a logical partition?

8.69GB is just unallocates space. Not a partition at all!
Why is PQSERVICE only 600MB!! Now it's useless for sure. It was 9GB in earlier screenshots. Not a real issue because it's only used to restore to factory settings

Kaktussoft · 13 Feb 2013

to resolve the black screen with blinking cursor...
Boot to recovery environment->command prompt

Code:

 
bootsect/nt60  c:  /force  /mbr

Command succeeds succesfully? Boot normally

zirch · 13 Feb 2013

Kaktussoft said:

to resolve the black screen with blinking cursor...
Boot to recovery environment->command prompt

Code:

 
bootsect/nt60  c:  /force  /mbr

Command succeeds succesfully? Boot normally

Hooray! It boots normally. All the files are still there. Everything works as usual. Though now in My Computer, I see 2 extra partitions that were previously not there. One is a RAW partition 1GB, another is NTFS 3GB. There is also a 8.69GB unallocated space. Is this anything significant?

Anyway, thank you very much for your help. Really appreciate the time you spend to help me. You're my saviour.

Kaktussoft · 13 Feb 2013

zirch said:

Kaktussoft said:

to resolve the black screen with blinking cursor...
Boot to recovery environment->command prompt

Code:

 
bootsect/nt60  c:  /force  /mbr

Command succeeds succesfully? Boot normally

Hooray! It boots normally. All the files are still there. Everything works as usual. Though now in My Computer, I see 2 extra partitions that were previously not there. One is a RAW partition 1GB, another is NTFS 3GB. There is also a 8.69GB unallocated space. Is this anything significant?

Anyway, thank you very much for your help. Really appreciate the time you spend to help me. You're my saviour.

Waht command fixed the blinking cursor problem?

The 3GB partition was there all the time in screenshots. 8.69 belongs in other screenshots to PQSERVICE partition. PQSERVICE isn't needed it's for restore to factory settings. You can reinstall win7 by using DVD and product key anyway. What's on 3GB partition?

Post output of disk management please