External HDD - K:/ is not accessible

Hi.
I followed from post 17 as you said and everything was the same with mine up to post 33
mine showed as follows:

OK, we are landing into an uncharted territory.

For the time being, move to

• with the right arrow, press enter and check whether it lists the files.
  
  Post the ensuing screenshot.

Not so good I guess

Quit Test Disk.

Now download and run Getdataback simple and check whether you can see the files. This program does not write anything to the drive. So you need not worry about making any mistakes.

jumanji said:

Quit Test Disk.

Now download and run Getdataback simple and check whether you can see the files. This program does not write anything to the drive. So you need not worry about making any mistakes.

Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for your help so far.
It seems that most of the files are still obtainable through getdataback

During all this sorting out I have retrieved most of the important data from other drives and had to redesign some posters and leaflets I made
Unfortunately I can't really afford $79 to retrieve what is left. Not because I don't think that the program is worth it but for just one folder there that is still really important but not important enough for that kind of spend. Not for a one time use
If there is another way to retrieve it that would be great otherwise I'll have to let it go

I understand.

What is the file format you want to recover?

Check whether that file format can be retrieved by PhotoRec. File Formats Recovered By PhotoRec - CGSecurity ( For some reason I am unable to open any TestDisk site)

If it is listed then you can use PhotoRec to recover it.

And we haven't finished with TestDisk yet . I just diverted you to Getdataback simple just to confirm that the files(data) are still available.

According to cgrenier, the author of TestDisk in a situation where BootSector and Backup boot sector are OK, but Sectors are not identical "Run TestDisk, Advanced, select the NTFS partition, Boot, RebuildBS, List. If you can see your files, choose Write, confirm, Quit and reboot"

I just took time to find out which option we should choose. So go back to the screen at post#21 above and then "RebuildBS(enter), List(enter). If you can see your files, choose Write(enter), confirm(say Yes), Quit and reboot"

If the files are not listed, do not Write. ( As a matter of fact even if you rebuild the BS and write confirm, it will not affect the data.It only writes the rebuilt NTFS file system to the first sector of that partition.)

You lose nothing but may regain your drive in toto if it works.

If it does not, go to PhotoRec. http://www.sevenforums.com/software/193467-guide-using-photorec-recovery-software.html PhotoRec does not write anything to the drive and hence absolutely safe to make any mistakes.

Just because I'm curious I see this in the pictures in post 19. Will this cause problems?

[MAC 1 Apple partition map.

Thanks again to jumanji
I did what you said and went out to work leaving it to run
I forgot to adjust power settings so my laptop went to sleep
Now I'm having to start over leaving it to run over night
It looks like it will take that long
I'll let you know the outcome

Layback Bear said:

Just because I'm curious I see this in the pictures in post 19. Will this cause problems?

[MAC 1 Apple partition map.

Click to expand...

TestDisk can auto detect the Partition Scheme employed which will automatically be highlighted. In cases where it cannot detect the Partition Scheme in the HDD, the user has to select the Partition Scheme employed, for TestDisk to do its job. Inputting a wrong Partition Scheme will result in TestDisk giving any number of Warning messages and it is not going to do its job.

Apple computers use three types of Partition Schemes while formatting. Apple Partition Types on the Hard Drive

Intel based Macs use GUID. Older Power-PC based macs use Apple Partition Map. Macs also facilitate MBR formatting for HDDs to be used on Windows PCs. The user should know what partitioning scheme is employed in the HDD being recovered and input(highlight) the correct scheme. Inputting a wrong scheme, will only result in warning messages.

According to the Partition Scheme used the user has to select EFI GPT ( Intel based Mac i386 -GUID) Or Mac ( Power PC Mac - Apple Partition Map) or Intel ( MBR formatted on Macs)

Thanks for the info. One more question for now.

Will Windows 7 be able to read and handle [MAC 1 Apple partition map.

Windows cannot handle legacy Apple Partition Map. But can, with appropriate software like Paragon HFS+ for Windows. HFS+ for Windows® 10 - Overview There may be some freeware also which I remember to have recommended to an OP, but do not remember now . Basically I do not know much about Apples except that there are many varieties available in the market, like Fuji apple, Simla apple,, Washington etc., - the fruits.