Solved 2tb internal drive unallocated

[Gsearch]

On my desktop PC, I ran a windows update. After the update, the machine would not boot up stating "no operating system"

After trying everything I could, I bought an internal 250gb SSD, put it in the machine, loaded Windows 7 pro 64 bit back on the PC.
I plug in the original 2tb Seagate Baracuda drive and it shows in bios and is listed in disk management as unallocated. There is no drive letter on the drive and it is not listed in MY Computer.

I need the data on this drive.

After reading many thread here (most from 2014) I have looked at and downloaded different software to attempt to fix the drive.

Partition Guru (eassos) listed what seemed to be all the files from the disk. However, in the scan they all lose their names and this would be a tragedy for me.

It seems from what I am reading, that the partition/partitions were deleted?

Mini Tool Partition Wiz stopped working at 85%

At a bit of a loss and throwing myself at the mercy of the experts.

 

[jumanji]

Hi Gsearch,

Welcome to Seven Forums. Windows update causing the PC unbootable is not heard of - atleast till now.. It may just be a coincidence driven by other factors.

Now do not do anything till I return. Most OPs try to do this or that and only make the HDD worse.Just relax.

And tell me which version of MiniTool Partition Wizard you had downloaded.

Will be back after another hour.

 

[Gsearch]

MiniTool ver 10.2.1

I am running Partition GURU test as we speak (sorry, already started it) Just a test though, here are the results thus far. and Thank you very much.

 

[SIW2]

I would suggest Aomei part assist - even the free version does an excellent job with partition recovery.

However, see what Pguru finds since you have already started.

 

[jumanji]

OK Let it complete. When complete post the results. In any case, I may not continue with Partition Guru and I shall go my own way .
Please uninstall PW 10.2.1. Many of the features in it are no longer free. Download and install PW v9.1 from here http://www.filehorse.com/download-partition-wizard-home/old-versions/



OK, apart from 100MB MSR partition, how many partitions did you have ? Can you list alongwith the volume capacity?

How much data in GB do you have in all?

Do you have another External drive with sufficient capacity to copy all that data if it can be recovered?( I am always pessimistic as far as data recovery is concerned - nature of the job )

 

[Gsearch]

Partition Guru finished its search:

 

[jumanji]

OK, I had seen that SIW2 had in the past always recommending Partition Guru. He is more conversant in using Partition Guru. So I would request SIW2 to assist you and continue with Partition Guru.

 

[Gsearch]

I do not know what partitions were on the drive prior to fail.
I do have an external with the capacity to hold any data from the trouble drive.

I have downloaded and installed 9.1

 

[SIW2]

Does it look like it could be the correct layout? Check under the Pguru "files" tab. You should be able to view the files in the virtual partitions.

Only if you are confident, you can confirm. "Unformatted" doesn't look right to me.

Alternatively, you can run Aomei part Assist partition recovery module. It has worked for me when others wouldn't . It recovered "unformatted" as a perfect ntfs partition. It may also work in this case. Worth a try.

Best Free Partition Magic Software & Disk Manager 2017 | AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard

 

[Gsearch]

SIW2, I do not know if it looks correct in layout. I am not sure what partitions were there. I am sure that the Dell partition is correct, it is on most Dell PCs

My Dell laptop has 4. Oem, Recovery, OS, and hibernation

 

[SIW2]

That large virtual partition shows ntfs and unformatted.

Try Aomei - it won't do any harm to run it. It may be able to recover it fully. Run it and see what it says. No changes will be made by Aomei unless you clcik "Apply" at top left.

Try fast search first.

 

[Gsearch]

Ok, so with Pguru what would be the next step.

If not, what are the steps with MiniTool 9.1? I have downloaded it and am at the ready.

EDIT: Sorry, replied to fast. What function on Aomei? Looks like the partition recover wizard will take about a day to run on quick.

 

[SIW2]

Pguru isn't offereing to recover it formatted as it was.

Aomei might.

I doubt part Wiz 9.1 will work, because the recovery module is the same one you used in Part Wiz 10.2

Mini Tool Partition Wiz stopped working at 85%

 

[Gsearch]

Ok, so Aomei.
Run Partition Reco Wizard? Any reasonable estimation of time on the fast scan?

I am running it now.

 

[SIW2]

I used it on 1Tb recently. Can't recall how long, not hours, or I would remember that. A 2tb will take twice as long, presumably.

Just be patient. If it offers to recover as formatted ntfs, everything should be perfect and you won't need file recovery.

 

[Gsearch]

Fast is not an accurate description of this scan.. "faster" than the long scan may be what they mean. lol.
What are all these 3.01 mb partitions it is finding?

 

[Gsearch]

Wow. so I reached 70% on the Aomei software and I took this snapshot to ask why there were already 15 partitions listed at 3.01 mb. Then in true idiot fashion, I closed the scan instead of the snipping tool.

Just wow.

 

[SIW2]

Ooops.

There is a chance it may be able to recover everything. I would start the scan again, go and have dinner, or watch tv or whatever. Then come back and see what it has found in a couple of hours.

 

[SIW2]

If Aomei doesn't come up with anything useful ( at over 70% when you stopped - it isn't promising ), you could have a go with paragon, otherwise you are into file recovery..

 

[Gsearch]

Ok, talk to me about Paragon. Free software? I would rather take a different path than to wait another few hours for a scan that looks as though it wasn't finding what we are looking for.

I will give Jumaji's plan a go if he is willing to give me the steps.

I am open.

Thanks to both of you for taking the time to help, regardless of the outcome.