Accidentally Unallocated a 2nd HDD on laptop...help!

[af4caster]

Hello all, newbie here, so be gentle!

I have a HP laptop that is running windows 7. It has 2 hard drives installed, and has been running fine for months like this. Yesterday while messing around (probably somewhere I shouldn't have been) I somehow unallocated my 2nd hdd. I am not sure exactly how I did this, but know it was in 'disk management' area. This drive contains all of my music and would HATE to lose this data. Does anyone have any simple fixes for my problem. I am sure you might need more info from me, but not sure what to tell you, so ask away please!

I have a side problem to discuss too...but we will focus on this one for now!

Thanks in advance!!

Aaron

 

[seavixen32]

Have a look here: Partition Recovery from Unallocated Space, Recover Unallocated Partition.

And here: http://www.glarysoft.com/products/utilities/glary-undelete/

Or here: http://www.pcinspector.de/default.htm?language=1

 

[af4caster]

Thanks, will check those out when I get home today.

Will these just allow me to recover my files, or will it just 're-add' the drive so I can see it (and the files) again. Or will I have to recover the files, re-allocate the drive, reformat it, then add the data back?

 

[seavixen32]

You'll need to read through each link for the correct procedure.

This is another freebie that many of us use: http://www.piriform.com/recuva

 

[af4caster]

Ok, I am finally home and am checking out the EASEUS Partition recovery wizard, and it says "you have no unallocated space to search!" When I look at disk management, it shows Disk 1: Dynamic 298.09 GB Online...and to the right it says 298.09 GB RAW Healthy. Last night I KNOW it said unallocated and was 'hatched' out. I am confused what is going on, so not sure what I need to do to be able to access the drive again and see my data.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

"Dynamic" is rarely a good thing to see.

Post a screen shot of what you can see in Disk Management and/or EaseUS.

 

[af4caster]

Never sure how to post screenshots on forums, but here goes...

 

[seavixen32]

I don't quite know how Disk 1 was converted to a dynamic disk and without a partition on it.

At present it shows as a RAW drive, which means it doesn't have a partition on it, which explains why Easeus couldn't find any unallocated space.

This tutorial explains how to convert the drive from a dynamic to a basic drive. However, I'm not sure how that leaves you in terms of recovering your data, so I'm hoping someone more knowledgeable than me will chip in.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26829-convert-dynamic-disk-basic-disk.html

 

[af4caster]

I don't like this..."Before you convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk, be sure to backup anything that you do not want to lose on that dynamic disk. Converting the dynamic disk back to a basic disk requires that all dynamic volumes are deleted on the disk first."

Could I pull this drive out and put it in an enclosure and move the data to another computer, or will I have the same problems there too?

 

[writhziden]

Ubuntu often sees data on RAW drives that Windows cannot. Burn a CD with Ubuntu on it. You can obtain Ubuntu from Download | Ubuntu and then using the installation instructions: Install Ubuntu Desktop | Ubuntu, at step 2 choose Try instead of Install. Mount your drive you want to save data from and mount a drive to save data to. The drives should show up in Ubuntu's file system for you to copy data.

Let us know if the above works. If not, we will have to resort to other methods...

 

[seavixen32]

Have a look here if the above doesn't work: Hard drives data recovery from dynamic disks in Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, Windows 7.

 

[gregrocker]

When you delete a partition it can be recovered using free Partition Wizard Partition Recovery Wizard - Video Help.

However I'm not sure it or Easeus (which can fail losing data, while PW CD will not) can recover once Disk is converted to Dynamic. So you probably have nothing to lose by using PW to convert the Dynamic partiiton back to Basic, which is only a feature in PW versions 4.2 and earlier: pw422.zip ISO - Windows Live

When you recklessly made uninformed random changes to your partitioning you likely ruined your data, which should always be backed up anyway or you are playing with fire. I would count it lucky you didn't lose your Win7.

 

[af4caster]

Ubuntu often sees data on RAW drives that Windows cannot. Burn a CD with Ubuntu on it. You can obtain Ubuntu from Download | Ubuntu and then using the installation instructions: Install Ubuntu Desktop | Ubuntu, at step 2 choose Try instead of Install. Mount your drive you want to save data from and mount a drive to save data to. The drives should show up in Ubuntu's file system for you to copy data.

Let us know if the above works. If not, we will have to resort to other methods...

This was unsuccessful...

 

[af4caster]

Have a look here if the above doesn't work: Hard drives data recovery from dynamic disks in Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, Windows 7.

Not sure I want to spend $72 on something I don't know will work...

 

[af4caster]

When you delete a partition it can be recovered using free Partition Wizard Partition Recovery Wizard - Video Help.

However I'm not sure it or Easeus (which can fail losing data, while PW CD will not) can recover once Disk is converted to Dynamic. So you probably have nothing to lose by using PW to convert the Dynamic partiiton back to Basic, which is only a feature in PW versions 4.2 and earlier: pw422.zip ISO - Windows Live

When you recklessly made uninformed random changes to your partitioning you likely ruined your data, which should always be backed up anyway or you are playing with fire. I would count it lucky you didn't lose your Win7.

This is what I see with the MiniTool Partition Wizard...

 

[mjf]

I think you have scrambled your MBR's partition table. This program will let you post a copy of your current MBR for Disk 1.
MBR Backup - Back up your Master Boot Record (Freeware)

Does Recuva see anything on the HDD?

 

[gregrocker]

Looks like choosing Disk 2 will not light up the Next button, so your options now are to try data Recovery using one of the methods suggested, or as a last resort convert Disk 2 to Basic to see if the data reappears or Partition Recovery will restore it.

To convert burn the PW 4.2 ISO to CD using Windows Image Burner or ImgBurn and boot, rightclick on Disk 2, from Disk tab select Convert to Basic, Apply.

 

[af4caster]

I think you have scrambled your MBR's partition table. This program will let you post a copy of your current MBR for Disk 1.
MBR Backup - Back up your Master Boot Record (Freeware)

Does Recuva see anything on the HDD?

Disk 1 or disk 2? Disk 2 is the one I am trying to recover. It is a bunch of gibberish to me. Copy/paste it here?

Recuva doesn't see the drive at all...

 

[af4caster]

I have a drive enclosure...if I put the drive in the enclosure and connect it to this...or another PC via USB...is there a chance I could recover the data?

 

[af4caster]

Don't know if this helps...