How to Recover Logical Disk after Deleting in DiskPart Win7

[marburg]

While attempting to format a USB drive in DiskPart (using the 'cmd' function) , I accidently deleted my Backup Drive "D".

How do I Recover the 2 TB drive with all my backups on it.

Since the episode my system has NOT been switched OFF or rebooted.
However I have exited from the CMD prompt.

Notwithstanding, the LIST DISK cmd within DiskPart still recognizes the Drive as Drive 1. ,
yet under the "VOLUME" command it is not recognized (only Drive "0" or my C drive).
Also within Diskmgmt.msc while being identified, I am unable to assign it as active as the system states that it is being "cleaned" ??

Your assistance is anxiously sought

Regards - Marburg

 

[marburg]

Should I not be able to recover the Disk Drive using Diskpart or some such WIN product,

What steps do I need to go through to have Win7 recognize the Drive and nominate it as my backup device, assuming I delete all data from it and run Ghost for both backups to re establish their integrity ? ?

If I have to take this recovery path then I accept the fact that I've probably lost all my backup's and restore points.

HELP Please

Marburg

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I think the right tool would be Partition Wizard.

Try to recover the partition rather than trying to recover the files. If the partition can be recovered, the files may all be intact and recoverable.

If you cannot recover the partition, only then try to recover the files.

There's a couple of members who are expert in recovering partitions with PW, so wait for them to respond too.

You say these are backups. Do you still have your original versions of these files and can you simply make new backups?

 

[marburg]

Thank you Ignatzatsonic for your timely response

Yes I have all the original files/data

I was thinking if the worse situation prevailed and I had to, I could just do another series of backups, PROVIDING I can get the drive recognized by Win7, then reformat or clean/delete what was on it and start afresh with a new backups ?
However as a novice I'm entering into unknown territory/knowledge, and will need some pointers and direction

Your continuing guidance and help would be appreciated while I await your colleagues comments

Regards

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Do you have an as yet unmentioned drive that you could temporarily use to store new backups? Maybe even a USB thumb drive? Or two?

If you do, I'd do a fresh set of backups to that unmentioned drive.

Then attack the 2 TB and delete all partitions and data with no attempt at recovering.

Then make a new set of backups to the 2 TB. Then delete the temp backups from the unmentioned drive.

That would be my first idea.

If you like to live dangerously, you could instead just delete all partitions and data from the 2 TB and make new backups to it. But that leaves you in limbo a bit---what if you delete all partitions and data from the 2 TB and begin new backups, but your original hard drive drops dead midway into the procedure? You'd probably be hosed, with no originals and only partial backups. There's only a slim chance of things going bad in that way. I'd guess most people would take the chance.

Do you like to live dangerously in that sense?

 

[marburg]

Actually I Have, I recently purchased a new 750 Gb drive with a view to replacing my primary drive "c" as it is running out of space, in that WIN7 is unable to create System Images due to lack of space, (182 Gb only free), hence the reason I installed Ghost 15. Its just that I hadn't got around to it yet.

I also have a copy of the "Dummies Guide on How to Install a Sata Drive in WIN7" Please check this Web site to advise if its comprehensive enough for Novices -

How to Install a SATA Drive in a Windows 7 Desktop Computer - For Dummies

Your suggestion appears practical and worth installing this 750 Gb drive then create my Backups there Temporarily.

However for the 2TB drive which is in trouble, I assume that as its already installed (but not recognized by WIN7) I need only used STEP 7 of the Dummies Guide, (MMC -System Management Tool) and enter the "Initialize Disk dialog"

As time is important, I'll await your concurrence on the detail in "Dummies How To", above

Your continuing assistance is appreciated, and I look forward to you future comments re the above

 

[marburg]

Again thank you ignatzatsonic for your suggestions.

Went into the MMC nominated the 2 TB disk had it cleaned/reformatted and Bob's your Uncle, as the system accepted it.

Am now running Ghost 15 Backups (both) and awaiting the results. will confirm backups and if everything is okay will Buy you a beer or arrange a Donation to SevenForums irrespective.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Looks like you've got it handled. Yeah, to get a new disk installed you can go to Windows Disk Management after connecting the cables to the drive. Partition and format it there and assign a drive letter. It should then be ready for use.

You're one of the few people I've heard of still using Ghost, but if it works for you, that's cool.

Did you first make new backups to the 750 GB drive or just take your chances?

Are you going to make a fresh clean install of Windows 7 to the 750 GB drive? Or are you going to try to copy your existing installation to it?

Most here would have advised you to get an SSD for Windows--probably a small one, say 120 GB. Put Windows and applications on that. Put your other stuff (data, movies, mp3s, pictures, etc) on an ordinary hard drive. But whatever makes you happy.

 

[marburg]

No I haven't installed the new 750Gb drive as yet, I must admit I flew by the seat of my pants.

I was just checking out Windows Disk Management and saw that the 2TB drive was recognized but was unallocated, so I just assigned it as Letter D as a simple volume and the WIN did the rest, assigned, cleaned etc.

Backups have been run on the OS, Reserved and Data folders, all appear to be functioning, however I have not attempted to reboot WIN7 as yet. Thought I'd leave the 750 drive go for a few days yet before I venture that far.

While Ghost appears to function okay, what more recent products would you recommend to review as an alternative to and as functional as Ghost

 

[ignatzatsonic]

While Ghost appears to function okay, what more recent products would you recommend to review as an alternative to and as functional as Ghost

The favored alternatives around here would be Macrium Reflect, Acronis, and Paragon Backup and Restore.

But I certainly wouldn't recommend them to the extent you understand and have good results with Ghost--no over-riding reason to change if it does what you need.

 

[marburg]

Again thank you ignatzatsonic for your invaluable assistance to date

Yes Backups ran and worked fine throughout, although on restarting I somehow lost the BOOTMGR
but recovered with the aid of the WIN7 Rescue Disk. A handy tool and necessity.

I'll check out the packages you nominated just as a matter of interest, thanks for the tip.

As for the 750GB drive yet to be installed, I ran Check Disk once again on my existing 500GB primary
volume after noticing a error in the GHOST report, indicating a bad sector. Which was recovered, it's the third time I've had bad sectors in the last 3 months and I was taking the precaution of getting ready to replace it, hence the 750 being on hand. Well I sup-pose I will now have to get busy and do it sometime soon.

Everything sweet mate and once again thanks for everything

Avagooday

Regards

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Aye aye, glad you got it sorted. Carry on.