Partition Magic destroyed my partition.

[Vexir]

Situtation: I have one hard drive in my laptop, split into a C: partition for my Win7 installation, and D: partition for my files and documents. Used Partition Magic without thinking; ignored compatibility warnings like a fool, etc etc.

My D: partition disappeared, C: seems to work fine.

I've been trolling the internet and tried to use TestDisk, but the problem is that TestDisk guides are under the assumption it will just ask you to fix your partitions. Didn't happen that way for me - the Quick Search didn't find D, however TestDisk's "deeper search" for some reason shows the missing D: partition as a normal, existing, primary partition and C: as deleted. This is obviously not the case, so I didn't know what to do.

If it's worth anything, TestDisk did mention that the two partitions were overlapping with each other. Other recovery software such as EasyUs Partition Recovery didn't work either and showed me the same result (it can't recover overlapping partitions)

Any tips on how to fix this? The data is still there, I can see it using file listing in TestDisk, I just don't know what to do to fix it.

Edit:// Before anyone asks, yeah, I've seen D: drive missing in win7 due to partiton magic - Windows 7 Help Forums. Doesn't help, because again, TestDisk doesn't just magically find my partition during Quick Search and lists the wrong partition as "deleted" during Deeper Search.

 

[rap33042]

Vexir:

Welcome to SF!

• Download Partition Wizard
• Create a Boot Disk
• Partition Wizard has an option to Recover a Partition.

Give it a try- maybe you'll get lucky?

 

[Vexir]

Well, I have a little update. I used EASEUS Partition Master to resize my allegedly "overlapping" partitions. Reduced the size of the C drive and increased the size of the D drive, as well as gave it a label of D:. It did it successfully.

New problem - my computer will not boot into anything except the Dell Diagnostics partition. :sarc:

Hopefully it's just a matter of switching the Active partition back to my C: partition, but if anyone has any tips on how to do that or suggestions for free software to use, I'd appreciate it.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I've never had to manually set a partition as active in my life, but perhaps that's the problem here. You also might be able to fix it by repairing the boot options with your Windows 7 DVD. As for the first suggestion, Partition Wizard's boot disk, mentioned above, should let you see what is active and set that option accordingly.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Vexir, welcome to Seven Forums!




As you found out, Partition Magic is obsolete when used with Windows 7; have a look at this tutorial at the link below for some useful info and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

 

[Vexir]

So I fixed it. Here's what I did:

1) Used Partition Wizard's Bootable CD to resize the partitions till they didn't overlap.
2) Used Partition Wizard's Bootable CD again to change the Active partition to my Windows installation (C)
3) When encountered then with "BOOTMGT MISSING", I burned a Windows Repair Disc and clicked Startup Repair (only needed to do it once)
4) Because my drive letters had changed I used this procedure to change them back and fix any program associations (i.e. Dropbox, etc.)

Aaand boom! Screw TestDisk, viva gui! Thanks to you guys who replied, +rep for all!

 

[whs]

We all know Partition Magic is obsolete. But they still peddle it for Windows7. Not good.

 

[Mo8]

Magic Partition DESTROYED my D partition,also!!!

The thing is that this Sunday evening I wanted to format my USB flash cause my TV couldn't recognize some .AVI movies on it(but it did before!)so I installed Magic Partition.While the installation was proceeding something went wrong and i had to uninstall it right away,it couldn't install properly.
The shock when I saw my Local Disc D missing left me speechless!What happened,sh**t?!
Can anybody tell me if you had the same thing happened to you did you ever saw your pictures,documents or any other stuff you had on your partition D?Thanks.
p.s.-if there is any other program that can really recover D, please,let me know!

 

[feetand nches]

So where is the download for the BAD Software?
Is this it? Partition Magic

I always use MiniTool and never had a bad problem that I didn't create myself.

If so here is a little warning, but not so good warning.

"Partition Magic, the product of Symantec, is the most important partition resize software under Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Since being acquired by Symantec, Norton Partition Magic has not been upgraded. Maybe you can still use it under Windows 10. However, it is so unstable that you have a great chance to meet problems or system crash when resizing Windows 10 partition.

So I strongly recommend you not to use it to resize Windows 10 partitions. I will show you how to resize Windows 8 partitions with a partition magic alternative - EaseUS Partition Master Free Edition (Freeware) in this article."

 

[LMiller7]

When specifying product names it is important to be precise. There are a number of partition resizing programs out there and some have similar names.

"Partition Magic" was originally produced by PowerQuest but acquired by Symantec in 2003. Symantec never updated the product. It is no longer available from Symantec but it can be downloaded from third party sites. According to Wikipedia it is incompatible with Vista and later.

In the case of partition resizing software the potential for damage is high. It is best to use only a product that the supplier explicitly states is compatible with the OS you are using.

 

[feetand nches]

LMiller7, Good info sir, thanks.