Solved Win7/Pro x64 - Booting Very Slow - Cannot Save Files

[baumgrenze]

Yesterday my machine began booting very slowly. I can open Word and past in stuff and print it, but I cannot save the file; the application locks up. In SeaMonkey if I try to open a link in a new tab the browser locks up. I cannot run TreeSizeFree or ZTreeWin. Windows Explorer does not run properly, either. I tried Malwarebytes but that does not run.

I have a Macrium image from a few months back. It seems I'm always dog tired at the end of the day and my backup drive is in a BlackX box, so I need to reboot to turn it on. I know, excuses like that don't count.

I tried startup repair and it seems to have changed nothing.

I tried F8 boot and selected last known good configuration and that has changed nothing.

I ran Disk Management and I'm troubled by the report. My 'data disk' shows as a box full of diagonal lines with this text overlaid:

931.51 GB RAW
Healthy (Primary Partition)

I had given it a name, something like New 1TB Black, but that is not showing. Could malware have wiped it?

I tried saving the snip to C: (my system drive) and I'll see if I can find the file and attach it.

I think there may be a previous post by me with Disk Management attached. I'll try posting this first before the browser decided it is 'tired.'

thanks

baumgrenze

 

[GEWB]

Download and run MemTest, report back your results:

MemTest86 - Offical Site of the x86 Memory Testing Tool

Regards,
GEWB

 

[samuria]

Raw means it's lost the partition table you need specific free partition recovery software all files will then come back DO NOT use file recovery it must be partition recovery

 

[baumgrenze]

Need to Edit Thread Title to Include "Change RAW Back to NTFS"

I see now that I should probably have started my thread title with "disk changed from NTFS to RAW."

The Disk Management snip that I attached clearly shows that my "Data Drive" somehow got changed from NTFS to RAW. I believe that this may explain my inability to save files in Word and other applications. Word simply hangs.

I had to save the 'snip' to my System Drive so that I could post it.

I do not want to dig a deeper hole. I am uncomfortable following suggestions on other forums.

What is the right way to restore my Data Drive to NTFS with minimum harm to data it contains?

thanks

baumgrenze

 

[baumgrenze]

I see that as I composed my 'reply' I got some suggestions.

What partition recovery software that is currently available is best for the job?

thanks

baumgrenze

 

[GEWB]

Raw means it's lost the partition table you need specific free partition recovery software all files will then come back DO NOT use file recovery it must be partition recovery

^^^^ Right on - I overlooked that. ^^^^

 

[baumgrenze]

Is MemTest Irrelevant in My Case?

GEWB, from your last comment, should I gather that MemTest won't be a help to me?

It looks complicated. I'd love to avoid it if I could.

I ask again, is there a specific free partition recovery software I should find and install?

Are there pitfalls I should know about and avoid?

thanks

baumgrenze

 

[baumgrenze]

Crystal Disk Info Screens

In the hope that these may be relevant, here are Crystal Disk Info screens for my Data Drive and my Image Backup Drive:


thanks

baumgrenze

 

[samuria]

There are a lot of free partition recovery software they are simple to use very often one may not work but then try another that can work perfect they use different ways of doing it

 

[baumgrenze]

Minitool Partition Wizard Surface Scan

There was one error, very near the beginning. Could this be the culprit?

I can't get 'Manage Attachments' or the paperclip to attach the file. The 'red cell' is #9 from the left on the top row, if that signifies.

I will submit and see if the image attaches to a separate post.

thanks

baumgrenze

 

[baumgrenze]

Surface Errors - Minitool

Here's the image.

I see no evidence that it got attached. It worked earlier.

Now it worked.

thanks

baumgrenze

 

[baumgrenze]

Quick Scan Failed!

The above quick scan gave a 'white screen' and Windows Task Manager reported "Not Responding."

As I processed the snip for posting the Windows Task Manager changed to "Running" and I was given the choice of this under "Choose Searched Partitions."

NTFS New 1 TB WD... Starting LBA 2048 Ending LBA 1953521663 Used Size 931.51 GB Size 931.51 GB Existing

I double clicked and I see my file structure.

Is it as simple as checking the box and invoking 'Finish'?

Screen shots are attached:

thanks

baumgrenze

 

[baumgrenze]

I Missed This Key Image

This is the image which asks do I want to 'finish.'

Sorry

thanks

baumgrenze

 

[baumgrenze]

Assign a Drive Letter?

I just reread the tutorial and encountered this last point:

Step 6: assign a letter for the recovered partition(s) using "Change Drive Letter" feature if you want to see it in Windows Explorer, and then click "Apply" button on the top to perform partition recovery.

Does this apply in my case?

Otherwise it looks like I should just 'finish' it.

thanks

baumgrenze

 

[baumgrenze]

Warning Message - About to Delete At Least One Partition - I Said No

I clicked on "Finish" and encountered this message:

"Warning
At least one of the existing partition will be deleted. Are you sure you want to continue?"

It looks like there is only one existing partition, or do I fail to understand the terminology. Will my one partition be deleted as per the warning?

I'm tired and not thinking straight. I decided to stop the Partition Wizard and go to bed.

I hope someone who knows more replies by morning.

thanks
baumgrenze

 

[baumgrenze]

In a New Window? Options Seem Different

I backed up as far as the program seemed to allow me to do. I could not see how to back up to where I was asked to choose between "Quick Scan" (which I chose) and "Full Scan." I can still use "Explore Partition" and see the file structure I want to recover.

I will add screen dumps of where I am now and the result I see when I select Partition Recovery (see red arrow.)

Can I close the program at this stage without damaging the data that appears to still exist on the disk. At least the Explorer shows the folders I expect.

Do I need to open a new thread with Partition Recovery in the title?

thanks
baumgrenze

 

[baumgrenze]

Safely End Minitool Partition Wizard Free

I hope this is not seen as 'cross-posting.' (See Win7/Pro x64 - Booting Very Slow ......) of 2/28/17.

In an attempt to get my Win7/Pro x64 machine running properly again I followed a suggestion that I try Minitool Partition Wizard Free.

My 1TB data disk somehow got changed from NTFS to RAW.

I ran a surface test and found 1 error in the 9th cell from the start. My primitive understanding suggests that a flaw in this part of the disk might be just where the master boot record is/was located. If this is the case, can this otherwise 'clean' (no surface flaws seen) disk be resurrected?

I then moved to partition recovery and requested a quick scan. I chose to scan the full disk because only one partition showed. I am concerned that I might not have checked the box in the Choose Searched Partitions window (screen shot.) I cannot seem to get back to it.

As I progressed through the process I encountered a serious warning saying that if I finished I would delete that partition. I decided I needed expert advice and tried backing out of the process. I left the process running all night. I was too tired to make intelligent choices.

Can I safely shut down the program from this window (see screen shot) or did I 'back out' in the wrong way? The 'partition explorer' showed me the disk structure I want to recover, so what I want appears to still be on the disk.

If and when I get it shut down, would it make sense to try once more paying careful attention to the check box or is this operation not included in the "Free" option?

thanks
baumgrenze

 

[jumanji]

I had just given a quick read through. Right now do not do anything until I return. I shall be busy this my forenoon. Go to sleep and then when you wake up you can see my post. The chances of recovering the data are bright. But nothing will be sweet until I eat the cake. Do you have another 1TB external drive to copy all data?

 

[baumgrenze]

Thank you, Jumanji!

Yes, I have an external 2TB drive for backups that has 1.76 TB free. It has not been used anywhere as often as desired. As I explored it, I was disappointed to discover that there are no files in some folders I'd assigned to drives I thought I'd backed up.

I trust you will describe the technique for creating the copy you mention. I can see no details in Windows Explorer for my data drive.

While there I checked my System Disk and discovered 21 MDMP files all created on 2/27/17 at 9:26 PM. Might this be significant?

Your advice about sleep is well taken. I was up until just past midnight last night (PST)

I look forward to your input.

thanks
baumgrenze

 

[baumgrenze]

A Reply From Minitools Support

Here is a paste of correspondence with Minitools which arrived as I composed my first reply to you. I edited out only personal information I did not want in this post.
I checked and Partition Wizard shows NTFS but Disk Management still shows RAW. I won't do anything more tonight, but we need to consider their suggestion.[FONT=&quot][/FONT]
Dear baumgrenze,

It's safe to shut off the program in the NewScreen window, because our program haven't done any change. In addition, does the sentence "Minitools Partition Wizard identifies the disk as NTFS and not RAW, which is what I first found in Windows Disk Management" mean Partition Wizard shows it as NTFS while Disk Management shows it as RAW? If yes, we suggest using Check File System feature of Partition Wizard to fix the issue. But if this fails to work, you may need to use MiniTool Power Data Recovery to recover data at first.

Download Minitool Power Data Recovery v7.0 Free edition
http://www.minitool.com/download-center/PDR7.0/40c69716-246e-46d7-8d45-0e2c5b7a445d/pdr7free.exe

Note: The free edition and full version of MiniTool Power Data Recovery have no difference in function, but the former can only help you recover 1GB data while the latter has no such limitation.

Best Regards.

On Thu, Mar 2, 2017 at 4:56 AM, (baumgrenze) wrote:


I am running Win7/Pro x64.

I'm confused. In a response to a post on sevenforums.com I was encouraged to download Minitools Partition Wizard Free 10.

I tried it and am concerned that I may have overlooked a check box as I encountered the Choose Search Partitions page. In was presented with a dire warning. (...ScaryWarning.jpg)

I backed out as far as I understood how and I am now on the page I call MinitoolsPartitionRecoveryNewScreen. I tried the Partition Recovery button (red arrow) and that triggered the warning that is displayed saying I would

I am trying to recover a compromised 1 TB HDD. A surface scan using your software found one error in the ninth cell from the start. Might this be the part of the disk used for the MBR?

Can I safely shut off the program in the window you see in the attachment called .....NewScreen.jpg?

I ask because Minitools Partition Wizard identifies the disk as NTFS and not RAW, which is what I first found in Windows Disk Management.

Finally, is Minitools Partition Wizard Free 10 capable of recovering this disk or do I need something fancier like your 'Pro' edition? I am uncomfortable paying for that if it, too, will tell me it can't accomplish what I want to do.




thanks
baumgrenze