Lost Partition - HELP!!!

Simon · Jul 07, 2011, 23:28:35

I've done a really bad thing... I've accidentally deleted a partition on a backup external hard drive. These are someone else's photos, music, etc. Is there any way I can recover these files?

Simon · Jul 07, 2011, 23:48:01

It's OK, Acronis Disc Director came to the rescue.

JB · Jul 08, 2011, 06:58:04

Quote from: Simon on Jul 07, 2011, 23:48:01
It's OK, Acronis Disc Director came to the rescue.

Have used that myself.

Simon · Jul 08, 2011, 07:12:33

I honestly thought I was going to be sick when I realised what I'd done!

kinmel · Jul 08, 2011, 07:17:43

Quote from: Simon on Jul 08, 2011, 07:12:33
I honestly thought I was going to be sick when I realised what I'd done!

It's a very special feeling, isn't it.

Anyone fixing other people's computers has been there, but only once.

Glad you managed to save the day

Steve · Jul 08, 2011, 10:06:06

I hate multiple partitions.I try to avoid if at all possible.

pctech · Jul 08, 2011, 10:23:10

Me too Steve.

Ray · Jul 08, 2011, 10:24:12

Same here too.

Simon · Jul 08, 2011, 13:09:51

Ah, but in this instance, despite my ineptitude, it saved the day, as had everything been on the knackered C partition, it possibly couldn't have been saved. I always use one partition for Windows / Programs, and a separate one for Documents.

kinmel · Jul 08, 2011, 15:46:43

I too have moved over to separate drives for each O.S. and others for data, 500Gb drives are now so cheap that there is no need to create multiple partitions

Simon · Jul 08, 2011, 16:09:29

There is that.

Ted · Jul 08, 2011, 21:52:33

Quote from: Simon on Jul 07, 2011, 23:28:35
I've done a really bad thing... I've accidentally deleted a partition on a backup external hard drive. These are someone else's photos, music, etc. Is there any way I can recover these files?

I know you fixed it but this may be helpful to someone http://www.idnetters.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,25839.0.html

Simon · Jul 08, 2011, 22:13:57

Didn't spot that, Ted, but I think it's worth stickying, so I've stuckied it.

Technical Ben · Jul 09, 2011, 09:06:12

Quote from: Simon on Jul 07, 2011, 23:28:35
I've done a really bad thing... I've accidentally deleted a partition on a backup external hard drive. These are someone else's photos, music, etc. Is there any way I can recover these files?

Yes. Great you got it back.

I was going to recommend a little free program I used, that is handy at scanning drives and recovering files. It even has a special "image re constructor" for finding damaged files on the drive too.

Edit.
As long as you never wright over (no full format, only quick, not reinstall of windows etc) the partition you are usually good. Deleting the partition usually just removes the little pointer that tells the computer "It is drive "C,D or X". With undeleting software, it scans the entire "blank" space, and puts the file pointers back. AFAIK anyhow. When I deleted a drive by mistake (I['d combined it with a one I did not want, and did not realise) I was able to recover every file, without loosing anything.