Question How can I recover partition on external HDD after creating bootable Windows 10 disk by mistake ?

[secreto1]

Like a complete fooI I accidentally created a windows boot disk using my 1tb external hard drive, which had lots of important files and photos on it. Afterwards it was showing that there was only 32gb on it.

I was following some instructions online and I went in to DiskManagement and deleted the 32gb bootable partition, however, the problem I have now is that although the space is now showing I don't know what to do, because the instructions finished at that point. (I was following step by step, I didn't look ahead)

I am hoping / nay praying that somebody on this forum knows how I can recover this external hardrive so I can get my data back? I have tried lots of data recovery programs but unfortunately to no avail. Please can somebody help me? If its possible to restore the Hard drive and recover my files I will buy you many drinks. Thank you

 

[SkyNetRising]

I am hoping / nay praying that somebody on this forum knows how I can recover this external hardrive so I can get my data back? I have tried lots of data recovery programs but unfortunately to no avail.

What tools did you try?

Try getdataback.

GetDataBack — Data Recovery Software For Crashed Hard Drives

GetDataBack Data Recovery software. Recover data from inaccessible hard drives and USB sticks. Supports Windows NTFS, FAT, exFAT, Apple HFS+, APFS, and Linux EXT.

www.runtime.org

Free version allows checking, what can be recovered.
Full version is not free though.

 

[secreto1]

I have not tried this one. I'm not by my laptop. I know one was called recuva, and winfr but I can't remember the rest sorry.

I have to drop my son off at the ferry. I will try your program tomorrow. Thanks for helping me.

 

[fzabkar]

Lost data due to using selecting wrong drive in Windows Media Creation Tool:

https://www.reddit.com/r/datarecove...t_data_due_to_using_selecting_wrong_drive_in/

 

[secreto1]

I tried a program called 'testdisk' which is completely free - worked a treat - I have recovered all my files.

https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download

Disappointed that no one here recommended the testdisk program

 

[fzabkar]

I don't understand how TestDisk was able to find your file/folder names, if that is indeed what happened. The $MFT metafile in an NTFS partition usually lives at the 3GB point into the drive. This would have been overwritten by the Windows creation tool.

 

[secreto1]

Testdisk finds every file incl doc, jpg, mp4 and mp3. However the names of the file had changed to random letters and numbers.

Not only did I find my files, I found files that had been formatted previously. In all it found 4213 files from my 1TB HDD.

In addition I must point out that Testdisk has, an option to find specific files such as those listed above. I was looking for photos of my children, so I chose JPG and a very important word document DOC.

The whole process took 3 hours.

I will certainly be more careful next time.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Pleased to hear that recovery was successful this time, but It's always wise to keep backups on another physical drive. Recovery isn't going to be much use if/when that external HDD dies.

 

[fzabkar]

Testdisk has a companion tool, PhotoRec. PhotoRec is a file carver, which means it ignores file system metadata and instead locates files solely on the basis of their signatures. This means that fragmented files will be corrupt, ie only the first fragment will be recovered intact. Good data recovery tools will first search for metadata, and then supplement this search with file carving.

You could try to repeat your search with the free version of DMDE.

BTW, PhotoRec is an excellent carver -- it often finds file types that many commercial tools don't search for.