Lost partition and all files after trying/failing to install ubuntu

[nivniv]

Please help me:
I have a HP TX2000 Pavilion
It had Vista with a WD 320GB HD.

I tried installing ubuntu but sadly it did not work properly, then I thought to increase the partition but by doing so I deleted my original Vista and lost all my work.

I tried booting up PC but it did not work, I tried using system recovery disc but it did not work.

The laptop now just turns on and goes to a prompt screen where you cant type anything.

I took the HD out of the laptop and installed it in a SATA to USB case and tried accessing the information from my windows 8.1 Dell laptop, but all I can see is 2 drives : 1st for 235mb and the 2nd for 12GB... I cant see where the other 300 odd GB has gone and I cant see any of my files.

Can anyone please help? I've got all my personal stuff on the laptop.

Thank you.

 

[tsnor]

"I tried using system recovery disc but it did not work."

I've seen system recovery fail when there was a partition on the disk that was not the expected size. Suggest you download a bootable tool like "ultimate boot CD" https://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ with "parted magic" http://partedmagic.com/ and delete all partitions. Once all partitions are gone the factory recovery disk will re-create the original vista system including the boot and system recovery partitions on the disk.

If this does not work please post the error scenario when you try to boot the recovery disk and verify the BIOS sees the 320 gb drive.

 

[nivniv]

I've installed parted magic via ultimate boot cd and it's installed a desktop.

I clicked erase disk and its offering me 7 erase options. Which one should I choose?

And can I confirm that I then put the system restore discs in?

Thank you

 

[nivniv]

And one last point .. How do I recover my music/photo files after I do the system recovery?

Will I need to use the ultimate boot cd again ?

Thank you

 

[tsnor]

" .. How do I recover my music/photo files after I do the system recovery?"

Sadly there is no way I know of to recover the data after this happened "I tried installing ubuntu but sadly it did not work properly, then I thought to increase the partition but by doing so I deleted my original Vista and lost all my work."

The steps you are following now will return your PC to the way it was when you bought it. They will not recovery any of the work that was lost.

If the photos are extremely precious then stop everything and google "data recovery". It possible that an expert team could recover some of your data out of the free spots on your disk, but it's very expensive and each step you take with the drive makes it less likely to succeed.

To continue making the disk usable you need to delete the PARTITIONS not erase the data. Look at the "partition editor" screenshots here http://partedmagic.com/screenshots/ and highlight and delete each partition. Then try running your system recovery disk again.