Question Might have formatted the wrong hard drive with DiskGenius Portable and then I overwrote the old Windows 10 x64 OS with Windows 10 x64 (custom install)

[CtrlSleuth]

1. I recently made a critical error during a Windows installation by neglecting to disconnect all drives except the target disk. As a result, I may have lost valuable personal data, including photographs, videos, game saves, etc. I possibly formatted the wrong drive and, using DiskGenius Portable, filled the free space with random data. Given these circumstances, is the data now irretrievable, even with advanced recovery tools (with forensic capabilities) such as R-Studio?

2. How could DiskGenius Portable misidentify or mix up volume labels? When I initiated the format, the interface displayed the label “Titanium,” which corresponded to my video game storage drive (fortunately already backed up). That being said, it was the system drive that ended up getting formatted.

3. During the installation, I updated the operating system and linked it to a Microsoft account. Could it be possible that my original documents, images, and desktop files aren’t showing because they were saved under a different Microsoft account? Is it also feasible that the “Quick Access” shortcuts in File Explorer are entirely mapped to OneDrive? Furthermore, does Windows 10 x64 offer any native feature that automatically backs up such files, thereby leaving a small possibility that they still exist somewhere? Also, is it possible that during the installation, the Windows 10 x64 could have automatically moved files to the other SSD (had 2 active SSDs during install) in either their native format (folders labeled "documents", etc.) or in a "Windows.old" folder?

4. Lastly, if I overwrote the drive without performing a format at all, or if I aborted the DiskGenius Portable format with the "fill free space with random data" option checked within 10–30 seconds, is there any chance—however slim—that the original data could still be recovered despite overwriting the original Windows with the same OS (also, updated it during custom install)? If so, where might remnants of the previous Windows installation or user files be found, assuming they are not located in "C:\Windows.old"?

P.S. Professional data recovery services are not an option for me, so please don't recommend them. Also, they're very extortionate where I live (prices can range from the high hundreds to the tens of thousands of US dollars).

 

[USAFRet]

1. I recently made a critical error during a Windows installation by neglecting to disconnect all drives except the target disk. As a result, I may have lost valuable personal data, including photographs, videos, game saves, etc. I possibly formatted the wrong drive and, using DiskGenius Portable, filled the free space with random data. Given these circumstances, is the data now irretrievable, even with advanced recovery tools (with forensic capabilities) such as R-Studio?

Multiple mistakes here.

Not having a real backup
As you note, not disconnecting all other drives in this process.

STOP messing with this, and give us a good rundown of what drives are involved here, what used to be the OS drive, and what you've actually done so far.

 

[CtrlSleuth]

Multiple mistakes here.

Not having a real backup
As you note, not disconnecting all other drives in this process.

STOP messing with this, and give us a good rundown of what drives are involved here, what used to be the OS drive, and what you've actually done so far.

1. Original Intel SSD drive (where potential data loss occurred) : C:\ and I think there was no volume label (highly likely) or "system."

2. Other Western Digital SSD drive (game storage, the one I backed up to another non-SSD drive called D:\--no label--and either didn't format or cancelled the format with "fill free space with random data" option checked within 10-30 seconds): E:\ and the volume label was definitely "Titanium."

What I have done so far: booted into Windows (on Intel SSD drive or C:\) twice to look for files. I haven't attempted any data recovery as of yet (still researching best processes and whether I should use Recuva, PhotoRec, TestDisk, or R-Studio T80+ (or another version of R-Studio that can perform emergency data recovery in either a DOS, Windows PE, or a LinuxLive environment). Also, I probably need to purchase another USB/external hard drive to clone the drive I need to recover and all its sectors before I can even begin.

Additionally, I did a bunch of other stuff (not sure if it matters in the context of data recovery and the list itself might not 100% accurate because I didn't write down everything before/as I did it):

A. Booted into Windows Recovery (USB installer → Repair your computer → Troubleshoot → Command Prompt) and ran:

bootrec /fixboot

bcdboot C:\Windows /l en-us /s S: /f UEFI

Ran chkdsk C: /f

B. Changed the label of C:\ from “Titanium” to nothing and the label of E:\ back to “Titanium” using DiskPart.

C. Using DiskPart:

diskpart

list disk

select disk 0 (or whichever is your system disk)

list partition

select partition X (your Windows boot partition)

active

exit

bootsect /nt60 sys

D. Using DiskPart (again):

bootsect /nt60 all /force

bootrec /fixmbr

bootrec /fixboot

bootrec /rebuildbcd

bootsect /nt60 C: /force

bcdboot C:\Windows /s C: /f ALL

Got a STOP 0x000000A5 BSOD error message when trying to boot from the SSD drive (C:\) in native format. I can only boot using (Windows Boot Manager) “drive name” right now.

P.S. There were also two volumes when I booted from (Windows Boot Manager) Intel SSD (C:\): Windows 10 Volume 7 and Windows 10 Volume 3.

 

[USAFRet]

So the Intel was the old OS drive?
And in this process you formatted the WD, with Disk Genius?
"formatted the wrong drive and, using DiskGenius Portable, filled the free space with random data."

 

[CtrlSleuth]

So the Intel was the old OS drive?
And in this process you formatted the WD, with Disk Genius?
"formatted the wrong drive and, using DiskGenius Portable, filled the free space with random data."

I'm not 100% sure what happened. As of now, there are a few possibilities before the windows install:

1. Formatted the SSD with the original Windows install (C:\) and filled the free space with random data.
2. After seeing that the format with "free fill space with random data" option was going to take too long for C:\, cancelled it within 10-30 seconds and performed a regular full format (using DiskGenius or the native option within Windows under "This PC").
3. After seeing that the format with "free fill space with random data" option was going to take too long for C:\, cancelled it within 10-30 seconds and didn't try to format further (went right to the Windows install).
4. After seeing that the format with "free fill space with random data" option was going to take too long for E:\, cancelled it within 10-30 seconds. Did not attempt to format again.

 

[USAFRet]

I'm not 100% sure what happened. As of now, there are a few possibilities before the windows install:

1. Formatted the SSD with the original Windows install (C:\) and filled the free space with random data.
2. After seeing that the format with "free fill space with random data" option was going to take too long for C:\, cancelled it within 10-30 seconds and performed a regular full format (using DiskGenius or the native option within Windows under "This PC").
3. After seeing that the format with "free fill space with random data" option was going to take too long for C:\, cancelled it within 10-30 seconds and didn't try to format further (went right to the Windows install).
4. After seeing that the format with "free fill space with random data" option was going to take too long for E:\, cancelled it within 10-30 seconds. Did not attempt to format again.

So what is the state now?

What exists (or doesn't) on what drive?

 

[CtrlSleuth]

So what is the state now?

What exists (or doesn't) on what drive?

Some of my documents, pictures, etc. are on E:\, but I'm concerned that there's still some stuff with a chance of being recovered on C:\. I also updated my first reply (third comment in thread) with everything I did to the best of my knowledge. Does that change anything? Based on everything I've said so far, is there any possibility--however small-of recovering anything?

 

[USAFRet]

Some of my documents, pictures, etc. are on E:\, but I'm concerned that there's still some stuff with a chance of being recovered on C:\. I also updated my first reply (third comment in thread) with everything I did to the best of my knowledge. Does that change anything? Based on everything I've said so far, is there any possibility--however small-of recovering anything?

Personally, what I might do....

With a whole other drive, install an OS.
WITH ONLY THAT DRIVE CONNECTED.
(sorry for shouting)

Then, connecting each of these other 2 drives, one by one....see what may or may not be in there and accessible.