From Static to Dynamic HDD Problem
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Author Topic: From Static to Dynamic HDD Problem  (Read 1204 times)
MADSquirrel
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« on: September 10, 2011, 03:40:22 AM »
Hi guys! I'm new here, but I saw a video on Youtube how to recover lost files using TestDisk.
Data Recovery on a Formatted Drive with TestDisk by Britec

Here's my problem.

About a month ago I must of used a program wrong that reset my data HDD ( partition) from static to Dynamc, as such a friend said. He tried to recover the data, but either couldn't or didn't know how, so he set it back to Static mode. It has been in such a state fro a month and some. I kept looking for solution asking people how I can still recover the data. One and fastest was TestDisk.  The HDD / data partition ( no programs installed just games, pics, ets) was not formatted, it is dormant, he left it hoping I could find someone that can help me recover.

I was rather skeptical of Testdisk program considering hey tax up to 100$ / i dunno how many GB of professional recovery programs. So I left it onward as such.
So my question is, how do I recover the data?
Do I need to save it on another petition, or does it recover it on the same one, just makes it visible? (  I have about 150+ GB of data and I would need an external HDD to recover it)

Please someone help me out!
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allis
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« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2011, 04:48:38 PM »
Hallo,

I had your same problem some months ago and know how much is sad to lose data.

First: I'm not English, so forgive me for the language or mistakes.

About your problem:
1) convert dinamic disk to basic disk (translation of google):
http://translate.google.it/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kkaio.com%2Farticoli%2Fconvertire-disco-dinamico-in-disco-base-senza-perdere-dati.shtm&sl=it&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

2) run testdisk. Have you never used it? Are you able to use that?
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step
About the Partition Table Recovery, be careful at this particular:

Quote
If all partitions are listed and only in this case, confirm at Write with Enter, y and OK.


Anyway, follow the guide step by step, and you'll have your data back.

Bye, allis
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MADSquirrel
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« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2011, 04:35:07 AM »
Thank you! I never used it before, and it was set back to static by the guy I took it to fix it, but he left it as such hoping I can get the data back.
When I looked to partition it ( just look) it showed up as HDD there, but I dunno how to see if data iss still there.
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allis
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« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2011, 10:22:29 AM »
Quote from: MADSquirrel on September 12, 2011, 04:35:07 AM
Thank you! I never used it before, and it was set back to static by the guy I took it to fix it, but he left it as such hoping I can get the data back.
When I looked to partition it ( just look) it showed up as HDD there, but I dunno how to see if data iss still there.

So, did you convert the HDD from dynamic to static with Windows Support Tools?
I't very important you are 100% sure it is static now, otherwise you can not use testdisk.

If you run a partitioning program or Windows Disk Management, how do you see the partition/s, unallocated?

How many partitions are on that HDD?

Can I know the name of software that created this problem?

I think it has only corrupted the partition table (or MBR).
In this case, you absolutely can restore it with testdisk (very, very reliable!), and I can help you (I used it many times), but I need to know how many partitions are on that HDD, because a Quick Search could not be enough and you may have to proceed with a Deep Search until you see all the partitions listed and green highlighted.

PS: Deep Search may take a long time, depending on the size of the HDD
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MADSquirrel
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« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2011, 05:37:35 AM »
I didn't set it back, the guy I took it to set it back. not sure how tho!

Yes I see the partition ( HDD) unallocated.

The whole 250GB hard is a partition

I d on't know the program that created the problem, I did run a game cheat that was kind of weird, maybe something there but I don't remember which.
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allis
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« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2011, 01:56:42 PM »
OK, do this:

  • download and unzip testdisk in a HDD (healthy) that can accommodate all your data, like: X:\testdisk-6.12, where X is not C:\
  • open a command prompt and move to X:\testdisk-6.12\win
  • run testdisk_win.exe
  • [Create]> enter
  • select the hard disk to recover and [Proceed] > enter
  • [Intel] Intel/PC partition > enter
  • [Analyse] > enter
  • [Quick Search] > enter
  • type N (no) if you do not use Vista
  • if you have a single partition, select that one, otherwise you have to choose the one with your data stored.

For now, take a screenshot of the result and post it.

Or, if you feel confident to proceed by yourself (with help of the testdisk official guide), go on.

However, if what appears after the quick scan is green, it's a very good sign.
Otherwise, do not despair, deep scan finds anything, even formatted partitions.

I ran testdisk on HDD of 500 GB or 1 TB, and I've always found the whole.
It just takes time and patience.
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MADSquirrel
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« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2011, 12:49:42 AM »
Oh sweet! never thought a free program can help so much. I don't have an HDD that can accommodate so much data, the other one has only 10 GB free left. I gotta go buy an external , was planing on it anyway.  But thank you for the help I will do as such. I'll go today see of a HDD.
so do I deep scan first than tes disk? or in case TD doesn't work I got with DS?
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allis
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« Reply #7 on: September 14, 2011, 04:45:31 AM »
Quote from: MADSquirrel on September 14, 2011, 12:49:42 AM
Oh sweet! never thought a free program can help so much. I don't have an HDD that can accommodate so much data, the other one has only 10 GB free left.

If you had another HDD it would be possible to save data directly from the bad HDD to the good one.
But, if you don't have that, don't worry and don't spend money, because if testdisk finds the partition, it can restore MBR correctly.

I have always chosen the second option, because I had too many data to save with function "C" (copy) , and a lot of files were very large.

You only need that testdisk finds and lists the partition correctly (green highlighted), with quick or deep search.

That's it.

Quote
so do I deep scan first than tes disk? or in case TD doesn't work I got with DS?

No, you first scan quickly and then post here a screenshot.
I'll tell you what to do.



PS: sorry for my english, I made a lot of mistakes and I've corrected the post now. I hope so....
« Last Edit: September 14, 2011, 05:31:40 AM by allis » Logged
MADSquirrel
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« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2011, 06:32:46 AM »
No worries about your English, I'm not a native speaker myself, but I understand what you're saying. Okay I'll have a scan in a while see what comes up.

Do I hit search here?

it's after Inte/PC partition
« Last Edit: September 14, 2011, 08:38:52 AM by MADSquirrel » Logged
allis
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« Reply #9 on: September 15, 2011, 05:57:52 AM »
You ran PhotoRec, not testdisk_win.exe.

Just do what I asked you, nothing else.


Edit: I wrote "run" instead of "ran". Corrected now.
« Last Edit: September 18, 2011, 11:17:46 AM by allis » Logged
MADSquirrel
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« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2011, 12:26:41 AM »
Oh my bad!1  Sorry!

Oki here's the one seems green Smiley
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allis
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« Reply #11 on: September 18, 2011, 06:15:40 AM »
Yeahhhh!

Testdisk found the partition.
The little star (*) before HPPS - NTFS means that is bootable primary partition.

You don't need to scan deeply.

Now, if you press P you'll be able to see your directories and files. To move between directories use the arrow keys.

Do this test and if you see everything, then proceed to rewrite the MBR.

To rewrite the MBR, press Enter: to continue and then [Write]


PS: I couldn't answer before because I had some problems. Sorry.

Edit: I wrote "you'll can" instead of "you'll be able to". Sorry.
« Last Edit: September 18, 2011, 11:19:42 AM by allis » Logged
MADSquirrel
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« Reply #12 on: September 18, 2011, 11:46:09 PM »
No worries about late answeri, I understand. and no worries about the english, I'm not english myself LOL  Wink

Thank you very much for the help! But I still can't understand something. It doesn't show the occupied spaces by all the files in it, is it normal?
shows 250/ 232

I hit P and showed me 2 files, not sure what they mean tho



so from here what do I do? quit and write?
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allis
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« Reply #13 on: September 19, 2011, 03:00:02 PM »
Quote from: MADSquirrel on September 18, 2011, 11:46:09 PM
I still can't understand something. It doesn't show the occupied spaces by all the files in it, is it normal?


I don't think so...

Quote
shows 250/ 232


What do you mean?

Quote
I hit P and showed me 2 files, not sure what they mean too


Yeah, only two files, and the second one is very big!!

Quote
so from here what do I do? quit and write?


Don't write for now!! Just quit.

There is a strange thing I have already noticed in the previous screenshot: before asterisk (next to HPPS - NTFS)  there is the symbol ">" that doesn't convince me ...
I've never seen it so far.

Can you do one more test? Download testdisk-6.11.3 from this (secure) link:
http://download.html.it/software/vedi/10410/testdisk/

Click on "Clicca qui" to start download.  Smiley

Then repeat the quick search and post again a screen with directories or files, please.
I'll do some tests too (with version 6.12).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDIT:
I just ran testdisk on my hard drive perfectly healthy, and I must say that the quick search doesn't  work perfectly at the first blow!
I didin't know that. So far I only tried testdisk on drives or corrupted partitions
OK, I would say that it is time to proceed with a Deeper Search.
But if you have more questions, please ask. I will answer as soon as possible.
« Last Edit: September 19, 2011, 04:19:14 PM by allis » Logged
MADSquirrel
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« Reply #14 on: September 20, 2011, 12:53:49 AM »
I can't figure  out how to download LOL, can you give me direct download please?  asks me to invite others or write e-mail

So you say something's funky? Should I run deep search somehow?

isn't ">" just the  pointer arrow that shows the selected file/ item?
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