I Deleted my entire HD partition, omgwtfbbq

[bladder23]

Hey guys,

I am feeling really bad right now. I deleted my entire HD partition after I accidentally clicked on the wrong hard drive (I wanted to delete my first partition).

now, I realize that all my work of my life is gone.
is there any way to get it back?

PS, I feel like crap for not backing my files up. I know, I screwed up

Help is much appreciated


Cliffs
-Deleted entire hard drive partition
-Looking for software to recover it

 

[Jeff7181]

Step 1 - stop using the drive immediately

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Step 1 - stop using the drive immediately

Shouldn't there be more than one step, if you label them? Anyway, step 2, buy/use another hard drive, and install your OS on it. Step 3, buy/download a data recovery software, and as long as you haven't used the drive, you should be able to recover almost all of it.

 

[Jeff7181]

Figured I'd let someone else recommend a free data recovery application he'll no doubt ask for next since you didn't provide any suggestions and I've never had to use one.

 

[RebateMonger]

Yeah, recovering a deleted partition is one of the more commonly successful data recovery operations. Stop using the computer and find some good Partition Recovery software. But, truthfully, I've never had to do it, so I can't recommend any software.

Fifteen years ago, I would have used one of Norton's Utilities. But I haven't seen Norton's Utilities do anyting useful in the hard drive arena in at least ten years. I've had CHKDISK /f fix a misbehaving hard drive when Norton tried for six hours and then froze.
<=== Wishing for the old days of Peter Norton's and PC Tool's utilities.

 

[Old Hippie]

GetDataBack. 'Taint free, but the demo will let you see how much it can recover, and it has worked well for me.

Good Luck!

 

[bladder23]

thanks

are there any programs that you recommend?

If it works, I dont mind paying

 

[Arcanedeath]

Ontrack's Easy Data Recovery works fairly well as software utilities go its not free either but I've had some sucess w/ it.

 

[de8212]

I've heard success stories with spinrite.

good luck.

 

[0roo0roo]

spinrite


backup dude.... backup!!!!!

 

[jkresh]

how did you delete the partition (if it was in a partition utility like Acronis disk director then it should have recovery software that can fix it)?

 

[bladder23]

Ok, I used partition magic to delete it by accident

Anyways, I havent formatted the disk yet. What are my chances of success?

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: bladder23
Ok, I used partition magic to delete it by accident

Anyways, I havent formatted the disk yet. What are my chances of success?

Chances are good as long as...

1) You don't use the disk for anything else and don't format/repartition it.
2) Don't drop or otherwise physically damage the drive.
3) Get one of the recovery software recommended throughout this thread.

I've personally used Ontrack Easy Recovery and have had success. The "process" is to have it installed on a running machine. Then, hook up two hard drives. First is the drive to be recovered. Second is a blank and formatted hard drive with enough space to hold whatever you want recovered. The software will then make a working copy of your files from the old hard drive to the new hard drive.

 

[jkresh]

partition magic should have an emergency repair cd (or it should be able to make one), you should be able to boot off of that and restore the partition. If you just deleted it and did not wipe it then that is all you should have to do.

 

[kallen]

testdisk is a freeware tool that can recreate deleted partitions

 

[bladder23]

Originally posted by: kallen
testdisk is a freeware tool that can recreate deleted partitions

Thanks man. I got all my stuff back with that program!

Thanks to all!

Long live AT!