Share via

Deleted Partition on HDD - How do I restore it, and the data within?

Anonymous
2019-10-16T02:10:10+00:00

In my efforts to fix my previous problem, I resorted to a fresh install of Windows 10.  I have two drives - one is an SSD on which I installed only Windows-related files, and the other is a 500gb traditional hard drive on which everything else was installed.  It was during the install of Windows, through the Windows Media Creation Tool method (created installation media onto USB, booted from that USB) that I got to the step where I was to format the disk(s) for a fresh install.  Forgetting that both the SSD and HDD were both still installed, I'm 99% sure that I removed a partition on the HDD by mistake. 

Now, the HDD shows up as a Disk Drive in Device Manager, but it doesn't show up in File Manager.  It shows up as Disk 1 in Disk Management, but as 465gb of unallocated space and with no option to assign a drive letter - the only options in Disk Management are Convert to GPT, Convert to Dynamic Disk, and to create a New Simple Volume.

The only things I've done so far as scan the drive for lost partitions and recoverable data, but I haven't actually recovered any of the data or tried to recover the partitions yet.  And since its not mounted or accessible I haven't overwritten anything (I think), and I haven't formatted or done any converting. 

I'm able to see (probably) all the files on the HDD through freeware/trialware tools like Easeus, but I don't have enough space on my SSD to recover them all to.  Ideally, I could restore the partition and just mount it back as a normal drive.  Is that possible? 

At the moment, I'm running a deep analysis with TestDisk but I'm a bit afraid to do anything more since I'm not 100% comfortable with cmd prompt stuff.  TIA.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

10 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2019-10-16T02:23:09+00:00

    Hi Albert. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 10 year Windows MVP, and Volunteer Guardian Moderator here to help you.

    This is why all other hard drives should be unplugged during a Clean Install.

    If you've not formatted over the partition but only deleted it then there is a simple undelete using an app like free Partition Wizard's Partition Recovery Wizard which has a video tutorial here:

    http://partitionwizard.com/video-help/partition...

    http://www.partitionwizard.com/help/partition-r...

    I believe after Version 4.2 they started charging for this feature so Shawn has a link to that last free version in this tutorial for another subject:

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26829-conv...

    I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you will wait to rate my post, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

    ________________________________________________________

    Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

    30+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2019-10-17T00:11:44+00:00

    You shouldn't need to recover data for a partition that is merely deleted but not formatted over, because typically it can be undeleted. Something else must be going on if Partition Wizard's Partition Recovery Wizard found nothing - are you sure that's what you ran?

    Try this tool which makes it that simple to undelete partition:

    https://www.disk-partition.com/windows-10/recov...

    6 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2019-10-16T14:04:58+00:00

    It looks like they removed the video from the links you posted but I watched a few others using Partition Wizard, and it seems straightforward enough. 

    FWIW, here are the results of my scan with DMDE.  If all those results that showed up are indeed "recoverable" partitions, then some seem to be duplicates and I'm honestly not sure what, if any, I should elect to recover.  I'll double check this against Partition Wizard results, which is running now.  

    But I'm encouraged by the fact that the "$Root" folder on the left hand side does indeed seem to be what I want to recover, assuming all the data in the subfolders is recoverable as well.  That is how I left it prior to doing the re-install of Windows.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2019-10-16T14:34:58+00:00

    It is very important for the software to know the type of drive being worked on.  If it is GPT and it assumes it is MBR, the recovery will not work correctly. 

    The site below may get you a better version, but is appears it will scan for a lost or deleted partition but the free version, as Greg mentions, does not seem to be able to recover a deleted or lost partition.  I currently have a Pro version, which does.

    https://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html

    I have no experience with DMDE and cannot tell from the attachment if is it actually able to recover entire partitions..

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2019-10-16T03:23:48+00:00

    Thanks Greg!  I've got a full scan going with DMDE currently that's been running for about about 2 hours so far.  It *seems* that it might have the same functionality as the v4.2 of Partition Wizard (which I've just downloaded as well, thanks!) so I will see what the results show after that scan completes, and before I take any action with DMDE I'll do the same thing with the Partition Wizard to see if they come up with the same results.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments